NCCAOM Acupuncture flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Yin-Yang relativity

Yin and Yang are complementary opposites that are relative, interdependent, and can transform into each other; neither exists in absolute isolation.

Five Elements generating cycle

Wood generates Fire, Fire generates Earth, Earth generates Metal, Metal generates Water, and Water generates Wood; each element nourishes the next in the cycle.

Zang-Fu distinction

Zang organs are Yin, store vital substances, and are Heart, Liver, Spleen, Lung, Kidney; Fu organs are Yang, transport and transform, and include Gallbladder, Stomach, Intestines, Bladder, San Jiao.

Qi functions

Qi transforms, transports, holds, raises, defends, and warms; deficiency can cause fatigue, poor circulation, bleeding, prolapse, or susceptibility to external pathogens.

Eight Principles

The Eight Principles are Yin/Yang, Interior/Exterior, Cold/Heat, and Deficiency/Excess; they guide pattern differentiation and treatment strategy in acupuncture.

Four Levels

Wen Bing four levels are Wei, Qi, Ying, and Xue; they describe progressive penetration of warm-heat pathogens from exterior defense to deeper nutritive and blood layers.

Cun measurement

One cun equals the width of the thumb interphalangeal joint; four finger widths equal three cun; body landmarks provide proportional measurements for point location.

Five Shu points

Jing-Well, Ying-Spring, Shu-Stream, Jing-River, and He-Sea points lie distal to elbows and knees and are used according to channel and symptom location.

Front-Mu points

Front-Mu points lie on the chest or abdomen where organ Qi gathers; they diagnose and treat their corresponding Zang-Fu organs, especially acute or excess conditions.

Back-Shu points

Back-Shu points lie on the Bladder channel paravertebrally and correspond to Zang-Fu organs; they are used to treat chronic and organ-specific patterns.

Yuan-source points

Yuan-source points are where original Qi surfaces and are used to tonify or regulate their corresponding channel and organ; examples include LI4, LR3, and KI3.

Luo-connecting points

Luo-connecting points branch from a primary channel to its paired channel; they treat disorders of both paired channels and are often used for branch symptoms.

Normal adult vital signs

Typical adult resting values are heart rate 60-100 beats/min, respiratory rate 12-20 breaths/min, blood pressure below 120/80 mmHg, and temperature 36.5-37.5°C.

Stroke FAST signs

FAST stands for Face droop, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, and Time to call emergency services; any positive sign requires immediate stroke evaluation.

Diabetes diagnostic thresholds

Diabetes is diagnosed by fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL, HbA1c ≥6.5%, random glucose ≥200 mg/dL with symptoms, or 2-hour OGTT ≥200 mg/dL.

Hypertensive emergency

Blood pressure ≥180/120 mmHg with new end-organ damage, such as chest pain, dyspnea, neurologic deficit, or visual changes, requires emergency medical referral.

Myocardial infarction symptoms

MI often causes substernal chest pressure radiating to arm or jaw, with diaphoresis, nausea, or dyspnea; women, elderly, and diabetics may have atypical presentations.

Pneumothorax needling risk

Thin chest-wall points over the lungs can cause pneumothorax if needled too deeply; warning signs include pleuritic chest pain, dyspnea, cough, and reduced breath sounds.

Needling syncope response

If a patient faints during needling, stop treatment, remove needles, lie the patient supine with legs elevated, monitor airway and pulse, and call emergency services if no rapid recovery.

Pregnancy needling cautions

Avoid strong stimulation of lower abdominal, lumbosacral, and certain points such as LI4, SP6, GB21, and BL60 unless clinically justified and with appropriate consent.

Anticoagulant needling caution

Patients on warfarin or direct oral anticoagulants have increased bleeding risk; use fine needles, avoid deep or highly vascular points, and apply prolonged pressure after removal.

Local infection contraindication

Do not needle over open wounds, cellulitis, abscesses, burns, varicose veins, or malignant lesions because of infection, bleeding, and spread risk.

Hand hygiene

Perform hand hygiene with soap and water or alcohol-based rub before and after each patient contact and after removing gloves to reduce pathogen transmission.

Sterile single-use needles

Acupuncture needles must be sterile, disposable, and used once; check package integrity and expiration date, and discard any damaged or contaminated needle.

Skin antisepsis technique

Clean the insertion site with an alcohol swab using circular motion from center outward, allow it to dry, and avoid touching the cleansed site before needle insertion.

Sharps disposal rule

Do not recap, bend, or break used needles; place them immediately into a puncture-resistant sharps container and replace the container when three-quarters full.

Needlestick exposure protocol

Wash the wound with soap and water, report immediately, follow institutional post-exposure evaluation, and start HIV post-exposure prophylaxis promptly when indicated.

Informed consent elements

Informed consent requires explaining diagnosis, proposed treatment, material risks and benefits, alternatives, and the right to refuse, then documenting the patient's voluntary agreement.

Confidentiality rule

Protect patient health information and disclose it only with written authorization or when required by law, such as for mandatory reporting or imminent danger.

Scope of practice

Acupuncturists must practice within state licensure and training; conditions requiring medical, surgical, or emergency care should be referred to appropriate providers.

SOAP note components

SOAP records Subjective complaints, Objective findings, Assessment or diagnosis, and Plan; acupuncture notes also document points used, technique, response, and adverse events.

Mandatory reporting duty

Clinicians must report suspected child abuse, elder abuse, and certain communicable diseases to designated authorities as required by state law.