Experimental Study on the Characteristics of Combustion in the Indirect Moxibustion with Ginger

격강구(隔薑灸)의 연소(燃燒) 특성(特性)에 관한 실험적(實驗的) 연구(硏究)

Objective : The purpose of this study is to investigate the mechanism and effect of moxibustion with ginger objectively, to be used as the quantitative data through the measurement of temperature, and to grasp the thermodynamic characteristics of moxibustion with ginger. Methods : We have selected the indirect moxibustion with ginger among many indirect moxibustions. We produced a slice of ginger to a thickness of 3, 4, 5mm and the moxa cone having a diameter of 8mm, a height of 10mm for making a comparative study of characteristics of moxa cone according to change the density. We have made a comparative study of the thermodynamic characteristics of moxibustion with ginger with or without holes. We measured combustion times and calculated temperatures, temperature gradients in each period during a combustion of moxa. Results : 1. We found out it was not significantly influenced by the existence of the punched holes in a slice of ginger because the punched holes grow smaller immediately. 2. The duration of the preheating period became longer according to thickness of a slice of ginger and was not directly proportional to the density of moxa cone. The duration of the preheating period was extremely short when it burned a 100mg moxa cone. That was influenced by the density of moxa cone. 3. The duration of the heating period became longer according to thickness of a slice of ginger likewise the preheating period bacause the density of moxa cone had effected on the combustion characteristics. The duration of the heating period was extremely long when it burned a 100mg moxa cone. On the other hand the maximum temperature in the heating period was appeared that the combustion with a thin slice of ginger was highest and measured that the large density of moxa cone was higher. But the maximum temperature in the heating period was about $37.8^{\circ}C{\sim}44.2^{\circ}C$respectively lower in others. 4. The duration of the retaining period was some doubling shorter than that of the heating period that is concerned the shape of moxa cone. The temperature measured the close of a retaining period was $36.6^{\circ}C{\sim}41.8^{\circ}C$, that was considerably lower temperature. 5. The mean ascending temperature velocity and the mean descending temperature velocity were $0.042{\sim}0.073^{\circ}C/sec$, $-0.027{\sim}-0.064^{\circ}C/sec$ respectively. Then, the ascending temperature velocity was some faster than the ascending temperature velocity. Conclusions : The quantitative standard for obtaining the effective heating stimulation is that if the slice of ginger made a hole in it, we had to use the needle above 1.5mm diameter. The recommended size of a slice ginger is the 14mm diameter and the 2~3mm thickness. The moxa cone is formed the conical shape that the base diameter was 8mm, the height was 10mm, the density was $600mg/cm^2$.