Both acupuncture and moxibustion aim to balance the body’s Chi, the vital energy. Acupuncture accomplishes this by inserting needles into specific meridian points, while moxibustion stimulates these points with a heated herb. Research on breech presentation suggests that treated breech babies tend to show increased activity and are more inclined to turn on their own compared to untreated babies.

Studies investigating the optimal timing for turning a breech baby with moxa have shown that intervention is most effective around week 34, before the baby becomes too large. However, as around 50% of babies naturally turn by the 36th week, some healthcare providers may wait until after this time to consider the possibility of the fetus remaining breech.

In clinical practice, it is preferable to see women as close to the 34th week as possible. If a woman arrives later, even up to 38 or 39 weeks, I still advise using moxa, as some babies do turn, especially if the patient has been pregnant before, which increases the chances of success.