Every time someone steps into our home, the first thing they notice is the rich, comforting scent of moxa. I always beam and ask, “Do you like it?” Then I proudly show off our full lineup of moxibustion tools—moxa boxes, moxa foot-bath packs, a moxa bed, and more.
My parents and my eldest daughter’s family have been devoted fans of Jubutang moxa sticks for six years now. No matter the season—winter, spring, summer, or autumn—we light moxa wherever we feel discomfort. Even when our extended family escapes the summer heat in Lichuan, we never forget to pack our moxa sticks, moxa boxes, and foot-bath packs.
Over time we stocked up on dried mugwort leaves and moxa foot-bath packs. Every evening we simmer them for a foot bath before bed. The result? Deeper, more restful sleep—and even my cracked heels have smoothed out under the nourishing steam.
In 2003 I underwent a total gastrectomy for stomach cancer and six rounds of chemotherapy, which left my immune system fragile. I catch colds easily, so I especially like moxibustion on the Dazhui point (at the base of the neck) and have learned the “moxa scarf” technique popularized by practitioner Ye Haiyan.
Last year, when the pandemic struck Wuhan and our neighborhood went under lockdown, my husband and I turned our downtime into a moxa-making workshop. We dug out old clothes, cut and sewed them into neat little moxa-seed pouches, and put them right to work. We even improvised foot-moxa devices from old metal containers: lining a small stainless bowl with charcoal, adding moxa powder, lighting it, then covering it with a lid full of nail-punched holes. Step onto the lid, wrap cloth around your knees and the container rim—and you have a hands-free foot moxa station. We also modified a metal box with holes and side-mounted holders so moxa sticks could burn around the rim while you rested your feet on top.
Those weeks under lockdown, our home never stopped smelling of moxa. With our Jubutang sticks, we felt ready to face any virus.
When spring turned to early summer, our moxa bed became our balcony oasis. We cleared space, set up the bed, and made our balcony the family “moxibustion station.” After each session, we’d break into a sweat—and then feel completely rejuvenated as our pores opened and our muscles relaxed.
After six years, our 118 m² home is filled with traces of moxa: sprigs of mugwort hanging by the door, boxes of moxa sticks in cabinets, the moxa bed on the balcony, bundles of dried leaves suspended overhead for foot baths, a pot on the stove dedicated to simmering foot-bath packs, and even moxa buckets stashed under the sofa. Wherever you look, there’s the gentle smoke and signature aroma of burning moxa—and I love every wisp of that soothing fragrance.
