I've experienced Moxa (otherwise known as Moxibustion) treatments in conjunction with acupuncture by a professional, but until now, I didn't know it was something you could do yourself. Moxa is made of mugwort herb that's formed into a little stick; it's placed along acupuncture points and then lit on fire like a cigar to warm those points and improve circulation.

Actually, while I find the burning smell of Moxa to be fairly pleasant (very woody smell, but not too obnoxious), it is a little disconcerting to see smoke rising from my wrists. And it gets hotter as it burns down closer to my skin, and if the acupuncturist has stepped out of the room when it's amost done, I start to panic.

So, it's funny to hear about a new kind of Moxa for a younger generation - it's made for relaxation. It comes in different fragrances for those who don't like the traditional burning mugwort smell. Of course, if you're doing it yourself, you can't place them on both wrists at the same time. Supposedly, these "beginner" Moxa sticks won't burn too close to your skin.

Via Trends in Japan, and available for $59 in their store (pack of 4, total of 200 pieces).