ISO/TS 6818:2024

Traditional Chinese medicine - Test method for moxa floss quality - Concentration of waste particles

This document specifies test methods for the quality assessment of moxa floss. It covers sample preparation, measurement and calculation of the concentration of waste particle, and delivery of moxa floss quality information. This document is applicable to any moxa floss products and moxa floss used in the moxibustion devices. It is not applicable to the moxa floss which is hardened with chemical ingredients or high pressure, or both, and carbonized moxa floss which is used for smokeless moxibustion devices. Classification of quality grade of moxa floss is not specified in this document.

Médecine traditionnelle chinoise — Méthode d'essai pour l'évaluation de la qualité des moxas — Concentration de particules de déchets

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 11-Dec-2024
• ICS: 11.040.60 - Therapy equipment
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 249 - Traditional Chinese medicine
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 249 - Traditional Chinese medicine
• Current Stage: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 12-Dec-2024
• Due Date: 07-May-2024
• Completion Date: 12-Dec-2024

Overview

ISO/TS 6818:2024 - Traditional Chinese medicine - Test method for moxa floss quality - Concentration of waste particles provides a standardized, quantitative method to assess the moxa floss quality by measuring the concentration of waste particles. Designed to replace subjective sensory judgments, the Technical Specification covers sampling, sample conditioning, sieving, weighing, calculation of waste particle rate and unseparation rate, and delivery of moxa floss quality information. It applies to moxa floss products and moxa floss used in moxibustion devices, excluding chemically hardened or carbonized (smokeless) moxa floss.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope: Applies to natural moxa floss; does not classify quality grades.
• Sampling:
  • Random sampling from product or device; mix bulk to avoid sedimentation.
  • Specimen mass: 3.0 g ±10%, with more than three specimens prepared.
• Sample storage:
  • Store in a desiccator ≥48 h; humidity ≤11% ±1% and temperature 25 °C ±2 °C; avoid direct light/air flow.
• Test sieving:
  • Use standard test sieves per ISO 3310-1 (metal wire cloth).
  • Required sieve mesh sizes: 850, 600, 425, 300, 200, 150, 100, 75 μm (diameter 200–450 mm).
  • Stack from 850 μm (top) to 75 μm (bottom); top covered, base plate under 75 μm.
• Sieving machine:
  • Use sieving machines as specified in ISO 9284; fix sieves securely.
• Procedure:
  • Place specimen in 850 μm sieve and sieve for 10 hours; perform at least four repeats per product.
  • Weigh residues from each sieve after sieving; calculate concentrations.
• Metrics:
  • Waste particle rate: ratio of residues remaining in sieves below 300 μm.
  • Unseparation rate: ratio of residues remaining in the 850 μm sieve (fibres not separated).

Applications and who uses it

ISO/TS 6818:2024 is intended for:

• Manufacturers of moxa floss and moxibustion devices - quality control and process optimisation.
• Testing laboratories - standardized method for reproducible measurement and reporting.
• Importers/exporters and regulators - objective evidence for product quality and fair trade.
• R&D teams - product development and comparative studies of manufacturing methods. Practical uses include batch acceptance testing, supplier qualification, labeling of product quality information, and harmonized trade specifications.

Related standards

• ISO 3310-1 - Test sieves (metal wire cloth)
• ISO 9284 - Test-sieving machines
• ISO 18666:2021 - Definitions related to moxa floss (referenced for term source)

Keywords: ISO/TS 6818:2024, moxa floss quality, concentration of waste particles, moxibustion, test method, sieving, waste particle rate, unseparation rate.

Standards Content (Sample)

Technical
Specification
ISO/TS 6818
First edition
Traditional Chinese medicine —
2024-12
Test method for moxa floss quality
— Concentration of waste particles
Médecine traditionnelle chinoise — Méthode d'essai pour
l'évaluation de la qualité des moxas — Concentration de
particules de déchets
Reference number
© ISO 2024
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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
4 Sampling . 3
4.1 General .3
4.2 Sampling methods .3
4.2.1 Moxa floss products .3
4.2.2 Moxa floss in the moxibustion devices .3
4.3 Sample storage .3
5 Measurement of concentration of waste particle . 3
5.1 General .3
5.2 Test instruments .4
5.2.1 General .4
5.2.2 Test sieves .4
5.2.3 Sieving machine .4
5.2.4 Test instruments organization .4
5.3 Test procedure .4
5.3.1 General .4
5.3.2 Sieving . .4
5.3.3 Weighing .4
6 Calculation of concentration of waste particle . 5
6.1 Total mass of specimen .5
6.2 Waste particle rate.5
6.3 Unseparation rate .6
7 Delivery of the moxa floss quality information . 6
7.1 General .6
7.2 Indication.6
Annex A (informative) Example of test instruments . 7
Annex B (informative) Test result of concentration of waste particle in moxa floss . 9
Bibliography .10

iii
Foreword
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This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 249, Traditional Chinese medicine.
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
Introduction
Moxa floss is a main combustion material of the moxibustion devices. The manufacturing process of moxa
floss involves the repeated pounding of dried mugwort in a mortar and sifting ground mugwort in a fine
sieve. Based on the products traditionally selected from the manufacturing process, the green part (waste
particle) should be sifted out and the white or light-yellow part should be used.
Traditionally, the quality assessment of the moxa floss has depended on the human sensory evaluation,
however, the global market requires the quantitative measurement of the quality of moxa floss for fair trade.

v
Technical Specification ISO/TS 6818:2024(en)
Traditional Chinese medicine — Test method for moxa floss
quality — Concentration of waste particles
1 Scope
This document specifies test methods for the quality assessment of moxa floss. It covers sample preparation,
measurement and calculation of the concentration of waste particle, and delivery of moxa floss quality
information.
This document is applicable to any moxa floss products and moxa floss used in the moxibustion devices. It is
not applicable to the moxa floss which is hardened with chemical ingredients or high pressure, or both, and
carbonized moxa floss which is used for smokeless moxibustion devices.
Classification of quality grade of moxa floss is not specified in this document.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 3310-1, Test sieves — Technical requirements and testing — Part 1: Test sieves of metal wire cloth
ISO 9284, Abrasive grains — Test-sieving machines
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
moxa floss
cotton-like material for moxibustion made from mugwort leaves
[SOURCE: ISO 18666:2021, 3.5]
3.2
waste particle
impurity, other than the fibres in the moxa floss (3.1), that is generated following the moxa floss
manufacturing process of grinding and mostly removed in the manufacturing process of sieving (3.6)
Note 1 to entry: The waste particles include broken branch of mugwort and green crystal formed materials which are
generated during the manufacturing process of the moxa floss.
Note 2 to entry: Traditionally and commonly, lower waste particles are considered as higher quality. Thus, reduction
of waste particle is required duri
...