Definitions and scope of practice as defined by the Arkansas State Board of Acupuncture and Related Techniques
Acupuncture means the insertion, manipulation, and removal of needles from the body, and the use of other modalities and procedures at specific locations on the body, for the prevention, cure, or correction of a malady, illness, injury, pain, or other condition or disorder by controlling and regulating the flow and balance of energy and functioning of the patient to restore and maintain health. Acupuncture shall not be considered surgery.
Moxibustion means the use of heat on, or above, or on acupuncture needles, at specific locations on the body for the prevention, cure, or correction of a malady, illness, injury, pain, or other condition or disorder.
Acupuncturist means a person licensed under the Act as a doctor of healing arts to practice acupuncture and related techniques in the State of Arkansas, and includes the terms licensed acupuncturist, certified acupuncturist, acupuncture practitioner, oriental acupuncture practitioner, and doctor of oriental medicine.
Doctor of Oriental Medicine is an individual licensed to practice acupuncture and related techniques, including oriental medicine, pursuant to the Act and as such has responsibility for his or her patient as an independent specialty care provider.
SCOPE OF PRACTICE: The practice of oriental medicine in Arkansas is a distinct system of primary health care with the goal of prevention, cure, or correction of any illness, injury pain or other physical or mental condition by controlling and regulating the flow and balance of energy and functioning of the person to restore and maintain health. Oriental medicine includes all traditional and modern diagnostic, prescriptive and therapeutic methods utilized by practitioners of acupuncture and oriental medicine worldwide. The scope of practice of Doctors of Oriental Medicine shall include but is not limited to:
1. Evaluation and management services.
2. Examination and diagnostic testing.
3. The ordering of radiological, laboratory or other diagnostic tests.
4. The procedures of acupuncture, injection therapy and other related procedures.
5. The stimulation of points or areas of the body using needles, heat, cold, light, lasers, sound, vibration, magnetism, electricity, bleeding, suction, pressure, or other devices or means.
6. Physical medicine modalities and procedures.
7. Therapeutic exercises, breathing techniques, meditation, and the use of biofeedback and other devices that utilize color, light, sound, electromagnetic energy and other means therapeutically.
8. Dietary and nutritional counseling and the administration of food, beverages and dietary supplements therapeutically.
9. The prescription or administration of any herbal medicine, homeopathic medicine, or substances such as vitamins, minerals, enzymes, glandulars, amino acids and nutritional or dietary supplements.
10. Counseling regarding physical, emotional and spiritual balance in lifestyle.