ISO/TS 25144-1

Traditional Chinese medicine — Vocabulary for device — Part 1: moxibustion device

This document provides vocabularies and definitions for moxibustion devices.

Médecine traditionnelle chinoise — Vocabulaire pour les dispositifs — Partie 1: Dispositif de moxibustion

General Information

• Status: Not Published
• ICS: 01.040.11 - Health care technology (Vocabularies)
• ICS: 11.040.99 - Other medical equipment
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 249 - Traditional Chinese medicine
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 249/WG 5 - Terminology and informatics
• Current Stage: 6000 - International Standard under publication
• Start Date: 26-May-2026
• Completion Date: 30-May-2026

Overview

ISO/TS 25144-1: Traditional Chinese medicine - Vocabulary for device - Part 1: Moxibustion device establishes standardized vocabulary and definitions for moxibustion devices in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Developed by ISO Technical Committee 249, this document is vital for manufacturers, practitioners, and regulators to ensure clarity, safety, and consistency in the description and application of moxibustion devices worldwide.

Moxibustion therapy involves the combustion of moxa floss (derived from mugwort leaves) to generate gentle heat on specific body areas, such as acupuncture points and meridians, to support health or treat conditions. As these devices evolve, ISO/TS 25144-1 provides a systemized terminology covering device types, components, materials, combustion processes, and usage specifications, thereby supporting accurate communication and global market access.

Key Topics

• Types of Moxibustion Devices

  • Moxa-heating device: Uses combustion-based or other heat sources for moxibustion.
  • Moxibustion device (moxa burner): Applies heat via combustion of moxa floss at the treatment site; includes both single-use and reusable forms.
  • Filtered and Smokeless Devices: Incorporate smoke reduction, filtration, or use materials that produce minimal smoke, supporting safer and cleaner clinical environments.
  • Moxibustion-like devices: Use non-combustion heat sources (not the main focus of this part).

• Device Components & Materials

  • Combustion chamber, vents, mesh, fixing bracket and needle, insulation pad, heat outlet, and covers: Defined to distinguish their function in device operation and patient safety.
  • Material specification: Vocabulary for materials such as wood, bamboo, metal, plastics, and heat-resistant plastics ensures precise communication of product construction.
  • Moxibustion materials: Definitions for moxa floss, carbonized moxa, and moxa ash, which directly affect therapeutic efficacy and operational safety.

• Combustion & Usage Terminology

  • Combustion process: Standard terms for combustion, complete combustion, temperature, and time, supporting consistent device performance measurements.
  • Operational actions: Ignite, quench, adjust heat, and fix-all critical for clear instructions and safe, effective therapies.

Applications

ISO/TS 25144-1 provides essential value in several practical scenarios:

• Manufacturing:
  Standardized terms help device manufacturers design, label, and market moxibustion products accurately, meeting regulatory and user expectations.
• Clinical Practice and Education:
  Practitioners benefit from consistent terminology in training, patient communication, and safety protocols, reducing risks of misuse.
• Regulatory Compliance:
  Regulatory authorities use the vocabulary to evaluate products, ensuring compliance with international safety and quality standards.
• Trade and Global Market Access:
  Common language eliminates ambiguity, facilitating trade and market expansion for companies exporting moxibustion equipment.
• Translation and Technical Documentation:
  Accurate definitions assist technical writers and translators producing user manuals, scientific literature, and marketing materials.

Related Standards

Organizations seeking comprehensive alignment with best practices for TCM devices and moxibustion technology may also reference:

• ISO 18666:2021 - Traditional Chinese medicine - General requirements of moxibustion devices
• ISO 21366:2019 - Traditional Chinese medicine - General requirements for smokeless moxibustion devices
• ISO/TS 16843-3:2017 - Health informatics - Categorial structures for representation of acupuncture - Part 3: Moxibustion

These related standards complement ISO/TS 25144-1 by providing broader or more specific requirements for device safety, efficacy, and quality assurance.

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Keywords: ISO/TS 25144-1, moxibustion device, traditional Chinese medicine, moxibustion terminology, TCM device standard, moxa floss, medical device vocabulary, moxibustion component definitions, international standard, device manufacturing, regulatory compliance.

