Drug & supplement interaction

Moxibustion + Escitalopram

Escitalopram brand name: Lexapro.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 13, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Moxibustion and Escitalopram in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Moxibustion and Escitalopram

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Escitalopram and Moxibustion in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — research on Moxibustion alongside specific medications may be limited.

Worth understanding: our licensed dataset holds no drug-interaction record for Moxibustion at all — not against Escitalopram, and not against any other medication we track. This verdict therefore rests on the absence of any recorded data, not on research that looked at this combination and found nothing. We cannot rule an interaction out.

Moxibustion is a treatment rather than something you take. Tell whoever provides it which medicines you use, and ask your prescriber whether it is appropriate for your health and treatment. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Moxibustion safety at a glance

Moxibustion overall Use caution Generally considered low-risk with a trained practitioner, but burns, smoke, and skin reactions are possible.
Pregnancy Possibly Unsafe When used during pregnancy. While moxibustion has been used with apparent safety during pregnancy in most clinical studies, some clinical evidence suggests that... Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Not established There is little specific safety information for breastfeeding, so caution is advised.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Escitalopram and Moxibustion? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Moxibustion and Escitalopram May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so having Moxibustion while taking the medicine can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do. One of them is worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • A higher chance of infection Worth acting on Additional detail

    Moxibustion

    “Moxibustion administration has been associated with fever and infections such as cellulitis, hepatitis C, and severe septic shock secondary to necrotizing fasciitis.”

    Moxibustion · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in hepatitis.

    5 sources cited
    1. 29754. Li B, Chai H, Du YH, et al. [Evaluation of therapeutic effect and safety for clinical randomized and controlled trials of treatment of acne with acupuncture and moxibustion]. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu 2009;29(3):247-51.
    2. 29838. Yu L, Zhang Y, Chen C, et al. [Meta-analysis on randomized controlled clinical trials of acupuncture for asthma]. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu 2010;30(9):787-92.
    3. 88311. Park JE, Lee SS, Lee MS, et al. Adverse events of moxibustion: a systematic review. Complement Ther Med 2010;18(5):215-23. PubMed
    4. 88314. Chong Y, Lee HJ, Lee SY, et al. Pasteurella multocida infection of the calf in a patient who had moxa cautery treatment for degenerative arthritis. Yonsei Med J 1982;23(1):65-70.
    5. 106689. Singh H, Chetha AS, Shalikar H. Moxibustion-septic shock and necrotizing fasciitis. IDCases 2020;22:e00990. PubMed

    Escitalopram

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Escitalopram. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Drowsiness / Tiredness / Dizziness reported in 6.8% of FDA reports for Escitalopram Additional detail

    Moxibustion

    “Moxibustion administration may cause dizziness, fainting, fatigue, headaches, and hypersomnia in some patients.”

    Moxibustion · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in fatigue.

    6 sources cited
    1. 29754. Li B, Chai H, Du YH, et al. [Evaluation of therapeutic effect and safety for clinical randomized and controlled trials of treatment of acne with acupuncture and moxibustion]. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu 2009;29(3):247-51.
    2. 29838. Yu L, Zhang Y, Chen C, et al. [Meta-analysis on randomized controlled clinical trials of acupuncture for asthma]. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu 2010;30(9):787-92.
    3. 29896. Lee MS, Shin BC, Ernst E. Acupuncture for rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2008;47(12):1747-53. PubMed
    4. 88310. Park JJ, Kang M, Shin S, et al. Unexplained infertility treated with acupuncture and herbal medicine in Korea. J Altern Complement Med 2010;16(2):193-8. PubMed
    5. 88311. Park JE, Lee SS, Lee MS, et al. Adverse events of moxibustion: a systematic review. Complement Ther Med 2010;18(5):215-23. PubMed
    6. 96047. Choi TY, Lee MS, Kim JI, Zaslawski C. Moxibustion for the treatment of osteoarthritis: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Maturitas. 2017;100:33-48. PubMed

    Escitalopram

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Escitalopram, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Stomach upset Additional detail

    Moxibustion

    “Moxibustion administration may cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, nausea, stomach tenderness and pressure, throat problems, and upset stomach.”

    Moxibustion · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in constipation.

