The mugwort used in moxibustion is the Chinese mugwort dried leaves, also known as Artemisia argyi Lévl. et Vant. of the Asteraceae family. It is mainly produced in Shandong, Anhui, Hubei, and Hebei provinces, traditionally considered best when produced in Qizhou, Hubei, known as ‘Qi Ai’. The leaves are harvested in summer before flowering, cleaned of impurities, and dried in the sun. The product has a clear and fragrant aroma, with a bitter taste. The best quality leaves are large, with a gray-white back, abundant fuzz, and strong fragrance. It can be used raw or charred.

Medicinal Properties
Pungent, bitter, warm; slightly toxic. Belongs to the liver, spleen, and kidney meridians.

Effects
Warms the meridians and stops bleeding, dispels cold and relieves pain, regulates menstruation, and stabilizes the fetus; externally used to dispel dampness and relieve itching.

Applications
1. For Cold-Deficiency vomiting blood, nosebleeds, excessive menstruation:
Qi Ai has a fragrant aroma and pungent taste, warming to dispel cold, and can warm the Qi & Blood and warm the meridians. It is a key herb for warming meridians and stopping bleeding, suitable for conditions of cold-deficiency bleeding, especially for excessive menstruation.

2. For lower abdominal cold pain, irregular menstruation, cold uterus infertility, and epigastric cold pain:
Qi Ai enters the three Yin meridians directly to the lower burner. It can warm the meridians and uterus as well as dispel cold and relieve pain, especially effective in regulating menstruation. It is a key herb for treating gynecological lower burner deficiency cold or cold invading the uterus problems such as irregular menstruation, menstrual cramps, cold uterus infertility, thin and clear vaginal discharge, etc.

3. Skin itching:
Qi Ai is pungent, fragrant, bitter, and dry, and can be used externally as a decoction for washing to dispel dampness and relieve itching, suitable for treating eczema, vaginal itching, scabies, and other skin itching. In addition, by crushing Qi Ai into fluff and making it into moxa-sticks, it can be used for moxibustion on surface acupuncture points, warming the qi and blood, penetrating the meridians, and is a major ingredient for moxibustion.