Standards Content (Sample)

FINAL DRAFT
Technical
Specification
ISO/DTS 25144-1
ISO/TC 249/SC 1
Traditional Chinese medicine —
Secretariat: SAC
Vocabulary for device —
Voting begins on:
2026-03-30
Part 1:
moxibustion device
Voting terminates on:
2026-05-25
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT,
WITH THEIR COMMENTS, NOTIFICATION OF ANY
RELEVANT PATENT RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE
AND TO PROVIDE SUPPOR TING DOCUMENTATION.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL, TECHNO-
LOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND USER PURPOSES, DRAFT
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE
TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR POTENTIAL
TO BECOME STAN DARDS TO WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE
MADE IN NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
Reference number
ISO/DTS 25144-1:2026(en) © ISO 2026

FINAL DRAFT
ISO/DTS 25144-1:2026(en)
Technical
Specification
ISO/DTS 25144-1
ISO/TC 249/SC 1
Traditional Chinese medicine —
Secretariat: SAC
Vocabulary for device —
Voting begins on:
Part 1:
moxibustion device
Voting terminates on:
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT,
WITH THEIR COMMENTS, NOTIFICATION OF ANY
RELEVANT PATENT RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE
AND TO PROVIDE SUPPOR TING DOCUMENTATION.
© ISO 2026
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL, TECHNO-
LOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND USER PURPOSES, DRAFT
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR POTENTIAL
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
TO BECOME STAN DARDS TO WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE
MADE IN NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland Reference number
ISO/DTS 25144-1:2026(en) © ISO 2026

ii
ISO/DTS 25144-1:2026(en)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
3.1 Typological terms .1
3.2 Terms of components . .3
3.2.1 Combustion components . .3
3.2.2 Aeration and smoke extraction components .4
3.2.3 Heat insulation components .4
3.2.4 Accessories .5
3.3 Terms of materials .5
3.3.1 Materials for devices .5
3.3.2 Moxibustion material .5
3.4 Terms of combustion .6
3.5 Terms of usage and specification .6
3.5.1 Usage .6
3.5.2 Specification .7
Bibliography . 8
Index . 9

iii
ISO/DTS 25144-1:2026(en)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee 249, Traditional Medicine, Subcommittee SC 1,
Traditional Chinese Medicine.
A list of all parts in the ISO 25144 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

iv
ISO/DTS 25144-1:2026(en)
Introduction
Moxibustion is a therapy that uses moxa floss as main combustion material to apply thermal simulation on
the specific parts of the body surface, usually acupoints or meridians, to relieve symptoms or treat diseases.
A variety of forms of moxa-heating devices have been developed in order to improve the convenience of
moxibustion, prevent burns during the process of moxibustion, and reduce bad experiences such as smoke
in moxibustion, and sold globally.
As an important category of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) devices sold to and used by global
customers, moxibustion devices are now designed into different structures and shapes. Components for
combustion and smoke filtration have been redesigned in recent years. With the innovation of moxa-heating
devices, a large number of new vocabularies have emerged about the appellation, components, materials
for combustion and the device itself. However, manufacturers of moxa-heating devices lack a normative
guidance on vocabularies for their products, which results in inconsistent, arbitrary, improper use of words
in product introduction, user manuals, bringing confusion to consumers. In order to reduce the ambiguity of
language due to misusing vocabularies, protect the safety of consumers, and facilitate international trade, it
is necessary to have a set of standardized vocabularies for moxibustion devices.
ISO 25144 series provides a set of terms for devices used for TCM practices. This part covers vocabularies
for moxibustion devices which use combustion of moxa floss as heat source.
To meet the terminological needs of both manufacturers and customers, this document provides systemized
and fundamental terms for (see Figure 1 for relationship among these groups of terms):
a) the types, components and materials of moxibustion devices,
b) the combustion process,
c) operating the device and specifications.
Figure 1 — Relationship among terms
As the market of moxa-heating devices is growing, this document is continuously updated to include
upcoming terms of new moxibustion devices on the global market.
...

ISO/DTS 25144-1
ISO/TC 249/SC 1
ISO/CD TS 25144-1(en)
Secretariat:  SAC
Date: 2026-03-16
Traditional Chinese medicine — Vocabulary for device —
Part 1:
moxibustion device
ISO/CD TSDTS 25144-1:2026(en)
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication
may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
or posting on the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO
at the address below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: + 41 22 749 01 11
E-mail: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
ISO/CD TSDTS 25144-1:2026(en)
Contents
Foreword . Error! Bookmark not defined.
Introduction . Error! Bookmark not defined.
Scope . Error! Bookmark not defined.
Normative references . Error! Bookmark not defined.
Terms and definitions . Error! Bookmark not defined.
Typological terms . Error! Bookmark not defined.
Terms of components . Error! Bookmark not defined.
Terms of materials . Error! Bookmark not defined.
Terms of combustion . Error! Bookmark not defined.
Terms of usage and specification . Error! Bookmark not defined.
Bibliography . Error! Bookmark not defined.
Foreword . Error! Bookmark not defined.
Introduction . Error! Bookmark not defined.
Scope . Error! Bookmark not defined.
Normative references . Error! Bookmark not defined.
Terms and definitions . Error! Bookmark not defined.
Typological terms . Error! Bookmark not defined.
Terms of components . Error! Bookmark not defined.
Terms of materials . Error! Bookmark not defined.
Terms of combustion . Error! Bookmark not defined.
Terms of usage and specification . Error! Bookmark not defined.
Bibliography . Error! Bookmark not defined.

