When using wormwood sticks with moxibustion boxes, first pay attention to the compatibility of the specifications of wormwood sticks with the moxibustion box. Different moxibustion boxes have different inner diameters and smoke-containing spaces. You need to choose wormwood sticks with a diameter that matches the box body. For example, wormwood sticks with a diameter of 1.8cm are suitable for small portable moxibustion boxes, while those with a diameter of 3cm need to be matched with large vertical moxibustion boxes. If the wormwood sticks are too thin, they will shake in the box and cause uneven heating; if they are too thick, they may get stuck in the box body and affect air circulation. At the same time, the tightness of wormwood sticks should be moderate. Too loose wormwood sticks burn too quickly, which can easily cause a sudden rise in temperature and increase the risk of burns; too tight will not burn fully and the drug effect will not be released enough. The density of wormwood sticks needs to be adjusted according to the ventilation hole design of the moxibustion box.
The placement and fixing method of the moxibustion box directly affect the effect and safety. Before moxibustion, you need to confirm the precise positioning of the acupoints and align the center of the moxibustion box with the acupoints to avoid offset and heat dispersion. For active parts such as joints, the moxibustion box needs to be fixed to the clothes with elastic bands or Velcro. The tightness should be such that the box does not shake and does not press the skin. When placing, a 1-2cm air layer should be reserved. A thin cotton cloth can be placed at the bottom of the moxibustion box to prevent the box from directly contacting the skin and allow the heat to penetrate slowly. If the temperature of the moxibustion box is too high, you can add more layers of paper towels between the box and the skin. Each layer of paper towels can reduce the body temperature by about 5℃, and flexibly adjust to avoid burns.
Controlling the burning time and temperature is the key to improving the effect. After igniting the wormwood sticks, let them burn fully for 30 seconds, and then put them into the moxibustion box after a uniform flame is formed on the surface to avoid excessive smoke or insufficient temperature in the early stage. The time for each moxibustion is adjusted according to the acupoints and physical constitution. Generally, it takes 15-20 minutes for the acupoints of the limbs and 20-30 minutes for the acupoints of the trunk. Exceeding the time can easily lead to excessive water loss from the skin. During the process, the skin condition should be observed every 5 minutes. If the diameter of the red halo exceeds 3cm or there is a burning sensation, the moxibustion box should be moved away for a while, or the wormwood sticks should be rotated so that the unburned part faces the edge of the box to reduce the local temperature by reducing the heated area.
Environmental ventilation and smoke exhaust treatment should be taken into account simultaneously. During moxibustion, the indoor air circulation should be maintained, but avoid moxibustion directly facing the air outlet to prevent the wormwood sticks from burning unstably or the heat from being blown away by the wind. A small fan can be placed next to the window to direct the smoke to the outside, and the fan speed can be adjusted to a low gear to avoid excessive airflow affecting the temperature balance in the moxibustion box. For people who are sensitive to smoke, a simple smoke exhaust hood can be placed above the moxibustion box, and the hood can be connected to a hose leading to the window, which can not only reduce smoke irritation to the respiratory tract, but also allow the effective ingredients of wormwood to act locally and improve penetration efficiency.
Skin care before and after moxibustion can enhance the effect and reduce risks. Before moxibustion, the skin needs to be cleaned to remove grease and dirt to facilitate heat penetration, but avoid using irritating detergents such as alcohol. Do not touch cold water within 30 minutes after moxibustion. You can gently wipe the skin with a dry towel to promote local blood circulation and help absorb the drug. If the skin is slightly flushed, it is a normal reaction and no special treatment is required; if small blisters appear, you can use a sterile cotton swab dipped in iodine to disinfect, keep dry and heal naturally, and avoid breaking the blisters to cause infection. After each moxibustion, you need to wait 4-6 hours before taking a shower to prevent cold and dampness from invading and affecting the effect of moxibustion.
Special populations should be particularly cautious when using precautions. Pregnant women should avoid the abdomen and lumbosacral region when moxibustion, and shorten the moxibustion time to less than 10 minutes when selecting acupoints on the limbs; infants and young children have delicate skin, so the moxibustion box should be kept more than 5 cm away from the skin, and someone should be watching over the whole process, and the skin condition should be checked every 3 minutes. Diabetic patients need to lower the temperature because of decreased skin perception, so that the skin is slightly warm to avoid burns that are not easy to detect. People with weak constitution can adopt the method of "moxibustion every other day" to avoid physical exhaustion caused by continuous moxibustion. Drink warm water appropriately after each moxibustion to replenish body fluids.
Daily maintenance of moxibustion boxes and wormwood sticks can ensure the safety of long-term use. After each use, the remaining wormwood sticks need to be extinguished. They can be inserted into a metal container filled with clean water, and taken out and dried after complete cooling to avoid residual sparks causing fire. The ashes inside the moxibustion box need to be cleaned in time, and the moxa ashes in the gap of the box body should be swept away with a soft brush to prevent the residual ashes from affecting the next combustion efficiency. Wipe the metal parts of the moxibustion box with a dry cloth dipped in a small amount of olive oil every week to prevent oxidation and rust. The wooden moxibustion box should be avoided from washing and kept dry to prevent deformation. When storing, put the wormwood sticks in a sealed can and place them separately from the moxibustion box in a cool and dry place to prevent the wormwood sticks from being affected by moisture and affecting the combustion stability.
