Moxibustion instrument

Abstract

The moxibustion instrument shown here is a hollow cylindrical tube with chamfered edges made of glazed ceramic. The method of using the device is characterized by the user first filling the tube with pure moxa (Artemisia) wool or moxa mixed with herbs, and then lightly compressing it before lighting it. Once the device emits heat, it is ready for use. The moxibustion instrument can be used in a vertical position to diffuse heat near parts of the body, or in contact with these parts by rolling, tapping, striking, or rocking it in a horizontal position or resting on the chamfered edges. Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Moxibustion instrument

[0001] The moxibustion instrument presented here is a hollow cylindrical tube with chamfered edges made of glazed ceramic.

[0002] It is intended to be very close to or in contact with different parts of the body for therapeutic or wellness purposes, following in particular the path of the meridians. It allows for the combination of rhythm, pressure, and heat from the combustion of pure or herb-mixed moxa (or mugwort wool).

[0003] It is available in several sizes so that it is best suited to the parts of the body to be treated in the adult subject or child.

[0004] The user fills the moxibustion instrument with moxa wool (Artemisia wormwood) and compresses it moderately. The wool is then lit. Once the heat is evenly distributed over the surface of the tube, the tube is ready for use.

[0005] The tube according to the invention allows heat to be diffused by direct, safe contact with the areas of the body to be treated. Similar to moxibustion, the heat emanating from the tube allows it to work at the bloodstream level.

[0006] In a horizontal position, the moxibustion instrument can be rolled or used by percussion, or by movement or tapping in a vertical position. The chamfered outer edges allow for the application of various techniques, such as rocking and pressure, in a painless and comfortable manner.

[0007] The attached drawings illustrate the invention: - Figures [fig.1] and [fig.2] represent the instrument in perspective and in longitudinal section. Figures [Fig. 3] and [Fig. 4] depict a variant of the invention in which a shoulder is added to the base of the tube (1). This shoulder supports a cylindrical steel cage (2) containing a mixture of herbs with therapeutic properties. The mugwort would then be positioned above this cage to be subsequently burned. - Figures [fig.5] and [fig.6] represent the different dimensions that can be given to the tube. Previous art

[0008] The moxibustion instrument, the subject of the invention, represents an alternative to the Ontake bamboo tube used in the hot bamboo or warm bamboo technique.

[0009] The Ontake, made of bamboo, is currently used by Oran Kivity, a world-renowned British acupuncturist, who drew inspiration from the Japanese Tantake (short bamboo) method, to which he added the work of Dr. Manaka, who had discovered that energy circulated at different vibrational frequencies (rhythms) according to the meridians.

[0010] Bamboo tubes can be found in nature and sanded and chamfered. They must conform to a certain length and specific, regular external and internal diameters along their entire length. They do not meet current hygiene standards; they are neither washable nor sterilizable. When mugwort or moxa is burned, the bamboo also burns, which can give off smoky odors and causes rapid wear of the tube. The heat is not evenly distributed and dissipates quickly due to insufficient thermal inertia of the material, or the tube becomes too hot too quickly. Problem posed

[0011] The aim is to find a washable, sterilizable, solid and heat-resistant material with good thermal inertia, other than bamboo, to manufacture these hollow cylindrical tubes.

[0012] Depending on the parts of the body on which the technique is used, the heat must be able to be controlled and modulated.

[0013] Finally, the combustion must generate as little smoke odor as possible for the well-being of the subject being treated and thus guarantee a healthy environment. Technical solution

[0014] One material that provides a solution to this problem is glazed ceramic, also known as earthenware. Its manufacture and use are ancient. Its manufacturing process uses elements of nature that resonate with Chinese medicine, namely water, earth, and fire.

[0015] The aim is therefore to produce hollow cylindrical tubes with chamfered edges (1) as shown in [fig. 1] and the desired dimensions (diameters, lengths, and thicknesses) from clay ceramic covered with a tin-glazed or opaque enamel, white or colored. The dimensions of the tube and the amount of moxa introduced into the tube will determine the temperature reached at the surface of the tube.

[0016] The enamel is unaffected by air, water, and most chemicals. A properly enameled object can even be used for food. The enamel also gives the finished product hardness. The material is non-porous and does not allow dirt to become embedded. Thus, applying massage oil to the skin poses no problem when passing the tube over it. The ceramic is completely airtight. During combustion, the smoke remains trapped inside the tube, and there is very little odor and smoke. The weight of the finished tube allows for a good grip and a pleasant, smooth feel. Best way to implement the invention

[0017] The ceramic is made from a clay paste largely composed of chalk clay, feldspar, dolomite and silica which are found naturally on the surface of the Earth and whose composition is close to that of the latter.

[0018] The clay paste is shaped on a potter's wheel or extruded in a coiling machine to obtain a hollow cylindrical tube of the desired dimensions. The external edges are chamfered (1) in [fig. 1]. A logo is optionally punched on the external surface near the base of the tube (2) in [fig. 2].

[0019] After drying (from 8 days to 2 months, depending on the humidity and outside temperature) and sanding of the piece, the ceramic is placed in the kiln in bulk to obtain the bisque by high temperature firing (approximately 1000°-1100°C).

