An umbilical part beeswax coated traditional Chinese medicine moxa stick with the functions of soothing liver and strengthening spleen and a preparation method thereof

Abstract

This invention discloses a beeswax-coated moxibustion stick for the navel with liver-soothing and spleen-strengthening effects, and its preparation method. The moxibustion stick has a double-layer structure, consisting of a hollow herbal moxibustion core and a fully beeswax-coated layer, without moxa wool. The herbal moxibustion core is composed of Bupleurum chinense, Angelica sinensis, Paeonia lactiflora, Atractylodes macrocephala (fried), Poria cocos, Glycyrrhiza uralensis (processed), Mentha haplocalyx, and Zingiber officinale, possessing liver-soothing and spleen-strengthening effects. The beeswax coating layer accounts for 70%–90% of the total weight of the moxibustion stick, with a thickness of 1mm–2mm, enabling temperature control to prevent scalding, preventing ash shedding, locking in medicinal components, and enhancing structural strength and moisture resistance. The moxibustion stick is cylindrical, with a diameter of 15mm–16mm, and lengths of 170mm, 250mm, and 300mm. The hollow interior ensures stable and gentle combustion. The preparation method uses a combination of roll forming and wax impregnation, without adding chemical adhesives. This invention is safe to use, has stable efficacy, is suitable for navel moxibustion, and has good prospects for industrial production.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of external moxibustion technology in traditional Chinese medicine, specifically relating to a special Chinese medicine moxibustion stick for the navel with a beeswax-coated structure that has the effect of soothing the liver and strengthening the spleen, and its preparation method. Background Technology

[0002] Liver Qi stagnation and spleen deficiency syndrome is a common syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinical practice. It is mostly caused by emotional imbalance, stagnation of liver Qi, and its adverse effects on the spleen. Clinical manifestations include chest and rib pain, depression or irritability, loss of appetite, abdominal distension and loose stools, and weakness of limbs. The routine clinical treatment mainly involves oral administration of Xiaoyao San-type formulas. However, some patients have problems such as poor medication adherence, gastrointestinal intolerance, and first-pass effect of the liver, which affect long-term use.

[0003] The navel (Shenque acupoint) is characterized by thin skin, rich blood supply, and high permeability, making it a preferred treatment site for external application of traditional Chinese medicine and moxibustion. It can regulate organ function through the synergistic effect of heat stimulation and transdermal drug absorption. However, existing navel moxibustion products mostly use ordinary moxa sticks or simple moxa sticks with added traditional Chinese medicine, which have the following technical shortcomings: 1. It has no outer protective structure, burns quickly, and has a high surface temperature. The delicate skin around the navel is easily burned and blistered, resulting in poor safety. 2. The combustion process easily produces ash and sparks, posing a safety hazard and affecting the moxibustion experience; 3. The volatile active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine are easily lost during storage and combustion, resulting in low transdermal absorption efficiency and poor efficacy stability; 4. The moxibustion sticks have a loose structure, are easily broken, and easily absorb moisture, resulting in insufficient stability during storage and use; 5. The formula is highly versatile, but lacks precise compatibility with clear effects on soothing the liver and strengthening the spleen, resulting in limited clinical conditioning effects; 6. Contains moxa wool, and is not suitable for people who are allergic to moxa smoke, or have yin deficiency and excessive internal heat. Its application scope is limited.

[0004] Currently, there are no existing moxibustion sticks for the navel that are fully coated with beeswax, have a hollow core of pure Chinese herbal medicine, and possess clear effects in soothing the liver and strengthening the spleen. Therefore, developing a safe, temperature-controlled, long-lasting, structurally stable, precisely formulated, and widely applicable moxibustion stick specifically for the navel has significant clinical value and market potential. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of existing technologies and provide a beeswax-coated moxibustion stick for the navel with liver-soothing and spleen-strengthening effects, as well as its preparation method. This invention's core innovations are full beeswax coating, a hollow pure Chinese herbal core, and precise formulation for liver-soothing and spleen-strengthening. It contains no moxa wool and achieves comprehensive effects including temperature control to prevent burns, prevention of ash shedding, retention of medicinal efficacy, structural stability, and clear efficacy.

