How to Perform Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to treat diseases like obesity, headaches, asthma and nausea. Its origins lay in Asia, but in modern history acupuncture has become a worldwide practice. The most common form of acupuncture inserts needles along the meridian lines of the human body. This medical practice is also blended with an art form, and learning how to perform acupuncture can take many years.
- License: The first step to performing acupuncture is to find out if a license is needed. Most areas of the world do require that anyone performing the medical treatment for profit be licensed or accredited.
- Patient History: Before performing acupuncture on any patient a detailed medical history should be obtained. Any ongoing symptoms will help determine the length and process of the procedure.
- Sterilizing Needles: If the patient chooses to use reusable sterilized needles, the needles should be de-sterilized before the process. Needles can be sterilized using either ethylene oxide or by steam pressure in an autoclave. Disposable needles are separately packaged needles that come sterilized, and they are used only once before being discarded.
- Inserting Needles: The patient should be laid out on a comfortable table. Acupuncture needles, either those that have been sterilized or are disposable, are inserted along the meridian lines. The depth of the needles can range from one-quarter to one inch, depending on the size and maturity of the patient. The insertion of the needles should be painless or have a light sting. If the patient feels too much pain the needles should be removed and the process ended.
- Removing Needles: Acupuncture needles are left in for anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour, depending on what is being treated. Needles should be removed slowly, and one at a time.