Korea
Introduction :
Indirect moxibustion with ginger is written in most ancient oriental medicine literature and was the most frequently used indirect moxibustion before the invention of commercial indirect moxibustion. But studies on the thermodynamic characteristics with various shapes are few.
Aim :
This study is to compare, analyze and comprehend the factors that effect combustion temperature and combustion time of various shapes of moxa cone and various thickness of ginger slices.
Methods :
Produce 11 different moxa cones varying in density, volume and weight, and 4 different ginger slices with 1mm, 2mm, 3mm, 5mm thickness. We measured the core temperature of the moxa cone, temperature of moxa, maximum temperature reaching time of moxa bottom and its combustion time.
Results :
The core temperature and maximum temperature of the base middle point of moxa in air showed high correlation with the weight and volume of the moxa cone, and the weight showed especially high positive correlation coefficient. The maximum temperature reaching time and the combustion time also showed high correlation with the weight and size, and the weight showed especially high positive correlation coefficient.
Conclusions :
This study shows the weight and volume of moxa cone has high positive correlation with the combustion temperature and time, showing that they are important factors influencing the thermodynamic characteristics of moxibustion. And also ginger slices with thickness between 2mm and 5mm should be the appropriate buffer layer in indirect moxibustion with ginger based on this study.