[0006] I. Product Structure The moxa stick described in this invention has a double-layer structure, including an inner hollow Chinese herbal moxa stick core and a beeswax coating layer that completely covers the outside of it, and does not contain moxa wool.

[0007] II. Formula for Traditional Chinese Medicine Moxibustion Sticks Bupleurum 10-30 parts, for raw use with stems removed; Angelica sinensis 10-30 parts, for wine washing or raw use; Paeonia lactiflora 12-36 parts, for stir-frying; Atractylodes macrocephala 12-36 parts, for stir-frying; Poria cocos 12-36 parts, for raw use; Glycyrrhiza uralensis 6-18 parts, for honey-processing; Mentha haplocalyx 6-18 parts, for raw use; Zingiber officinale 6-20 parts, for raw use, sliced.

[0008] Mechanism of action: Bupleurum root is the chief ingredient, used to soothe the liver, relieve depression, and regulate Qi. Angelica sinensis and white peony root are the assistant ingredients, used to nourish blood, soften the liver, and relieve pain. Atractylodes macrocephala (fried), Poria cocos, and ginger are used to strengthen the spleen, replenish Qi, and warm the middle Jiao, improving symptoms such as abdominal distension, loose stools, and fatigue caused by spleen deficiency. Peppermint helps to disperse liver stagnation, while prepared licorice root replenishes Qi, strengthens the middle Jiao, and harmonizes the effects of the other herbs. The entire formula soothes the liver without depleting Qi and strengthens the spleen without being cloying, demonstrating a clear effect of soothing the liver and strengthening the spleen.

[0009] III. Beeswax Coating Parameters The amount of beeswax used accounts for 70% to 90% of the total weight of the moxa stick (this total weight includes the hollow Chinese herbal moxa stick core and the beeswax binder added inside); the coating method is to immerse the whole stick in molten beeswax to achieve full coverage and full sealing; the coating layer thickness is 1mm to 2mm; the beeswax melting temperature is 90℃ to 100℃; the immersion time is 5 seconds to 10 seconds.

[0010] The beeswax coating serves several purposes: temperature control and burn prevention, controlling the burning speed, preventing ash and sparks from flying, locking in the volatile components of traditional Chinese medicine, enhancing the mechanical strength of the moxa stick, preventing moisture and breakage, extending the duration of the warming effect, and forming an oily sealing film after melting to promote transdermal drug penetration.

[0011] It should be noted that the traditional Chinese medicine formula used in this invention is a modified version of Xiaoyao San. Xiaoyao San, recorded in the *Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang*, is a classic formula in traditional Chinese medicine clinically recognized for its liver-soothing and spleen-strengthening effects. It consists of Bupleurum, Angelica sinensis, Paeonia lactiflora, Atractylodes macrocephala, Poria cocos, Glycyrrhiza uralensis (processed), Mentha haplocalyx, and Zingiber officinale. Its liver-soothing and spleen-strengthening effects are well-known in the art. Therefore, those skilled in the art can reasonably expect that the formula of this invention will have liver-soothing and spleen-strengthening effects based on existing technology.

[0012] IV. Overall Specifications The moxibustion stick is cylindrical; the overall diameter is 15mm to 16mm; the length is divided into three levels: 170mm, 250mm and 300mm; the internal structure is hollow, which is conducive to uniform ventilation and combustion, so that the heat is stable and gentle.

[0013] V. Preparation Method (1) Pulverize Chinese medicine: Pulverize each herb separately and pass it through a 100-200 mesh sieve; (2) Mix and stir: Mix according to the ratio, add a small amount of molten beeswax as a binder, and mechanically stir for 3-5 minutes; (3) Roll forming: Use the rolling process to make hollow moxa stick cores without adding other chemical binders; (4) Melt beeswax: Heat beeswax to 90℃-100℃ to completely melt it; (5) Full beeswax coating: Immerse the moxa stick core completely in molten beeswax for 5-10 seconds to form a continuous and uniform fully enclosed outer layer; (6) Cool and shape: Cool naturally for 1-3 minutes; (7) Cut, inspect, and package.

