The Scope of "Acupuncture"
An ‘Acupuncturist‘ is someone who to is able to assess and apply appropriate therapy to achieve the promotion, maintenance and restoration of health and the prevention of illness using knowledge and techniques based on the specific conceptual frameworks, assessment approaches and therapeutic modalities of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
The term ‘Traditional Chinese Medicine‘ refers to the body of knowledge and broad range of medical practices that share common concepts, spanning thousands of years that was modernized and standardized in the 1950s.
The professional activities of Acupuncture according to TCM include diagnosis based on TCM theories; selection of principles, methods, modalities, and plans for the treatment of a patient; and the application of those treatments accordingly.TCM diagnosis is based on the following: inspection, auscultation and olfaction, inquiry, pulse taking, palpation and differentiation of syndromes according to the principles based on TCM theories.
The theories, principles and conceptual frameworks of TCM include but are not limited to: Yin and Yang, The Five Phases (Wu Xing), Eight Principles Pattern Discrimination (Ba Gang Bian Zheng), Qi, Blood and Body Fluids Pattern Discrimination (Qi, Xue, Jin Ye Bian Zheng), Viscera and Bowels Pattern Discrimination (Zang Fu Bian Zheng), The Twelve Main Meridians, the 8 Extraordinary Vessels, the Divergent Channels, The Sinew Vessels, Disease Evil Cause Pattern Discrimination (Bing Yin Bian Zheng), Externally Contracted Febrile Disease Six Channel Pattern Discrimination (Liu Fen Bian Zheng), Externally Contracted Febrile Disease Four Aspects Pattern Discrimination (Wei, Qi, Ying, Xue Bian Zheng), Three Burners Pattern Discrimination (San Jiao Bian Zheng) and the Seven Emotions.
*The ‘specific points’ mentioned above can include established acupuncture points located on the major meridians of the body, established ‘extra’ acupuncture points, points located on established microsystems such as the French, Chinese and German ear systems, the Korean hand and foot systems, the Chinese wrist and ankle systems, and the Chinese and Japanese scalp systems, so called ‘ah shi’ points or any reactive point identified on the body surface through palpation.
The methods and modalities used to create treatment plans, that fall within the scope of practice of an “Acupuncturist” may include:
insertion of sterile needles through the skin at specific points* (‘acupuncture’ in the narrow sense of the term)
electro acupuncture (same as 1. but with electrical stimulation)
laser acupuncture (stimulation of acupuncture point with a low level laser, without needles or puncturing the skin)
scalp acupuncture
moxibustion or the burning of processed mugwort (artemisia vulgaris) on or above specific points
Chinese herbal medicine and prescription of herbal formulas
cupping (including stationary cups and sliding cups)
gua sha (dermal friction)
bloodletting
plum blossom needles
polarity agents including magnets, ion pumping cords, diode devices and bimetals
acupressure or the application of pressure to specific points
tuina (traditional Chinese massage)
dietary counseling based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine
lifestyle counseling based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine
breathing techniques
meditation techniques and therapeutic movement exercises based in Traditional Chinese Medicine (e.g. Qi Gong)
press balls
intradermals
IV (intravenous therapy) injection
press tacks
auriculotherapy (established microsystems such as French, Chinese, German ear systems & the NADA protocol)
NAET (Nambudripad Alergy Elimination Technique)
Specific acupuncture techniques and protocols (i.e. Korean hand/foot, Chinese wrist/ankle, Dr. Tan & Master Tung)
Other technologies and techniques developed for use in diagnosis and treatment that apply to TCM