- The acupuncture point must be disinfected before needle insertion using cotton wool soaked in 70% alcohol.
- Check the needles before insertion.
- It is advisable to check the expiration date and the integrity of the packaging (any air or moisture penetration into the packaging or needle may compromise its sterility).
- It is strictly forbidden to reuse needles due to the risk of various infections.
- The same applies to guides. Do not use the same guide for more than one patient.
- It is recommended to purchase needles only from a reliable source (due to counterfeits).
- Pay attention to the expiration date, sterility, needle sharpness, flexibility, coating, and suitability for the intended population.
- If you have any wound on your hands, it’s important to wear gloves or cover the wound area with a bandage.
- Got pricked by a needle after removing it from a patient? Consult a doctor. Various viruses such as Hepatitis B, C, HIV, and others can put you and your patients at risk.
- In many cases, practitioners forget to remove needles from the patient’s body. One way is to write down all the acupuncture points and verify before ending the treatment that all needles have been removed.
- If a needle falls, it is important to ensure it has been found. If not, inform those who will be in the clinic after you, including the cleaner.
- Check each needle before insertion to rule out manufacturing defects.
Never insert a needle all the way to its handle.
Insert the needles to the correct depth and using the correct technique.
Instruct the patient to lie in a comfortable and relaxed position that doesn’t require unnecessary movements during treatment. - If a needle gets stuck after turning to one side, try turning it to the other side.
- Perform gentle stimulation / lightly tap with your finger near the area where the needle is stuck
- Leave the stuck needle without moving it for a few minutes… and try to remove it again.
- Do not use force and try to pull out the needle as it may cause further contraction of the tissues in the puncture area.
- Tried everything without success? Make sure to refer the patient for appropriate medical treatment.
- Hands must be washed between patients.
- The treatment bed (specifically the area where the head rests) must be disinfected with wipes or 70% alcohol.
- Sheets must be changed between patients.
- Bins must be emptied of waste after each treatment.
- Needles must be kept out of reach of children.
- Used needles must be disposed of in designated sharps containers. Once the container reaches two-thirds of its capacity, it must be transferred to a health clinic, hospital, or an authorised medical waste collection facility.
- Only single-use, hermetically sealed needles may be used. If a package has been opened, even if only one needle was used, the remaining needles must be discarded, as they are no longer sterile.
- The clinic must be tidied and cleaned at the end of each working day. The floor must be washed, and it must be ensured that no needles remain on it.
- The room must be ventilated during treatment. If there is a window, it should be opened; if not, use an air conditioner or fan.
- Treatment must be performed while wearing a gown or clothing designated specifically for treatment days.
- Devices such as the moxa lamp and electro-acupuncture unit must be unplugged after use and at the end of the working day.
- When using moxa in the clinic, a window or ventilation must be opened. A ceramic container should be prepared in advance to extinguish the moxa stick immediately after use.
- When using fire cupping, a container with water must be placed nearby to extinguish the flame immediately after use.
- When using a moxa lamp, be mindful if the area to be heated has undergone surgery or contains internal metal implants or mesh (such as in hernia surgeries) or orthopaedic operations. It is not recommended to heat such areas. Likewise, it is not advisable to heat chest areas that have undergone surgery or radiation due to cancer treatment. The lamp should be placed at least 30 cm above the area and the skin should be exposed. Always maintain communication with the patient, and if the area becomes too hot, increase the distance between the lamp and the body.
- The use of bloodletting techniques must also involve disinfecting the area with cotton wool soaked in 70% alcohol. The practitioner must wear clean gloves while performing the procedure. Bloodletting should be carried out using a designated lancet or, alternatively, with a seven-star needle. After the procedure, the area must be disinfected again and covered with a sterile pad or plaster.
Guidelines for Preventing Fainting During Acupuncture (Especially First Treatment)
- Instruct the patient to lie on their back with knees slightly raised for the first treatment.
- Explain the process they are about to undergo to the patient in detail.
- Instruct the patient to eat one to two hours before any acupuncture session.
- Perform as few manipulations with the needles as possible in the first treatment.