Li WH, Tang XD, Ling CQ. A preparation mould for moxa cone: its design and application. J Acupunct Tuina Sci, 2016, 14 (1): 64-66 DOI: 10.1007/s11726-016-0902-x

Acupuncture-moxibustion Apparatus

A preparation mould for moxa cone: its design and application 一种艾炷制备模具的设计和运用 Li Wei-hong (李伟红), Tang Xiao-dong (汤晓冬), Ling Chang-quan (凌昌全) Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China

Abstract To improve the preparation speed and quality of moxa cone, a mould for preparation of moxa cone was designed and applied in moxibustion. It consists three parts: a foundation (a flat-bottomed circular cylinder hollow in center), a moxa cone forming tube (a hollow column encircled by two semi-cylinders with symmetrical shape and size, and was inserted in the internal cavity of the foundation); and a compression rod (a solid cylinder used for compressing moxa placed in moxa cone forming tube). The mould is practical, simple, and convenient and can effectively speed up the preparation of moxa cone, and it is safe in application. Moreover, the obtained moxa cones are regular in shape, uniform in dosage and size, dense in texture, and convenient to pack, store and carry. Keywords: Acupuncture-moxibustion Apparatus; Moxibustion Therapy; Moxa Cone Moxibustion; Artemisia Argyi 【摘要】为提高艾炷的制备速度和质量, 设计一种用于制备艾灸用艾炷的模具, 由底座、艾炷成形筒和压缩棒三 部分组成。底座为一平底中空圆筒, 艾炷成形筒为一中空圆柱体, 由两个形状大小对称的半圆柱体合围而成, 插 于底座内腔; 艾炷成形筒的内腔底部呈圆锥形, 内腔的体部呈圆柱形; 压缩棒为一实心圆柱体, 用于压缩置于艾 炷成形筒内的艾绒。模具结构简单, 使用方便, 能有效提高制备艾炷速度,且使用安全。制得的艾柱形状规整, 药 量和大小一致, 质地密实, 便于包装、储存和携带。 【关键词】针灸器械; 灸法; 艾炷灸; 艾叶 【中图分类号】R245.8 【文献标志码】A As one of the most characteristic therapies in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), moxibustion plays a very important role in Chinese health care and treatment[1-2], and is extensively applied in clinical practice[3]. Different moxibustion methods have different characteristics of local temperature curve[4]. Moxa roll and moxa cone are usually used in moxibustion[5]. A moxa cone is cone-shaped mugwort wool. After it is ignited, it is placed on the acupoints for moxibustion. Moxa cone moxibustion can be divided into direct moxibustion and indirect moxibustion. Moxa cone can be made by hand or with instrument[6]. The moxa cone currently used in clinic is generally made by hand. Generally, by experience, a certain amount of moxa is squeezed and pressurized into cones. This manual preparation method has it limits in clinical practice. First, moxa cone made by hand is not only different in size and dosage but also irregular in shape. Second, preparation is slow in speed and hard to meet the needs Author: Li Wei-hong, bachelor, associate professor. Corresponding Author: Ling Chang-quan, M.D., professor. E-mail: [email protected]

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of the outpatients, thus affecting moxibustion treatment. Third, the moxa cone t is loose in texture and easily drops after burning, thus possibly burning patients or causing accidents[7-9]. These factors have seriously affected the popularization of moxibustion therapy. To solve these problems with moxa cone made by hand, we studied the size and shape of traditional moxa cone with great concentration. Finally in collaboration with the department staff, we designed and made a preparation mould for moxa cone, successfully obtaining national utility model patents (patent number: ZL201020139862.X). This mould is introduced as follows.

1 Design Ideas and Its Structure This mould for preparation of moxa cone is made up of 3 parts: a foundation, a moxa cone forming tube and a compression rod (Figure 1). Foundation: It is a flat-bottomed circular cylinder hollow in center, with its internal diameter matching the outside diameter of the moxa cone forming tube; the tube is a hollow column encircled by two semi-cylinders with symmetrical shape and size and inserted in the

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J. Acupunct. Tuina. Sci. 2016, 14 (1): 64-66

internal cavity of the foundation and higher than the foundation. Part 3: compression rod

diameter and 3.00 cm in height, with the cone of bottom being 2.00 cm in height. The diameter of compression rod matches that of the body of internal cavity of the moxa cone forming tube and height of the rod is 4.00 cm.

the the the the

3 Operation for Use Part 2: moxa cone forming tube

Part 1: foundation

Figure 1. Structure of the mould

Moxa cone forming tube: The bottom of the internal cavity is conical, its size and shape are the same as those of the moxa cone to be made and the body of the internal cavity is cylindrical (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Moxa cone forming tube

The direction for use of the preparation mould: Insert the moxa cone forming tube into the internal cavity of the foundation and have it fixed, place about 1.2 g of moxa bit by bit into the internal cavity of the moxa cone forming tube (Figure 3); use the base of palm or other tools to leverage on the ball on the top of the compression rod pressure, press the moxa little by little to the bottom till all the moxa is pressed into the bottom of the moxa cone forming tube (Figure 4). After it is pressed tight, take out the tube and open it to get the required moxa cone (Figure 5). The moxa cone is 1.91 cm in diameter and 3.0 cm in height. Moxa quantity method 1: The pure moxa wool fills a bottle cap (500 mL bottle cap of alcohol bottle, Figure 3). Moxa quantity method 2: Single hand holding a small handful moxa, then clench the moxa and break off both ends, remaining two fingers width (about 1.5 cun, Figure 6).

