Course Overview

There are valid TCM industry concerns about the carcinogens emitted by ‘sidestream’ Moxa smoke. What are the effects of these carcinogens being inhaled by practitioners, staff members and patients – both short-term and long-term – in the closed-up confines of a clinic space? Despite 2,500 years of therapeutic usage, Moxibustion cannot escape the modern scrutiny of all combustible smoke inhalation risks, due to the awareness created by Tobacco smoking fatalities. Since the 1950s the ongoing Tobacco health crisis has prompted the refinement of research methods to confirm the causality between smoking – as in ‘active’ or ‘passive’ smoking - and Lung Cancer. This course explores the types of research directed towards the analysis of Moxa smoke in the clinic setting, especially those reputable research methods borrowed from the Tobacco industry. It highlights the relative lack of Epidemiology studies as the major weak area in Moxa smoke research. Mitigation methods are recommended for TCM practitioners using Moxibustion regularly in the workplace. But the main focus is on the modern thermal substitutes in the form of Infrared lamps and hand-held devices, for Moxa-averse practitioners wishing to follow the ‘precautionary principle’.

Course Objectives

• Be informed of the industry concerns surrounding the inhalation of Moxa smoke in the clinic workspace.
• Be able to identify the research methods used to confirm causality between Tobacco ‘smoking’ and Lung Cancer.
• Understand how the TCM industry can borrow from well-established causality studies to analyse the impacts of Moxa smoke inhalation in the workplace.
• Obtain a template for future ‘risk management in terms of either mitigation strategies or modern thermal substitutes.

Course Outline

0 hrs - 15 minDespite 2,500 years of usage, Moxibustion cannot escape the modern scrutiny of all combustible smoke inhalation risks, due to the awareness created by the Tobacco health crisis. Out of this health crisis came a solid foundation of causality studies.

15 min - 30 minUsing a well-thumbed list of research methods borrowed from the tobacco industry, it is possible to apply these findings to Moxibustion impacts. A glaring omission, however, in Moxa smoke research, is the scarcity of long-term Epidemiology studies.

30 min - 45 minHaving seen that specific cancers have been linked to toxic compounds in Tobacco smoke, some of which are also found in Moxa smoke, it is imperative to ulitise the Precautionary Principle until the scientific evidence is fully presented.

45 min - 1 hrsFortunately for Moxa-averse TCM practitioners, there are modern heating substitutes such as Infrared lamps. But these new devices require ongoing research to assess whether they heat the Acupoints as effectively as traditional Moxibustion has done.