Moxibustion for postpartum recovery
Bringing life into the world is one of the most extraordinary journeys a woman can take —transformative, awe-inspiring, and deeply human.
In ancient China, under ideal circumstances, a new mother would use the one hundred days after giving birth to recover from it. Her focus would be to bond with her baby, while all other household duties – cooking, cleaning, washing – were handled by other members of the family.
While most of us can’t take one hundred days to ease into motherhood, one of the most beautiful practices we can borrow to support this important period is Mother Warming—a gentle, nourishing treatment designed specifically for postpartum women.
“In general, the convalescence of the mother must be for a full one hundred days before she can be fully restored. Take great care!”
- Chen Ziming, Complete Good Prescriptions for Women, (1237)
Mother Warming uses moxibustion to warm specific acupuncture points on the lower back and abdomen. Moxibustion involves burning moxa – the dried herb mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), above the body with the focus of radiating heat into the body’s acupuncture channels. The aim of stimulating these channels is to replenish the qi and blood lost during childbirth.
Typically performed four or five days after birth – once bleeding has lessened and the body is stable – Mother Warming feels like sunlight touching your skin in the middle of winter. It brings calm and hope and strengthens a new mother’s life force by filling her channels and helping her body return to balance after giving birth.
When talking about methods for supporting the new mother after childbirth, the Song dynasty doctor and scholar, Chen Ziming, also warned against the mother becoming cold. Mother Warming is a perfect antidote to the cold that can settle in the body following the exertion of labour.
Mother Warming can help:
1. Restore Vital Energy (Qi)
Mother Warming gently replenishes the life force, allowing you to better enjoy the precious first days with your baby. Women often describe feeling grounded, calmer, and less fatigued after the therapy.
2. Support Uterine Healing
Heat encourages circulation, helping the womb contract and return to its natural state. This is nature’s way of ensuring your body is ready to move forward with health and vitality.
3. Soothe Aches and Pains
Lower back pain, abdominal tension, and feelings of coldness are common after birth. The warming energy of moxa penetrates deeply, soothing aches and creating a comforting sense of stability
4. Restore Emotional Balance
By strengthening the yang in the body we rekindle your inner strength and confidence. Mother Warming can support emotional wellbeing and reduce the sense of overwhelm some women feel in the postpartum window.
5. Nourish Flow
As blood moves and circulation improves, women sometimes notice an increase in the ease and comfort of breastfeeding, ensuring both mother and baby continue to thrive.
Just as the moon waxes and wanes, and the rivers flow according to the season, your body follows its own rhythm after childbirth. Mother Warming is not about rushing recovery—it is about honouring your body’s journey and gently supporting its return to strength amid the excitement and chaos of welcoming a new baby into the world.
Mother Warming can be done in the practice or in the comfort of your own home. It is a simple treatment which can also be taught to partners so they can to continue it over the next days, if desired. Please get in touch if you’d like to know more.