Moxibustion ài jiǔ · 艾灸

Dried mugwort (Artemisia argyi) is burned near or on a point to deliver gentle heat — as a stick held above the skin, as cones, or on a needle handle. It is central to the classical treatment of "cold" patterns.

Because it produces smoke and heat it carries real risks: burns, especially in people with reduced sensation such as diabetic neuropathy, and airway irritation. Many clinics now use smokeless or infrared alternatives.