    5 sources cited
    1. 29889. Vas J, Aranda JM, Nishishinya B, et al. Correction of nonvertex presentation with moxibustion: a systematic review and metaanalysis. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009;201(3):241-59. PubMed
    2. 88310. Park JJ, Kang M, Shin S, et al. Unexplained infertility treated with acupuncture and herbal medicine in Korea. J Altern Complement Med 2010;16(2):193-8. PubMed
    3. 88311. Park JE, Lee SS, Lee MS, et al. Adverse events of moxibustion: a systematic review. Complement Ther Med 2010;18(5):215-23. PubMed
    4. 88312. Coyle ME, Smith CA, Peat B. Cephalic version by moxibustion for breech presentation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012;5:CD003928. PubMed
    5. 96051. Sun YJ, Yuan JM, Yang ZM. Effectiveness and safety of moxibustion for primary insomnia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2016;16:217. PubMed

    Escitalopram

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Escitalopram. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Constipation / Stomach pain / Diarrhea / Nausea reported in 6.8% of FDA reports for Escitalopram Additional detail

    Moxibustion

    Recorded for Moxibustion in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Stomach upset above.

    Escitalopram

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Escitalopram, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Moxibustion but not commonly for Escitalopram: a skin rash, heartburn, headache and liver problems.

Effects for Escitalopram come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Moxibustion come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 139,512 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Escitalopram that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Moxibustion in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy Possibly Unsafe

When used during pregnancy. While moxibustion has been used with apparent safety during pregnancy in most clinical studies, some clinical evidence suggests that moxibustion may be associated with premature birth, premature membrane rupture, increased rate of contractions, abdominal pain due to contractions, placental bleeding, reduced or increased fetal movement, and reduced fetal heart rate.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

Overlapping uses

What Escitalopram Is Prescribed For, and What Moxibustion Has Been Studied For

These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Escitalopram is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Moxibustion is a treatment: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.

Escitalopram is prescribed for: Escitalopram treats major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults and in adolescents 12 years of age and older. It also treats generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in adults. Lexapro (escitalopram) tablets are additionally approved to treat generalized anxiety disorder in pediatric patients 7 years of age and older. Escitalopram Capsules are indicated for MDD and GAD in adults younger than 65 years of age, and for MDD in pediatric patients 12 years and older — the capsule form is not indicated for patients 65 and older.

Moxibustion has been studied for:

  • Depression studied, not established Moxibustion has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

    Moxibustion for depression

    It is unclear if moxibustion administration, alone or in combination with acupuncture, is beneficial for depression, including post-stroke depression.

Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Escitalopram on your own; if you are taking Moxibustion for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

From our Q&A

Questions About Moxibustion or Escitalopram

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Moxibustion or Escitalopram, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Escitalopram

This page covers Moxibustion only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Escitalopram page lists 55 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Lithium (major), 5-htp (moderate), Acetyl-l-carnitine (moderate) and Ayahuasca (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 38 moderate · 15 minor.

Open the Escitalopram interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Moxibustion and Escitalopram Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Moxibustion
Steady interest

#885 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Escitalopram
Top 1%

#13 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Moxibustion reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Moxibustion and Escitalopram records this page draws on were last updated July 11, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Treatment approach

About Moxibustion

What is Moxibustion?

  • Breech baby positioning
  • Joint and muscle pain
  • Cold-related conditions in traditional medicine
  • Menstrual cramps
  • Digestive complaints
  • General wellness and energy support

Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine practice that burns dried mugwort near or on the skin to warm specific points on the body, not a supplement you swallow. Evidence for most uses is limited or low quality, though it is most studied for turning breech babies. If you are interested, work with a trained, licensed practitioner and talk with your doctor first, especially during pregnancy.

Dried leaves of mugwort (Artemisia species), processed into moxa · Moxa sticks, moxa cones, loose moxa wool, stick-on adhesive moxa, smokeless moxa

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Moxibustion is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Moxibustion record says about it on its own.

Moxibustion: dosing

There is no standardized "dose" for moxibustion the way there is for a supplement. Treatment depends on the practitioner, the body points chosen, and the condition being addressed. Sessions are often repeated over several days or weeks.Because moxibustion involves heat and smoke, it is best done by a trained, licensed acupuncturist or TCM practitioner rather than at home.

From our Moxibustion monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Moxibustion monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Escitalopram

What Is Escitalopram Used For?

Brand name: Lexapro

Escitalopram treats major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults and in adolescents 12 years of age and older. It also treats generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in adults.