[0014] VI. Beneficial Effects Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: 1. Precise formulation: The formula is precisely formulated with 8 Chinese herbs, which emphasize both soothing the liver and strengthening the spleen, directly targeting the core pathogenesis of liver stagnation and spleen deficiency. It has a clear effect of soothing the liver and strengthening the spleen and has strong clinical applicability. 2. High safety and comfortable experience: Free of moxa wool, avoiding the drawbacks of moxa smoke allergies and the dryness caused by moxa leaves. The beeswax-coated structure absorbs heat and melts during combustion, keeping the surface temperature of the moxa stick stable within a safe range of 40-50℃, completely eliminating the risk of burns, and it does not shed ash or produce sparks; 3. Stable locking effect and strong permeability: The dense beeswax coating forms a sealing barrier, effectively locking in volatile medicinal components such as menthol and preventing their loss during storage and combustion. Simultaneously, the oily sealing film formed after the beeswax melts can promote transdermal absorption of traditional Chinese medicine and improve bioavailability. 4. Stable structure and easy storage and transportation: The beeswax coating significantly improves the mechanical strength and moisture-proof performance of the moxa stick, solving the problems of pure Chinese herbal powder moxa sticks being easy to break and absorb moisture; 5. Long-lasting and evenly warm: The hollow structure combined with beeswax temperature control results in a stable and reduced burning speed, extending the burning time by about 80% and increasing the flexural strength by more than 3 times. The warm stimulation is continuous, even, and gentle, making it suitable for long-term moxibustion. 6. Simple process, suitable for industrialization: It adopts roll forming and wax impregnation processes, which do not require complicated equipment, and the quality is stable and controllable, making it suitable for large-scale production; 7. Clear and predictable efficacy: Based on the classic formula of Xiaoyao San, the liver-soothing and spleen-strengthening effects of this invention are well known in the field and can be reasonably expected without clinical trials. At the same time, the beeswax coating structure further ensures the stable delivery of the active ingredients. Detailed Implementation

[0015] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments.

[0016] Example 1 A type of moxibustion stick with beeswax coating on the navel, 170mm in length, possessing liver-soothing and spleen-strengthening effects: 1. The ratio of Chinese herbal moxibustion core (parts by weight): Bupleurum 20 parts, Angelica sinensis 20 parts, Paeonia lactiflora 24 parts, Atractylodes macrocephala 24 parts, Poria cocos 24 parts, Glycyrrhiza uralensis (processed) 12 parts, Mentha haplocalyx 12 parts, Zingiber officinale 12 parts. 2. Beeswax coating: accounts for 80% of the total weight, with a thickness of approximately 1.5 mm; 3. Preparation method: (1) Grind the medicinal materials separately and pass them through a 150-mesh sieve; (2) Mix them according to the ratio, add a small amount of molten beeswax and stir for 4 minutes; (3) Roll and press them into hollow moxibustion cores; (4) Heat the beeswax to 95℃ to melt it, and immerse the moxibustion cores in it for 8 seconds; (5) Cool naturally for 2 minutes, cut them into 170mm pieces, inspect and package them. 4. Performance indicators: Burning time approximately 19 minutes; surface temperature 42℃~48℃; menthol retention rate 88% after 3 months; flexural strength 7.9N; moisture absorption rate 3.0%.

[0017] Example 2 A type of moxibustion stick with beeswax coating around the navel, 250mm in length, possessing liver-soothing and spleen-strengthening effects: 1. The ratio of Chinese herbal moxibustion core (parts by weight): Bupleurum 15 parts, Angelica sinensis 15 parts, Paeonia lactiflora 18 parts, Atractylodes macrocephala 18 parts, Poria cocos 18 parts, Glycyrrhiza uralensis (processed) 9 parts, Mentha haplocalyx 9 parts, Zingiber officinale 9 parts. 2. Beeswax coating: accounts for 75% of the total weight, with a thickness of approximately 1.2 mm; 3. Preparation method: (1) Crush and pass through a 200-mesh sieve; (2) Add molten beeswax and stir for 3 minutes; (3) Roll and press into a 250mm hollow core; (4) Impregnate with beeswax at 100℃ for 6 seconds; (5) Cool for 1.5 minutes and package; 4. Performance indicators: Burning time approximately 28 minutes; surface temperature 41℃~47℃; menthol retention rate 89% after 3 months; flexural strength 8.5N; moisture absorption rate 3.2%.

