In Chinese, "moxibustion" literally means "warming with fire".

Modern moxibustion experts speculate that the practice was probably developed when ancient Chinese discovered that the symptoms of some diseases could be alleviated by warming up near the fire.

Through trial and error, ancient Chinese found that burning the dried leaves of the herb mugwort produces the best therapeutic effects.

According to moxibustion practitioner doctor Fan Changwei, the earliest record of moxibustion can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC). It was a widely used treatment until the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Moxibustion can serve as a treatment on its own, or it can work in concert with acupuncture.

During the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the government declared both acupuncture and moxibustion illegal, because it deemed needles and fire unsafe.

However, ordinary Chinese people continued these practices at home, because they were cheap and effective.

The practices underwent a revival in the 1950s, when New China's government vigorously promoted them.

A proverb from the time says: "If there's mugwort at home, one need not see a doctor for years."

China's opening up exported acupuncture around the world. However, moxibustion's spread remained stagnant.

One of the challenges to moxibustion's spread is that the practice is time-consuming, so the practitioner can only treat one person at a time. Also, moxibustion sticks are very cheap. Doctors only made small profits from moxibustion treatments, so many stopped using it, according to Fu Shoufeng, an old TCM practitioner in Beijing.

More information: http://www.tcmadvisory.com/2007/2-9/20072911043.html