Lexapro (escitalopram) tablets are additionally approved to treat generalized anxiety disorder in pediatric patients 7 years of age and older. Escitalopram Capsules are indicated for MDD and GAD in adults younger than 65 years of age, and for MDD in pediatric patients 12 years and older — the capsule form is not indicated for patients 65 and older.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Escitalopram

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (139,512 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Fatigue 9,542 reports
Nausea 9,514 reports
Headache 7,397 reports
Diarrhea 7,045 reports
Anxiety 6,668 reports
See full Escitalopram drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Moxibustion

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Moxibustion — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,829No known interaction
2,829 No interaction
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Moxibustion against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Moxibustion list.

See the full Moxibustion interactions page
See every supplement checked against Escitalopram, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Moxibustion References

The 40 references that drive our Moxibustion monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Li B, Chai H, Du YH, et al. [Evaluation of therapeutic effect and safety for clinical randomized and controlled trials of treatment of acne with acupuncture and moxibustion]. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu 2009;29(3):247-51.
  2. Du WF, Yu L, Yan XK, Wang FC. [Met-analysis on randomized controlled clinical trials of acupuncture and moxibustion on constipation]. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu 2012;32(1):92-6.
  3. Yu L, Zhang Y, Chen C, et al. [Meta-analysis on randomized controlled clinical trials of acupuncture for asthma]. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu 2010;30(9):787-92.
  4. Kim JI, Choi JY, Lee H, et al. Moxibustion for hypertension: a systematic review. BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2010;10:33. PubMed
  5. Jin ZH, Zhang P, Ma SX. [Effect of moxibustion at sanyinjiao (SP 6) on the process of childbirth: a randomized controlled study]. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu 2011;31(1):7-10.
  6. Cui JM, Yang XX, Jin ZH, et al. Effect of acupoint Sanyinjiao (SP6) moxibustion on the first stage of labor and uterine contractive pain in primiparae. Chin J Integr Med 2011;17(6):464-6. PubMed
  7. Ma SX, Wu FW, Cui JM, et al. [Effect on moxibustion at Sanyinjiao (SP 6) for uterine contraction pain in labor: a randomized controlled trial]. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu 2010;30(8):623-6.
  8. Cui JM, Ma SX, Jin ZH, Dong LH. [Effect of moxibustion at Sanyinjiao (SP 6) on delivery stage and postpartum bleeding of primipara]. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu 2011;31(10):898-900.
  9. Vas J, Aranda JM, Nishishinya B, et al. Correction of nonvertex presentation with moxibustion: a systematic review and metaanalysis. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009;201(3):241-59. PubMed
  10. van den Berg I, Bosch JL, Jacobs B, et al. Effectiveness of acupuncture-type interventions versus expectant management to correct breech presentation: a systematic review. Complement Ther Med 2008;16(2):92-100. PubMed
  11. Lee MS, Shin BC, Ernst E. Acupuncture for rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2008;47(12):1747-53. PubMed
  12. Yamashita H, Tsukayama H, Tanno Y, Nishijo K. Adverse events in acupuncture and moxibustion treatment: a six-year survey at a national clinic in Japan. J Altern Complement Med 1999;5(3):229-36. PubMed
  13. Conde-Salazar L, Gonzalez MA, Guimarens D, Fuente C. Burns due to moxibustion. Contact Dermatitis 1991;25(5):332-3. PubMed
  14. Park JJ, Kang M, Shin S, et al. Unexplained infertility treated with acupuncture and herbal medicine in Korea. J Altern Complement Med 2010;16(2):193-8. PubMed
  15. Park JE, Lee SS, Lee MS, et al. Adverse events of moxibustion: a systematic review. Complement Ther Med 2010;18(5):215-23. PubMed

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Having Moxibustion While Taking Escitalopram: Common Questions

Is it safe to have Moxibustion while taking Escitalopram?
We do not list a known interaction between Moxibustion and Escitalopram. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Do Moxibustion and Escitalopram have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 9 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
Are Moxibustion and Escitalopram used for the same thing?
They overlap in purpose, which usually means the real question is whether you need both rather than whether they are safe together. This page lists the shared uses and how strong the evidence is for Moxibustion in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Escitalopram is being adjusted to a target.
Does Escitalopram interact with any supplements?
Yes. Escitalopram has documented interactions with 55 supplements in our database — Moxibustion is not one of them. The Escitalopram interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Where next

Keep Exploring

Moxibustion monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Escitalopram drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Escitalopram supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Escitalopram, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z Every drug we’ve checked against herbs & supplements References The 40 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Escitalopram and Moxibustion?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.