Acupuncture and Eastern medicine is a health care service using acupuncture or Eastern medicine diagnosis and treatment to promote health and treat organic or functional disorders, which includes a variety of traditional and modern acupuncture and Eastern medicine therapeutic treatments, such as the practice of acupuncture techniques and herbal medicine to maintain and promote wellness, prevent, manage, and reduce pain, and treat substance use disorder. Acupuncture and Eastern medicine includes the following:

(1) The use of presterilized, disposable needles, such as filiform needles, and other acupuncture needles, syringes, or lancets to directly and indirectly stimulate meridians and acupuncture points including ashi points, motor points, trigger points, and other nonspecific points throughout the body;

(2) The use of electrical, mechanical, or magnetic devices to stimulate meridians and acupuncture points including ashi points, trigger points, and other nonspecific points throughout the body;

(3) Intramuscular needling and dry needling of trigger points and other nonspecific points throughout the body in accordance with acupuncture and Eastern medicine training;

(4) All points and protocols for ear acupuncture including auricular acupuncture, national acupuncture detoxification association protocol, battlefield acupuncture, and the Nogier system;

(5) The use of contact needling and noninsertion tools such as teishin, enshin, or zanshin;

(6) Moxibustion;

(7) Acupressure;

(8) Cupping;

(9) Dermal friction technique;

(10) Infrared;

(11) Sonopuncture;

(12) Laserpuncture;

(13) Point injection therapy:

(a) Means the subcutaneous, intramuscular and intradermal injection of substances consistent with the practice of acupuncture or Eastern medicine to stimulate meridians, acupuncture points, ashi points, motor points, trigger points, and other nonspecific points throughout the body. Substances are limited to:

(i) Saline;

(ii) Sterile water;

(iii) Herbs specifically manufactured for injection by means of hypodermic needles;

(iv) Minerals specifically manufactured for injection by means of hypodermic needles;

(v) Vitamins in liquid form specifically manufactured for injection by means of hypodermic needles; and

(vi) Homeopathic and nutritional substances specifically manufactured for injection by means of hypodermic needles.

(b) Also includes injection of local anesthetics, such as lidocaine and procaine, for reduction of pain during point injection therapy, consistent with the practice of acupuncture and Eastern medicine and training requirements as defined in WAC 246-803-040.

(c) Used by an acupuncturist or acupuncture and Eastern medicine practitioner who has met the training and education requirements in RCW 18.06.230, may administer oxygen and epinephrine for potential emergency purposes, such as an allergic or adverse reaction, for patient care and safety.

(d) For the purposes of this subsection, includes trigger points as a subset of acupuncture points and ashi points as recognized in the current practice of acupuncture or Eastern medicine.

(e) Does not include injection of controlled substances contained in Schedules I through V of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, chapter 69.50 RCW or steroids as defined in RCW 69.41.300.

(14) Dietary advice and health education based on acupuncture or Eastern medical theory, including the recommendation and sale of herbs, vitamins, minerals, and dietary and nutritional supplements.

(a) Health education is educational information directed to the patient that attempts to improve, maintain, promote and safeguard the health care of the patient. Health education consists of educating the patient on how the mind, body and spirit connect in context of imbalances, emotional patterns and tendencies as defined by and treated in acupuncture or Eastern medicine.

(b) Health education does not include mental health counseling;

(15) Breathing, relaxation, and Eastern exercise techniques;

(16) Qi gong;

(17) Eastern massage, manual techniques having originated in East Asia involving the manipulation of the soft tissues of the body for therapeutic purposes.

(a) Eastern massage consists of:

(i) Applying fixed or movable pressure;

(ii) Passive, resistive, and assisted stretching of fascial and connective tissue;

(iii) Holding or causing movement of the body; or

(iv) Tapping, compressions or friction.

(b) Eastern massage may be performed with the use of tools common to the practice and aids of superficial heat, cold, water, lubricants, salts, minerals, liniments, poultices, and herbs.

(c) Eastern massage does not include attempts to adjust or manipulate any articulations of the body or spine or mobilization of these articulations by the use of a thrusting force.

(18) Tui na, a method of Eastern bodywork, characterized by the kneading, pressing, rolling, shaking, and stretching of the body and does not include spinal manipulation;

(19) Superficial heat and cold therapies.

PDFWAC 246-803-030

Acupuncture and Eastern medicine.