Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine that stimulates the body's acupuncture points by burning the heat generated by mugwort leaves, so as to achieve the purpose of harmonizing qi and blood and dredging meridians. Mugwort leaves are the main material of moxibustion, and its quality directly affects the effect of moxibustion. So, what are the characteristics of moxa leaves used for moxibustion?This article will introduce you to it.
1.Breed characteristics.
There are two main varieties of mugwort leaves: wild mugwort leaves and cultivated mugwort leaves. Wild mugwort leaves grow in the wild and have strong vitality and medicinal efficacy, but their yield is low and high. Artificially planted mugwort leaves are cultivated by artificial cultivation, and its growth environment is relatively superior, with high yield and relatively low yield. When choosing mugwort leaves, you can choose the right variety according to your needs and budget.
2.Color characteristics.
High-quality mugwort leaves are gray-green or yellow-green in color, with plump leaves and a soft texture. Mugwort leaves that are too bright in color may have been dyed and are not recommended. In addition, the color of mugwort leaves is also affected by the time of harvest, in general, mugwort leaves picked in spring are lighter in color, and those picked in summer and autumn are darker.
3.Aroma characteristics.
High-quality mugwort leaves have a strong aroma and give off a unique aromatic smell when burned. The stronger the aroma, the better the quality of mugwort leaves. If you smell a pungent smell or there is no aroma, it may be that the mugwort leaves are of poor quality or have not been stored properly.
4.Combustion characteristics.
High-quality mugwort leaves burn with great firepower, less smoke, and longer burning time. Inferior mugwort leaves burn with weaker firepower, more smoke, and shorter burning time. In addition, the ashes of high-quality mugwort leaves after burning are white or off-white, while the ashes of low-quality mugwort leaves after burning are black or grayish-black.
5.Storage features.
High-quality mugwort leaves should be stored properly away from moisture, heat and direct sunlight. When storing, mugwort leaves can be placed in a dry, ventilated, and dark place, such as bamboo tubes, cloth bags, etc. In addition, mugwort leaves can be dried to a semi-dry state and then stored in a sealed bag.
In short, moxa leaves used for moxibustion should have variety characteristics, color characteristics, aroma characteristics, combustion characteristics and storage characteristics. When selecting and using moxa leaves, attention should be paid to these characteristics to ensure the effectiveness and safety of moxibustion. At the same time, we should also pay attention to purchasing moxa leaf products from regular channels to avoid using inferior moxa leaves that affect the effect and health of moxibustion.