Acupuncture therapy includes five major treatment techniques:

• Needling which uses acupuncture needles of various sizes that are inserted into channel points. These points are tiny areas where the Qi pools along the streams of an energy channel. The needles stimulate the nerves and energy flow to tonify or reduce Excess Qi.


• Cupping uses wooden, clay, or glass cups that adhere to the patient's skin by suction. This suction drains, or removes, pathogenic Qi from the body's pores. This technique can also be used to tonify specific areas of the body. This modality of treatment has been successfully combined with bloodletting to treat acute sprains accompanied by Blood stagnation.


• Bloodletting is done with instruments such as blood needles or seven- and five-star hammers to remove Toxic Qi, Blood stagnantion, Heat, and other pathogenic factors. The hammer has five to seven sharp projections that pierce the skin and cause slight bleeding. The acupuncturist diagnoses and then monitors the patient's condition by the different shades of the patient's Blood. Trapped or diseased Blood is released until a healthy color is observed. This therapy is considered useful for treating disorders of the nervous system, physical trauma, and extremely febrile diseases.


• Moxa burning employs lighted herbal cones or sticks that are inserted on top of acupuncture needles (or held over specific channel points) to infuse heat and Qi into specific body areas for tonification. This technique is also used to expel Cold in order to disperse Blood stagnation.


• Magnets use magnetic patches or strips that are attached to various channel points of the patient's body to stimulate a response in the electromagnetic field. Magnet therapy has been used since the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.). The magnets are applied to specific points for a period of 3-5 days, removed for one day, then reapplied. Whether used for tonification or sedation, this therapy facilitates constant treatment of the channel point.

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These are the Pennsylvania laws governing the use of acupuncture and oriental medicine. (Source)

§ 18.11. Definitions.

 The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

    Acupuncture—

     (i)   The stimulation of certain points on or near the surface of the body by the insertion of needles to prevent or alleviate the perception of pain or to normalize physiological functions, including pain control, for the treatment of certain diseases or dysfunctions of the body.

     (ii)   The term also includes the use of supplemental techniques.

    Acupuncture educational program—Training and instruction in acupuncture or supplemental acupuncture techniques offered by a degree-granting institution authorized by the Department of Education that leads to a master’s degree, master’s level certificate or diploma or first professional degree, that meets the relevant and appropriate requirements of 22 Pa. Code (relating to education) and 24 Pa.C.S. Chapter 65 (relating to private colleges, universities and seminaries) and that meets or exceeds the standards required for acupuncture or Oriental medicine programs established by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.

    Acupuncture examination—An examination offered or recognized by the Board to test whether an individual has accumulated sufficient academic knowledge with respect to the practice of acupuncture and herbal therapy to qualify for the privilege of practicing as an acupuncturist or as a practitioner of Oriental medicine. The Board recognizes the NCCAOM component examinations in acupuncture and sterilization procedures as the examination for registration as an acupuncturist and the NCCAOM examination component in Chinese herbology as the examination for registration as a practitioner of Oriental medicine.

    Acupuncture medical program—An academic or clinical program of study in acupuncture which has been given category I continuing medical education credit by an institution accredited or recognized by the Accreditation Council on Continuing Medical Education to conduct category I continuing medical education courses.

    Acupuncturist—An individual registered to practice acupuncture by the Board.

    Chinese herbology—The study of the use of herbs in the Oriental medicine tradition.

    Herbal therapy—The application of Chinese herbology to the treatment of acupuncture patients.

    NCCAOM—The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

    Practitioner of Oriental medicine—An acupuncturist who is registered by the Board to use herbal therapy.

    Supplemental techniques—The use of traditional and modern Oriental therapeutics, heat therapy, moxibustion, electrical and low level laser stimulation, acupressure and other forms of massage, herbal therapy and counseling that includes the therapeutic use of foods and supplements and lifestyle modifications.

Authority

   The provisions of this §  18.11 amended under section 3 of the Acupuncture Registration Act (63 P. S. §  1803); and section 8 of the Medical Practice Act of 1985 (63 P. S. §  422.8).

Source

   The provisions of this §  18.11 adopted January 2, 1987, effective immediately and applies retroactively to December 31, 1986, 17 Pa.B. 24; amended May 19, 1989, effective May 20, 1989, 19 Pa.B. 2161; amended April 13, 2007, effective April 14, 2007, 37 Pa.B. 1644. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (222904) to (222905).

§ 18.15a. Scope of practice of acupuncturists and practitioners of Oriental medicine.

 (a)  An acupuncturist may practice acupuncture and use supplemental techniques but may not use herbal therapy.

 (b)  A practitioner of Oriental medicine may practice acupuncture and use supplemental techniques including herbal therapy.

 (c)  This subsection does not limit the scope of practice of a medical doctor who is registered as an acupuncturist.

Authority

   The provisions of this §  18.15a issued under section 3 of the Acupuncture Registration Act (63 P. S. §  1803).

Source

   The provisions of this §  18.15a adopted April 13, 2007, effective April 14, 2007, 37 Pa.B. 1644.