Japanese Acupuncture with Moxibustion

Japanese acupuncture is a distinctive style that uses ultra-fine needles — just 0.14 mm in diameter, typically inserted to a depth of no more than 1 mm, often touching the skin surface only — making it exceptionally gentle and nearly painless compared to Traditional Chinese needling. Eva Hajská integrates moxibustion heat therapy with Japanese needling: dried moxa herb is burned near or on specific acupuncture points to add warming therapeutic energy. Three moxibustion techniques are offered — Tonetskyu (small moxa pieces on points), Chinetskyu (deeper thermal effect), and Ondan moxa (smokeless herbal-charcoal rolls that warm the inserted needle). This style is particularly suited to sensitive patients, those apprehensive about needling, and conditions rooted in cold or deficiency patterns in TCM diagnosis.

Japanese acupuncture evolved from the same theoretical foundations as Traditional Chinese Acupuncture — meridian theory, chi flow, yin-yang balance — but diverged centuries ago into a distinctly refined, minimalist practice. The signature characteristic is the use of extremely fine needles (commonly 0.14 mm in diameter, versus 0.20–0.30 mm in Chinese styles) inserted very superficially — often just 1 mm deep, sometimes pressing the skin without puncturing. This approach can be just as clinically effective as deeper needling while being virtually painless, making it accessible to patients who have avoided acupuncture due to needle anxiety, low pain tolerance, or previous negative experiences. At Celostní medicína a Akupunktura Brno, Eva Hajská uses Japanese acupuncture in combination with moxibustion — the application of heat from burning moxa (dried Artemisia mugwort herb) to acupuncture points. Three forms are used depending on the patient's constitutional pattern and the therapeutic goal: Tonetskyu involves placing and burning small rice-grain-sized moxa pieces directly on skin over specific points, creating a mild warming stimulus; Chinetskyu uses slightly larger moxa pieces for a more penetrating heat effect that reaches deeper tissue layers; Ondan moxa involves burning smokeless herbal-charcoal rolls held close to or placed on inserted needles, warming the needle shaft and transmitting heat to the point below. Moxa is classically used for conditions involving cold, damp, or deficiency — such as chronic fatigue, poor circulation, cold extremities, certain menstrual irregularities, and immune deficiency patterns. The diagnostic approach in Japanese style often emphasises abdominal (hara) palpation and subtle pressure sensitivity alongside tongue and pulse reading. Eva assesses the abdomen for areas of tension, softness, or reflexive tenderness that correspond to specific organ or meridian systems, guiding needle placement. This style's preventative emphasis is distinctive: Japanese acupuncture is traditionally used not only to resolve existing symptoms but to detect and correct subtle energetic imbalances before they manifest as physical disease. Regular monthly or seasonal sessions are common among patients who use the practice for health maintenance rather than symptom management. Conditions that respond particularly well to this approach include: back pain and sciatica, migraines, sinus inflammation, asthma, insomnia, stress and anxiety, and menstrual or hormonal imbalances. Sessions run 60 minutes including assessment, needling, and moxibustion. Preparation is the same as for standard acupuncture: light meal beforehand, loose clothing, no alcohol. Contraindications are broadly similar to TCM acupuncture, with additional caution for moxibustion in cases of skin sensitivity or heat sensitivity.