iii
ISO/CD TSDTS 25144-1:2026(en)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types of
ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent rights
in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO [had/had not] received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that this
may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee 249, Traditional Medicine, Subcommittee SC 1,
Traditional Chinese Medicine.
A list of all parts in the ISO 25144 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
iv
ISO/CD TSDTS 25144-1:2026(en)
Introduction
Moxibustion is a therapy that uses moxa floss as main combustion material to apply thermal simulation on the
specific parts of the body surface, usually acupoints or meridians, to relieve symptoms or treat diseases. A
variety of forms of moxa-heating devices have been developed in order to improve the convenience of
moxibustion, prevent burns during the process of moxibustion, and reduce bad experiences such as smoke in
moxibustion, and sold globally.
As an important category of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) devices sold to and used by global customers,
moxibustion devices are now designed into different structures and shapes. Components for combustion and
smoke filtration have been redesigned in recent years. With the innovation of moxa-heating devices, a large
number of new vocabularies have emerged about the appellation, components, materials for combustion and
the device itself. However, manufacturers of moxa-heating devices lack a normative guidance on vocabularies
for their products, which results in inconsistent, arbitrary, improper use of words in product introduction,
user manuals, bringing confusion to consumers. In order to reduce the ambiguity of language due to misusing
vocabularies, protect the safety of consumers, and facilitate international trade, it is necessary to have a set of
standardized vocabularies for moxibustion devices.
ISO 25144 series provides a set of terms for devices used for TCM practices. This part covers vocabularies for
moxibustion devices which use combustion of moxa floss as heat source.
To meet the terminological needs of both manufacturers and customers, this document provides systemized
and fundamental terms for (see Figure 1Figure 1 for relationship among these groups of terms):
a) the types, components and materials of moxibustion devices,
Formatted: Numbered + Level: 1 + Numbering Style: a,
b, c, … + Start at: 1 + Alignment: Left + Aligned at: 0
b) the combustion process, and
cm + Indent at: 0 cm
c) operating the device and specifications.
v
ISO/CD TSDTS 25144-1:2026(en)
Figure 1 — Relationship among terms
As the market of moxa-heating devices is growing, this document will beis continuously updated to include
upcoming terms of new moxibustion devices on the global market.
vi
ISO/CD TSDTS 25144-1:2026(en)
Traditional Chinese medicine — Vocabulary for device —
Part 1:
moxibustion device
1 Scope
This document provides vocabularies and definitions for moxibustion devices.
This document is not applicable to moxibustion-like devices whose heat source is not combustion, e.g. electric
moxibustion devices.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
Formatted: Font: Not Italic
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
3.1 Typological terms
3.1.1
Formatted: TermNum3
3.1.1
moxa-heating device
apparatus that uses combustion of moxa floss (3.3.2.2)(3.3.2.2) as heat source or other heat sources to apply
gentle heat to moxibustion site (3.5.2.3)(3.5.2.3)
3.1.2
moxibustion device
Formatted: Default Paragraph Font
moxa burner
apparatus that uses combustion (3.4.1)(3.4.1) of moxa floss (3.3.2.2)(3.3.2.2) as heat source to apply gentle
heat to moxibustion site (3.5.2.3)(3.5.2.3)
EXAMPLE Moxibustion with tube, such as a short moxa roll with a cardboard base and a moxa tube (made of
cardboard) that is single-use and developed as an alternative to direct moxibustion.
Note 1 to entry: Moxibustion devices are intended for single or repeated usage, and include those accessories as defined
by the manufacturers necessary to enable the normal use of the device. See Figure 2Figure 3Figure 4See Figure 2Figure
3Figure 4 for common structures of moxibustion devices.
ISO/CD TSDTS 25144-1:2026(en)
Key
1 body of moxibustion device
2 combustion chamber
3 vents
4 heat outlet
5 mesh
6 fixing needle
7 fixing bracket
8 moxibustion material
9 moxibustion site
10 insulation pad
11 vent lid
Figure 2 — moxibustion— Moxibusti
...