[0018] Example 3 A type of moxibustion stick with beeswax coating around the navel, 300mm in length, possessing liver-soothing and spleen-strengthening effects: 1. The ratio of Chinese herbal moxibustion core (parts by weight): Bupleurum 25 parts, Angelica sinensis 25 parts, Paeonia lactiflora 30 parts, Atractylodes macrocephala 30 parts, Poria cocos 30 parts, Glycyrrhiza uralensis (processed) 15 parts, Mentha haplocalyx 15 parts, Zingiber officinale 15 parts. 2. Beeswax coating: accounts for 85% of the total weight, with a thickness of approximately 1.8 mm; 3. Preparation method: (1) Crush and pass through a 100-mesh sieve; (2) Add molten beeswax and stir for 5 minutes; (3) Roll and press into a 300mm hollow core; (4) Impregnate with beeswax at 90℃ for 10 seconds; (5) Cool for 3 minutes and package; 4. Performance indicators: Burning time approximately 33 minutes; surface temperature 43℃~49℃; menthol retention rate 87% after 3 months; flexural strength 9.2N; moisture absorption rate 2.8%.

[0019] Comparative Example 1 (170mm in length, without beeswax coating) 1. The proportions of the Chinese herbal moxibustion stick cores are the same as in Example 1 (Bupleurum 20 parts, Angelica sinensis 20 parts, Paeonia lactiflora 24 parts, Atractylodes macrocephala 24 parts, Poria cocos 24 parts, Glycyrrhiza uralensis 12 parts, Mentha haplocalyx 12 parts, Zingiber officinale 12 parts). 2. The preparation method is the same as in Example 1, but the step of fully coating with beeswax is omitted; 3. Performance indicators: Burning time approximately 10 minutes; maximum surface temperature during combustion >210℃; menthol retention rate of 53% after 3 months; flexural strength 2.1N; moisture absorption rate 12.3%.

[0020] Comparative Example 2 (250mm in length, without beeswax coating) 1. The proportions of the Chinese herbal moxibustion stick cores are the same as in Example 2 (Bupleurum 15 parts, Angelica sinensis 15 parts, Paeonia lactiflora 18 parts, Atractylodes macrocephala 18 parts, Poria cocos 18 parts, Glycyrrhiza uralensis 9 parts, Mentha haplocalyx 9 parts, Zingiber officinale 9 parts). 2. The preparation method is the same as in Example 2, but the step of fully coating with beeswax is omitted; 3. Performance indicators: Burning time approximately 15 minutes; maximum surface temperature during combustion >210℃; menthol retention rate of 52% after 3 months; flexural strength 2.3N; moisture absorption rate 11.8%.

[0021] Comparative Example 3 (300mm in length, without beeswax coating) 1. The proportions of the Chinese herbal moxibustion stick cores are the same as in Example 3 (Bupleurum 25 parts, Angelica sinensis 25 parts, Paeonia lactiflora 30 parts, Atractylodes macrocephala 30 parts, Poria cocos 30 parts, Glycyrrhiza uralensis 15 parts, Mentha haplocalyx 15 parts, Zingiber officinale 15 parts). 2. The preparation method is the same as in Example 3, but the step of fully coating with beeswax is omitted; 3. Performance indicators: Burning time approximately 18 minutes; maximum surface temperature during combustion >210℃; menthol retention rate of 51% after 3 months; flexural strength 2.0N; moisture absorption rate 12.5%.

[0022] The above data show that all embodiments of the present invention can achieve stable low-temperature combustion, long-lasting release, excellent retention rate of highly volatile medicinal components, and good mechanical strength and moisture resistance. Through a beeswax-coated hollow structure, the present invention successfully solves technical problems such as burns, ash shedding, easy loss of medicinal efficacy, and easy breakage and moisture absorption of moxa sticks. It also has clear liver-soothing and spleen-strengthening effects, demonstrating significant clinical practical value and industrial production prospects.