Figure 3. Taking moxa

Compression rod: It is a solid cylinder, its outside diameter matches the diameter of the body of the internal cavity of the moxa cone forming tube. It is used for compressing moxa placed in the tube.

2 Parameters This mould for making moxa cone is made of stainless steel, and its parts are machine-polished. The outside diameter of the foundation is 5.20 cm, the internal diameter is 3.20 cm, and the height is 6.0 cm, with the thickness of its flat base being 1.00 cm. The moxa cone forming tube is 5.80 cm in height and 3.20 cm in outside diameter. The body of the internal cavity is 1.91 cm in

Figure 4. Pressing

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J. Acupunct. Tuina. Sci. 2016, 14 (1): 64-66

convenient to pack, store and carry, and safe in application. Specification of the shape, quality and density of moxa cone, improves the repeatability of clinical research[10]. Obviously, this preparation mould is worthy of clinical use and promotion. Conflict of Interest The authors declared that there was no conflict of interest in this article. Acknowledgments Figure 5. Taking out the cone

This work was supported by Medical Guide Project of Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipal ( 上 海 市 科 委 医 学 引 导 项 目 , No. 13401906700). Received: 6 September 2015/Accepted: 13 October 2015

References

Figure 6. Moxa quantity method

4 Summary Since carrying out health-care moxibustion in 2009 in our department, we could treat over 20 patients with hand-made moxa cones every day in 2009. The preparation of moxa cones needed 2-3 persons. In 2010, we invented the preparation mould for moxa cones. The number of persons preparing moxa cones decreased to only one but the number of patients receiving moxibustion increased rapidly to over 100 every day. After treatment, about 20 patients took moxa cones home to do moxibustion themselves. Because of the remarkable curative effects and no adverse events caused by looseness of moxa cones, our department has been unanimously praised by numerous patients, thus greatly raising the popularity of the department. Therefore, this preparation mould can greatly raise the speed for preparation of moxa cones and improve the quality of moxa cones, which is beneficial to the development and popularization of moxibustion technique, significantly reducing medical malpractice. Simple in structure and convenient to use, this preparation mould can effectively raise the speed for preparing moxa cones. And the moxa cones are regular in shape, uniform in size and dosage, solid in texture,

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[1] Cheng CW, Fu SF, Zhou QH, Wu TX, Shang HC, Tang XD, Liu ZS, Liu J, Lin ZX, Lao L, Lü AP, Zhang BL, Liu BY, Bian ZX. Extending the CONSORT statement to moxibustion. J Integr Med, 2013, 11(1): 54-63. [2] Zhang SJ. Discuss on moxibustion for ‘preventive treatment of disease’. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu, 2008, 28(10): 739-740. [3] Zhao BX, Chen HY, Shen XY, Lao LX. Can moxibustion, an ancient treatment modality, be evaluated in a double-blind randomized controlled trial? A narrative review. J Integr Med, 2014, 12(3): 131-134. [4]Dong XM, Dong QS, Xian MQ, Zheng XL, Zhang SH. To study the effects of different moxibustion on acupoint temperature. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu, 1999, 19(1): 22-26. [5] Tang XY, Jiang YW. Discussion on moxibustion. Yunnan Zhongyi Zhongyao Zazhi, 2002, 23(5): 46. [6] General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China, Standardization Administration of the People’s Republic of China.. Standardized Manipulations of Acupuncture and Moxibustion-Part 1: Moxibustion (GB/T21709.1-2008). Beijing: Standards Press of China, 2008. [7] Zheng Y. Research and application progress of the infrared heating effects of moxibustion. J Chin Integr Med, 2012, 10(2): 135-140. [8] Zhang SJ, Sun WQ, Zhu GL, Ren XM, Gao XZ, Wu MR. Development and usage of the convenient moxa cone maker. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu, 2010, 30(3): 253-254. [9] Wu HG, Yan J, Yu SG, Xu B, Chang XR, Ma XP, Mu JP, Liu HR. Study on the current situation and development trend of moxibustion. Shanghai Zhenjiu Zazhi, 2009, 28(1): 1-6. [10]Yue GL, Du GZ, Zhang L. Study on the change of the quality of the moxa moxibustion temperature time curve. Shanghai Zhenjiu Zazhi, 2011, 30(10): 704-706.

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