How do Qi Moxa sticks enhance the release of mugwort's active ingredients through hot and cold processing?
Publish Time: 2025-08-04
As a crucial tool in traditional Chinese medicine moxibustion therapy, Qi Moxa sticks' manufacturing process, particularly hot and cold processing techniques, plays a crucial role in enhancing the release of mugwort's active ingredients. Through scientific and rational processing methods, not only can the active ingredients in mugwort be retained to the greatest extent possible, but the efficiency of their release during use can also be optimized, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of moxibustion and providing users with a better health experience.First, during the cold processing stage, freshly harvested mugwort undergoes preliminary screening and cleaning before being sun-dried or dried at low temperatures. This gentle drying method avoids the damage of sensitive components in the mugwort caused by high temperatures, preserving its active ingredients, such as volatile oils and flavonoids. Furthermore, cold processing involves pulverizing the mugwort into a fine powder. This step not only facilitates subsequent mixing and shaping but also increases the surface area, providing greater opportunities for the release of active ingredients. The fine mugwort powder maintains a certain fibrous structure during the cold processing, helping to preserve its original medicinal properties and ensuring the final product has good combustion properties and a long-lasting aroma.Next comes the heat treatment, a key step in improving the quality of qi moxa sticks. During this process, the mugwort powder undergoes a heat treatment, typically baking or steaming at a controlled temperature. The purpose of heat treatment is to activate certain active ingredients within the mugwort and promote their interactions, resulting in a more stable and easily absorbed form. For example, some bioactive substances, previously bound, can be converted to a free form under appropriate temperature conditions, making them more easily absorbed by the skin during moxibustion and exerting their therapeutic effects. Heat treatment also removes residual moisture and impurities, improving the purity and concentration of the mugwort powder, resulting in more uniform combustion and purer smoke from the resulting qi moxa sticks.In addition to directly increasing the active ingredient content mentioned above, heat and cold processing also improves the physical properties of mugwort. Precisely controlling the degree of pulverization during cold processing allows the mugwort powder to achieve the ideal particle size and distribution, ensuring stability during combustion and promoting the full release of active ingredients. During the heat processing process, the appropriate combination of temperature and time induces a slight charring reaction in the mugwort powder, generating a series of new aroma molecules. These molecules not only give qi moxa sticks their unique aroma but also enhance their pharmacological activity. Heat processing also helps improve the powder's cohesiveness, making it easier to compress into compact, firm moxa sticks during molding, reducing the risk of loosening during use and improving the user experience.It is worth noting that the application of hot and cold processing technology is also reflected in the selection and pretreatment of the mugwort raw material. High-quality mugwort often grows in specific geographical environments and has a high content of active ingredients. Immediately after collection, a preliminary cold processing step quickly stabilizes the mugwort in its optimal state, preventing the loss of active ingredients due to prolonged storage. The subsequent heat processing parameters are adjusted according to the specific mugwort variety and intended use, ensuring that each batch of qi moxa sticks meets the highest quality standards. This approach not only improves the overall quality of the product but also provides consumers with a more reliable and effective moxibustion material.Finally, the successful application of hot and cold processing technology is inseparable from the support of modern science and technology. Advanced testing equipment and analytical methods enable researchers to gain a deeper understanding of how mugwort changes under different processing conditions, thereby optimizing the production process. For example, chromatographic analysis can monitor the changing trends of the main active ingredients in mugwort; thermogravimetric analysis can determine the optimal baking temperature range; and electron microscopy helps to understand the microstructural characteristics of mugwort powder and its impact on combustion properties. These scientific and technological achievements provide a solid theoretical basis and technical support for improving the production process of qi moxa sticks.In summary, qi moxa sticks achieve maximum release of mugwort's active ingredients through hot and cold processing techniques. From gentle drying and fine pulverization in the cold process to precise temperature control and moderate charring in the hot process, every step is meticulously designed to preserve and stimulate the natural therapeutic properties of mugwort. This not only embodies the perfect fusion of traditional Chinese medicine wisdom and modern technology, but also provides moxibustion enthusiasts with a safe, effective, and comfortable health-preserving option. With in-depth research and technological advancements, we believe that qi moxa sticks will demonstrate their unique appeal in even more areas, safeguarding people's health.