[0020] After being removed from the kiln (as cold as possible), the tube is coated with enamel applied with a brush in two coats or immersed in a bath using enameling tongs. Since the bisque is still permeable and porous, the enamel is absorbed. The drying time between the two coats must be respected. An additional coat of varnish may optionally be applied to increase the piece's durability.

[0021] The pieces are put back in the oven, taking care that they do not touch each other, to be cooked at a high temperature (1000°-1050°C).

[0022] After complete cooling to around 50°C, any roughness or defects are ground down. The enamel has hardened and forms a smooth, glossy, and waterproof protective layer on the bisque.

[0023] For aesthetic reasons, it is possible not to enamel the lower and upper surfaces of the tubes (3) [fig.l] in order to avoid marks caused by contact of the enamel with the pernettes or tripods on which the tubes rest during their firing in the kiln. Variants of the invention

[0024] The tubes according to the invention are made in different lengths, diameters and thicknesses as well as in different colors. The dimensions are inspired by the Tantake (short bamboo) used in Japanese moxibustion, the Ontake technique developed by Oran Kivity and the work of Felip Caudet, a moxibustion specialist in Spain.

[0025] These various, non-limiting dimensions allow for greater or lesser heat to be obtained at the surface of the tube, depending on the amount of mugwort (or moxa) burned inside. These different dimensions also allow for easier application depending on the part of the body being treated, whether in adults or children.

[0026] Hollow cylindrical tubes are mainly available in three sizes illustrated in figures [fig.5] and [fig.6]: - the small model, 40 mm long (1) [fig.5], 23 mm outer diameter (2) [fig.6] and 2.5 mm thick (3) [fig.6]: suitable for children and the face; - the standard model, 45mm long (1) [fig.5], 31mm outside diameter (2) [fig.6] and 3.5mm thick (3) [fig.6]: for multipurpose use -the large model, 80mm long (1) [fig.5], 33mm outer diameter (2) [fig.6] and 4mm thick (3) [fig.6]: suitable for the back and areas where the musculature is important. These dimensions are approximate, as the tubes are handmade. Other sizes are possible depending on requirements.

[0027] Thanks to the physical properties of enamel, the colors of ceramic tubes can be infinitely varied.

[0028] Hollow cylindrical tubes can be made of any other material such as stone, lava, or horn

[0029] An internal shoulder (1) [fig.4] can be fashioned at the base of the tube which can serve as a support for a cylindrical steel cage (2) [fig.3] and (2) [fig.4] containing a mixture of herbs with therapeutic properties, the mugwort would then be positioned above this cage to be subsequently burned. Advantages of the invention

[0030] Glazed ceramic moxibustion tubes offer the advantage of respecting the ancestral principles of Chinese medicine through the elements they are composed of, namely water, earth, and fire. They are the product of human craftsmanship.

[0031] The outer enamel layer ensures the hardness, strength, and durability of the finished product. The tube is therefore unaffected by air, water, and most chemicals. It is washable and sterilizable and meets the hygiene standards essential for use in a consultation setting. It is shock-resistant.

[0032] The moxibustion instrument can be used in a vertical, horizontal position or resting on the chamfers depending on the techniques used such as rolling, striking, rubbing, laying flat, tapping, touching, swinging or pressing.

[0033] The moxibustion instrument offers a smooth and regular surface. Its walls are of constant thickness, it can be produced in all dimensions and in different colors.

[0034] The different diameters, lengths and thicknesses of the tubes and the quantity of mugwort introduced to be burned inside the tube allow for modulation of the heat according to the desired temperature on the surface of the tube, and application to all parts of the body.

[0035] The combustion of mugwort or moxa in the hollow cylindrical tube generates less smoke odor than in the bamboo tube and does not cause wear of the tube since the ceramic resists fire.

[0036] The heat is much gentler and more uniform, it lasts longer thanks to the thermal inertia of the ceramic.

Claims

Demands

1. Moxibustion instrument intended for use in contact with or near parts of the human body, characterized in that the instrument consists of a hollow cylindrical tube made of glazed ceramic which gives it good thermal inertia and makes it washable, sterilizable and durable.

2. Moxibustion instrument according to claim 1 characterized in that it further comprises chamfered edges at its ends, which means that it can be used in a vertical position to diffuse heat near parts of the body, or be in contact with them by rolling, tapping, percussing or swinging in a horizontal position or resting on the chamfers.

3. Moxibustion instrument according to any one of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that it comprises different sizes according to three models to adapt to the morphology or different parts of the body: - the small model with a length of about 40mm, an outside diameter of about 23mm and a thickness of about 2.5mm for the child subject or the face; - the standard model with a length of about 45mm, an outside diameter of about 31mm and a thickness of about 3.5mm for versatile use; - the large model with a length of about 80mm, an outside diameter of about 33mm, and a thickness of about 4mm for the back and parts of the body where the musculature is significant.

4. A method of using the moxibustion device as described in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 characterized by the following steps: - a step of filling the tube with pure or mixed moxa (Artemisia) wool; - a step of lightly compressing the wool inside the tube; - a step of igniting the wool; - the device is ready for use when it gives off heat.

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