Many moxibustion lovers will buy moxa sticks in batches for convenience, but if they are not stored properly, the moxa sticks will become damp, moldy or lose their medicinal properties. The storage of moxa sticks is not just "putting them in a cabinet"; it needs to avoid various factors that damage the quality. This blog will share the professional storage methods of moxa sticks, so that your moxa sticks can maintain good efficacy for a long time.
First of all, we need to clarify the key factors that affect the quality of moxa sticks. Moisture is the biggest enemy of moxa sticks. Moxa is a plant fiber, which has strong water absorption. Once it absorbs moisture in the air, it is easy to mold and grow bacteria. The medicinal components will also be decomposed, and the burning will be incomplete with black smoke. Direct sunlight will cause the effective components of moxa sticks to volatilize rapidly, making the medicinal properties weaker. High temperature will accelerate the oxidation of moxa sticks, and the moxa will become brittle and lose its original texture. In addition, moxa sticks have strong adsorption capacity and are easy to absorb odors in the environment, which will affect their own fragrance and efficacy.
Aiming at these factors, the first key point of moxa stick storage is sealed moisture-proof. For packaged moxa sticks with independent packaging, if they are not opened, they can be stored directly in a cool and dry place. After opening the package, it is necessary to seal the remaining moxa sticks in time. It is recommended to use a sealed bag with a zipper or a glass jar with a tight lid. Before sealing, you can put a pack of desiccant in it to enhance the moisture-proof effect. For bulk moxa sticks, they should be divided into small portions and stored in separate sealed containers to avoid repeated opening and causing moisture.
Avoiding direct sunlight and high temperature is the second key point. The storage location of moxa sticks should be cool and ventilated, such as a cabinet in the living room or a storage box in the bedroom. Do not put them on the balcony, window sill or near the stove, air conditioner and other places with high temperature or strong light. The suitable storage temperature for moxa sticks is 15-25 degrees Celsius. Too high or too low temperature will affect their quality. In hot summer, if the room temperature is too high, you can put the moxa sticks in the refrigerator for storage, but you must ensure that the packaging is sealed to prevent moisture and odor absorption.
Isolation and storage to prevent odor absorption is also an important aspect. Do not store moxa sticks with items that have strong odors, such as spices, cosmetics, detergents, etc. These odors will be absorbed by the moxa sticks, making the moxa sticks have a strange smell. When burned, the smoke will also have an odor, which affects the moxibustion experience and efficacy. It is best to set up a separate storage area for moxa sticks, or use a sealed container with good airtightness to isolate them from other items.
For different types of moxa sticks, the storage methods can be slightly adjusted. Smokeless moxa sticks are made of processed moxa, which are more sensitive to moisture. They need to be stored in a more sealed environment, and the desiccant should be replaced regularly. Electric moxa sticks (excluding the electronic part) should be stored in the same way as traditional moxa sticks, while the electronic part should be stored separately to avoid moisture damage. For moxa sticks with a long storage time (such as aged moxa sticks), it is necessary to check them regularly, once a month or so, to see if there is moisture, mold or odor, and to replace the desiccant in time.
How to judge whether the moxa stick has expired and cannot be used? First, look at the appearance: if there is mold, discoloration (such as turning black) or mildew spots on the surface, it cannot be used. Second, smell the smell: if there is a musty smell, chemical smell or no mugwort fragrance, it means the efficacy has been lost. Third, test the burning: if the moxa stick is difficult to ignite, burns unevenly or emits black smoke, it is no longer suitable for moxibustion.
Proper storage of moxa sticks is to protect their medicinal value. A pack of well-preserved moxa sticks can not only maintain good efficacy, but also avoid waste. Master these storage skills, let every moxa stick you buy play its maximum role, and provide solid support for your moxibustion health care.
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