Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

• Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners

• Diagnose within the framework of Traditional Chinese Medicine the diseases, physiological disorders and injuries of patients

• Explain procedures, risks and benefits of treatments to patients

• Prescribe and administer treatment such as acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), scraping (Gua Sha), cupping therapy, moxibustion, acupressure, and auriculotherapy

• May prescribe and administer Chinese manipulative therapy (Tui Na), energy control therapy (Qi Gong) and laser therapy

• May suggest home care instructions and provide information about life therapies including energy control therapy (Qi Gong), Chinese shadow boxing (Tai Ji Quan) and Chinese food cure recipes (Shi Liao)

• Maintain patient records

• Prescribe and administer treatment using raw or granule herbs and other medicines or dietary supplements

• May collaborate with other health care professionals such as physiotherapists, chiropractors, physicians and psychologists when developing treatment plans for patients.

• Acupuncturists

• Diagnose symptoms, imbalances, physiological disorders and injuries of patients according to Chinese medicine traditions

• Educate patients on risks and benefits of treatments

• Develop and implement treatment plans including acupuncture acupressure, moxibustion, cupping, scraping or electrical current

• Evaluate and document patients' progress

• May provide dietary and lifestyle advice including information on life therapies such as energy control therapy (Qi Gong)

• May develop treatment plans in collaboration with other health care professionals.

• Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners usually require completion of a four- to five-year diploma program in traditional Chinese medicine from a private institute or completion of a program in traditional Chinese medicine from recognized medical schools abroad.

• Registration with a regulatory body is required for traditional Chinese medicine practitioners in Ontario and British Columbia, which includes completion of an approved registration examination.

• Acupuncturists usually require completion of a three- to four-year diploma program in acupuncture from a private institute or completion of some university undergraduate studies in science and training in a related health care discipline or work experience under the supervision of a registered acupuncturist.