(a) All certified individuals under this part shall use only presterilized, disposable needles in their administration of acupuncture treatments. The use of staples in the practice of acupuncture is prohibited.

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 63-6-1008

  • Acupuncture: means a form of health care developed from traditional and modern oriental medical concepts that employs oriental medical diagnosis and treatment and adjunctive therapies and diagnostic techniques for the promotion, maintenance and restoration of health and the prevention of disease. See Tennessee Code 63-6-1001
  • Practice of acupuncture: means the insertion of acupuncture needles and the application of moxibustion to specific areas of the human body based on oriental medical diagnosis as a primary mode of therapy. See Tennessee Code 63-6-1001
(b) Health practices shall include:

(1) Hands shall be washed with soap and water or other disinfectant before handling needles and between treatment of different patients;
(2) Skin in the area of penetration shall be thoroughly swabbed with alcohol or other germicidal solution before inserting needles; and
(3) Individuals shall pass a nationally recognized clean needle technique course before being allowed to practice acupuncture and related techniques.
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