Claims

1. A navel part beeswax coated traditional Chinese medicine moxa stick with the functions of soothing liver and strengthening spleen, characterized in that, The moxibustion stick has a double-layer structure, comprising, from the inside out: a hollow medicinal herb core, and a beeswax coating layer completely covering the hollow medicinal herb core; the moxibustion stick does not contain moxa wool; the hollow medicinal herb core is made from the following raw materials in parts by weight: Bupleurum chinense 10-30 parts, Angelica sinensis 10-30 parts, Paeonia lactiflora 12-36 parts, Atractylodes macrocephala 12-36 parts, Poria cocos 12-36 parts, Glycyrrhiza uralensis (processed) 6-18 parts, Mentha haplocalyx 6-18 parts, and Zingiber officinale 6-20 parts.

2. The umbilical navel beeswax coated traditional Chinese medicine moxa stick with the functions of soothing liver and strengthening spleen according to claim 1, characterized in that, The raw materials for the hollow Chinese herbal moxibustion stick core are composed of the following components in parts by weight: Bupleurum chinense 10-30 parts, raw and with stems removed; Angelica sinensis 10-30 parts, washed with wine or raw; Paeonia lactiflora 12-36 parts, stir-fried; Atractylodes macrocephala 12-36 parts, stir-fried; Poria cocos 12-36 parts, raw; Glycyrrhiza uralensis 6-18 parts, honey-fried; Mentha haplocalyx 6-18 parts, raw; and Zingiber officinale 6-20 parts, raw and sliced.

3. The umbilical navel beeswax coated traditional Chinese medicine moxa stick with the functions of soothing liver and strengthening spleen according to claim 1, characterized in that, The beeswax coating has the following parameters: the amount of beeswax used accounts for 70% to 90% of the total weight of the moxa stick; the thickness of the coating is 1 mm to 2 mm; the beeswax coating is a fully enclosed structure formed by immersing the entire piece in molten beeswax.

4. The umbilical navel beeswax coated traditional Chinese medicine moxa stick with the functions of soothing liver and strengthening spleen according to claim 1, characterized in that, The overall specifications of the moxibustion stick are as follows: the overall shape is cylindrical; the overall diameter is 15mm to 16mm; the length is 170mm, 250mm or 300mm; and the interior is hollow.

5. The beeswax-coated moxibustion stick for the navel with liver-soothing and spleen-strengthening effects according to claim 1, characterized in that, The beeswax coating melts and absorbs heat when the moxa stick is burned, thus controlling the surface temperature of the moxa stick within the range of 40℃ to 50℃.

6. The beeswax-coated moxibustion stick for the navel with liver-soothing and spleen-strengthening effects according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hollow Chinese herbal moxibustion strip core is made from the raw materials through crushing, mixing, and rolling molding, without the addition of chemical binders.

7. A method for preparing the umbilical navel beeswax coated traditional Chinese medicine moxa stick with the functions of dispersing liver and strengthening spleen as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The process includes the following steps: (1) Pulverizing Chinese medicine: Pulverize each herb separately and pass it through a 100-200 mesh sieve; (2) Mixing and stirring: Mix according to the ratio, add molten beeswax as a binder, and mechanically stir for 3-5 minutes; (3) Roll forming: Use the rolling process to make hollow moxa stick cores without adding other chemical binders; (4) Melting beeswax: Heat beeswax to 90℃-100℃ to completely melt it; (5) Full beeswax coating: Immerse the moxa stick cores completely in molten beeswax for 5-10 seconds to form a continuous and uniform fully enclosed outer layer; (6) Cooling and shaping: Cool naturally for 1-3 minutes; (7) Cutting, inspection, and packaging.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, The immersion time in molten beeswax in step (5) is 6 to 10 seconds, and the melting temperature of beeswax is 90°C to 100°C.

9. The use of the beeswax-coated moxibustion stick for the navel as described in any one of claims 1 to 6 in the preparation of a moxibustion product for soothing the liver and strengthening the spleen.