Medicated moxibustion sticks, also known as Ai sticks, are made by mixing traditional Chinese medicine with fine moxa wool. The mixture is tightly wrapped in three layers of thick paper, and the excess paper at both ends is twisted and sealed with egg white. The sticks are about 15-30cm long, similar in diameter to pure moxibustion sticks, or slightly thicker. There are mainly three types: regular medicated moxibustion sticks, Taiyi needles, and Leihuo needles. In recent years, medicated smokeless moxibustion sticks have emerged to meet the clinical needs.
(1) Regular medicated moxibustion sticks
Regular medicated moxibustion sticks are made by grinding equal amounts of cinnamon, dried ginger, clove, duhuo, xixin, bai zhi, realgar, cangzhu, mo yao, ru xiang, and Sichuan pepper into fine powder. The medicine powder is mixed into the moxa wool, with 6 grams of medicine powder added to each stick. The manufacturing process is the same as for pure moxibustion sticks.
Regular medicated moxibustion sticks
(2) Medicated smokeless moxibustion sticks
Medicated smokeless moxibustion sticks are made by mixing two parts pine resin, and one part each of bai zhi, xixin, qianghuo, xiaohuixiang, guangmuxiang, and clove, grinding them into 100-mesh powder. Take 15% of the medicine powder, about 85% of moxa charcoal powder, and about 4-5% of gum arabic powder, sift them through a 100-mesh sieve, and mix them evenly. Add the medicine mixture to a hot starch paste of about 5% and knead it into a uniform soft material. Use a large pill extruder to form different sizes of round wet sticks, and avoid deformation during drying. After drying, apply a layer of fine goldstone powder (or talcum powder, titanium dioxide) and white insect glue alcohol (or sodium carboxymethyl cellulose paste) on the surface, and package after drying.
Medicated smokeless moxibustion sticks
(3) Taiyi needles
Taiyi needles, also known as "Taiyi divine needles," are developed based on Leihuo needles. Han Yifeng's "Taiyi divine needle method" is the earliest specialized book on Taiyi divine needles.
When using, the medicated moxa is ignited, covered with several layers of paper or cloth, and pressed against the affected area. Because of its needle-like shape and the need for puncturing and pressing actions, it is called a "needle."
(4) Leihuo needles
Leihuo needles, also known as "Leihuo divine needles," were first mentioned in "Compendium of Materia Medica" volume six, in the section on "divine needles and fire." The method is similar to "Taiyi divine needles" and is the precursor to "Taiyi divine needles." The medicine formula consists of 60g of moxa wool, 10g each of agarwood, mu xiang, ru xiang, yin chen, qianghuo, dried ginger, and pangolin, and a small amount of musk (from "Complete Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion"). The manufacturing process, operation method, and indications are the same as for "Taiyi divine needles."
