Approved February 8, 2007

Ear stapling is the placement of a stainless steel staple at a reflex point in the inner cartilage of the ear for the purpose of weight loss, smoking cessation, stress management and other problems. Ear stapling is the improper practice of acupuncture. Proper acupuncture practice uses sterile, disposable acupuncture needles at a level in the skin that is less invasive than ear staples, which have a higher chance of infection. Further, effective acupuncture treatments require needle placement in more than one location.

To practice acupuncture in Iowa one must be licensed by the Iowa Board of Medicine. Those individuals exempt from this requirement are specified in Iowa Code section 148E, including medical doctors (M.D.s), osteopathic physicians (D.O.s), podiatrists, and dentists.