The Chinese word that often gets translated to "acupuncture" actually has two characters: one depicts a needle piercing the skin and the other represents the fluffy dried leaves of Mugwort or Moxa.
Actually, moxibustion predates acupuncture, and needling was added as a supplement to moxa after the 2nd century BC. In the West, acupuncture has overshadowed moxibustion as a treatment most probably because of two reasons: one, it takes more time (meaning longer patient visits, so that the practioner cannot leave the room to treat several patients at once, translating into less money) and two, the fear of scarring.
The underutilization of moxibustion undervalues its importance in the treatment of chronic problems, deficient conditions (weakness), and how essential it is in gerontology. Bian Que, one of the most famous doctors of antiquity and the first specialist in moxibustion dicusses the benefits of moxa over acupuncture in his classic. He explains that moxa can add new energy to the body, and can be used for both excess and deficient conditions. On the other hand, with acupuncture there needs to be sufficient energy available in the body, therefore needle manipulation is not advised because it will leak too much energy in an already deficient (weak) patient.
There is an entire classical work (huge tome) devoted solely to treatment indications for moxa on a single point (穴): Gao Huang Shu (膏肓俞). In addition, Taoists use scarring moxibustion along with Chinese medical astrology for longevity.
In North and South America, Mugwort is a sacred plant of divination and spiritual healing, as well as a panacea. In Europe, sprigs were placed under pillows to provoke dreams and it is associated with the practice of magic in Anglo-Saxon times.
The word "moxa" comes from Japanese mogusa (艾), with the u unpronounced. Moxa is also called yomogi (蓬) in Japan. Chinese uses the same character as mogusa, but pronounced differently: ài, also called àiróng (艾絨), or "velvet of ài".
See also: Chinese medicine