Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves the burning of mugwort, a small, spongy herb above strategic regions or points of the body to stimulate the body to heal itself, improve circulation and relieve pain. It has been used throughout Asia for thousands of years. The practitioner lights one end of a moxa stick, roughly the shape and size of a cigar, and holds it close to the area being treated for several minutes until the area turns red. The burning of moxa is believed to expel cold and warm the meridians, which leads to smoother flow of blood and qi.