Description
Diagnose, treat, and help prevent disorders by stimulating specific acupuncture points with sterile needles and related modalities. May also use cupping, moxibustion, gua sha, acupressure, therapeutic massage, herbal medicine, nutrition counseling, and other integrative therapies.
- • Collect medical histories and general health and lifestyle information.
- • Assess general physical appearance and perform exams to inform diagnosis.
- • Analyze findings and histories to diagnose according to East Asian medicine.
- • Identify precise acupuncture point locations and note contraindications and precautions.
- • Insert sterile needles and provide acupuncture treatment.
- • Treat conditions with adjunct techniques such as acupressure, shiatsu, or tuina.
- • Apply moxibustion (direct or indirect; stick, pole, non-scarring) as indicated.
- • Perform cupping and gua sha; use ear seeds or pellets when appropriate.
- • Apply heat or cold therapy using pads, compresses, lamps, or vapor coolants.
- • Formulate and dispense herbal preparations and nutritional supplements; counsel on dosage, duration, side effects, and interactions.
- • Consider Western medical findings in assessment and referrals; coordinate with healthcare teams.
- • Develop individualized treatment plans and strategies.
- • Educate patients on meditation, ergonomics, stretching, exercise, breathing, relaxation, nutrition, and the healing process.
- • Evaluate treatment outcomes and adjust plans to promote, restore, or maintain health.
- • Maintain detailed and complete records of treatment plans and prognoses.
- • Maintain quality, safety, environmental, and infection-control standards.
- • Adhere to local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and statutes.
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026
