ISO/TS 25144-1:2026

• Abstract:

  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.

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 03-Aug-2026
• 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: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 04-Aug-2026
• Due Date: 28-May-2027
• Completion Date: 04-Aug-2026

ISO/TS 25144-1:2026 is an ISO Technical Specification that provides vocabularies and definitions for moxibustion devices. It standardizes the terms used for devices that apply gentle heat by combustion of moxa floss, so manufacturers, writers of user information, and buyers can describe the same device types and parts in the same way.

What does ISO/TS 25144-1:2026 specify?

ISO/TS 25144-1:2026 specifies terminology for moxibustion devices and the related parts, materials, combustion concepts, and usage terms used with them. It applies to combustion-based moxibustion devices and excludes moxibustion-like devices that use a non-combustion heat source, such as electric moxibustion devices.

The document is organized into:

• Clause 1 - Scope
• Clause 2 - Normative references
• Clause 3 - Terms and definitions, with groups for typological terms, components, materials, combustion, and usage/specification
• Bibliography
• Index

What are the key requirements of ISO/TS 25144-1:2026?

ISO/TS 25144-1:2026 is mainly a controlled vocabulary document, so the key “requirements” are the distinctions it sets out between device types, parts, materials, and operating terms. In practice, these definitions matter because they shape product descriptions, labels, manuals, and technical discussions.

Device types and scope of use

Clause 3.1 defines a moxibustion device as an apparatus that uses combustion of moxa floss as the heat source to apply gentle heat to a moxibustion site. Clause 3.1.3 defines a moxibustion-like device separately as one that uses heat sources other than combustion. This distinction matters when classifying products and deciding whether the vocabulary in this document applies.

Clause 3.1.2.1 defines a filtered moxibustion device as one that absorbs and reduces smoke caused by combustion, while Clause 3.1.2.2 defines a smokeless moxibustion device as one that releases no or little smoke and bad odor. In practice, these terms help describe smoke-control features clearly in product information.

Main parts and functions

Clause 3.2 identifies the main device parts, including the body of moxibustion device, combustion chamber, moxibustion heat outlet, vents, vent lid, smoke discharger, insulation pad, and cover. The body holds the moxibustion material, the combustion chamber is where burning occurs, and the heat outlet faces the treatment site. This is useful for design reviews, spare-parts lists, and user instructions.

Clause 3.2.3.1 defines the insulation pad as a thin material placed between the heat outlet and the moxibustion site to reduce thermal conductivity and help prevent burns. When a pad is used, it is intended to be in direct contact with the moxibustion site. That matters for safe setup and for describing how the device is positioned on the body.

Materials and combustion terminology

Clause 3.3 covers device materials such as wood, bamboo, metal, plastic, and heat resistant plastic, and it defines moxibustion material and moxa floss. Clause 3.4 defines combustion, complete combustion, combustion temperature, combustion time, temperature control, constant temperature, and thermal conductivity. These terms support product testing, performance descriptions, and heat-management discussions.

Usage and specification terms

Clause 3.5 defines ignite, quench, adjust heat, and fix, together with moxibustion temperature, flushing, moxibustion site, moxibustion dose, and burn. These terms matter in operating instructions because they describe how the device is started, controlled, positioned, and assessed during use.

What terms does ISO/TS 25144-1:2026 define?

• Moxibustion device - An apparatus that uses combustion of moxa floss to apply gentle heat to a moxibustion site.
• Filtered moxibustion device - A moxibustion device that absorbs and reduces combustion smoke.
• Smokeless moxibustion device - A moxibustion device that gives off no or little smoke and bad odor.
• Moxibustion-like device - An apparatus that applies gentle heat to a moxibustion site using a heat source other than combustion.
• Moxibustion material - The material burned in moxibustion to release heat and medicinal substances to the site.
• Moxa floss - A cotton-like moxibustion material made by grinding dried mugwort leaves.
• Moxibustion dose - The amount of moxibustion material used together with the time of application.

Who uses ISO/TS 25144-1:2026?

ISO/TS 25144-1:2026 is used by manufacturers of traditional Chinese medicine devices, product designers, technical writers, and quality teams who need consistent terminology for device descriptions and manuals. It is also useful for buyers, distributors, and other customers who compare products, evaluate features such as smoke reduction or insulation, and check that terminology in catalogues and instructions is consistent.

What does the ISO/TS 25144-1:2026 document contain?

ISO/TS 25144-1:2026 contains a term list organized by topic, with definitions for device types, components, materials, combustion concepts, and usage terms. The document also includes a foreword and introduction that explain why common terminology is needed for moxibustion devices. Figure 1 shows the relationship among the term groups, and Figures 2 to 4 show common structures of moxibustion devices. The bibliography points to related ISO documents used for some source definitions, and the index helps readers find terms quickly.

Technical
Specification
ISO/TS 25144-1
First edition
Traditional Chinese medicine —
2026-08
Vocabulary for device —
Part 1:
moxibustion device
Médecine traditionnelle chinoise — Vocabulaire pour les
dispositifs —
Partie 1: Dispositif de moxibustion
Reference number
© ISO 2026
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
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Published in Switzerland
ii
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
Foreword
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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
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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
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iv
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.

v
Technical Specification ISO/TS 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 defini
...