Dry Needling & Acupuncture, what’s the difference?
This is a great question that I’m often asked, especially when I present to large groups, it inevitably comes up.
The practice of dry needling is really just another acupuncture needle technique, based on a predominantly musculo-skeletal or biomedial approach. This means it’s a way of doing needling based on the aim to release muscular tension, often used to release a specific muscle that’s become tight and causing pain. Often a muscular trigger point approach is used.
Do acupuncturists use dry needling? Yes they can and do use techniques of dry needling, as these same techniques are part of the many different historical needling techniques. An acupuncturist has over 50 different needle techniques they can choose to use, dry needling is just one of those many techniques.
Do Dry needling practitioners use acupuncture?
No. Not unless they are trained as a Chinese Medicine Practitioner / Acupuncturist.
While acupuncturists can and do often sometimes routinely, perform dry needling, Dry needling is not acupuncture. This a big difference. An acupuncturist can give you dry needling, but a dry needling practitioner (often a massage therapist, physiotherapist, osteopath, chiropractor offer to do dry needling) cannot give you acupuncture (unless they are also trained as a Chinese medicine practitioner). One way to check is to ask them about their qualifications and training.
Another way is to check their qualifications – for instance Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine is a registered practice with AHPRA, the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Authority. You can check if your practitioner is a registered acupuncturist here.
Acupuncture is part of Chinese Medicine.
Why use acupuncture over dry needling alone? Acupuncture is one of the five branches of Chinese medicine. Within acupuncture there are many different interventions including a variety of needling techniques, cupping, moxibution.
The professional association I belong to,Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association (AACMA), has a fact sheet about about dry needling from Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association here.
http://www.acupuncture.org.au/Health_Services/Dry_Needling.aspx
However, it makes a big difference WHO is doing the needling on you – what kind of practitioner they are depends on what philosophy they follow. A person who only does dry needling (and not acupuncture) will not be using any Chinese Medicine philosophy or is only understanding your body from a biomedical aspect. An Acupuncturist or Chinese Medicine practitioner uses both Chinese medicine and biomedicine in understanding your body, in health and disharmony or disease.
You can also watch my longer video presentation here:
ARTICLE WRITTEN BY: Marie Hopkinson
Marie Hopkinson is a Chinese Medicine Practitioner, Practicing from her clinic in North Perth, WA- METRO HEALTH AND MEDICINE. Marie can be consulted for appointments, while in-person is preferred, Email /phone consultations can be arranged. Marie has been practicing since 2000, completing initial 3-year course in Chinese Medicine at the Perth Academy of Natural Therapies in WA. Marie has been to China for additional training in the Hangzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital (Hangzhou Shi Zhong Yi Yuan) twice as well as completing a Master of International Health at Curtin University in 2006. Marie is passionate about the effective practice and understanding of Chinese Medicine and enjoys the opportunity to educate patients about the benefits of self-help aspects such as diet therapy, as well as teaching Chinese Medicine at the Endeavour College of Natural Health.
For more info about booking an appointment with Marie CLICK HERE.
Marie is now practicing from Perth Natural Medical Clinic in Highgate, Perth – near to Mt Lawley just a short distance from our old Maylands and North Perth locations. Please book via the link above.
As with any health problem, we recommend seeking appropriate medical attention, professional diagnosis and immediate emergency help if you have undiagnosed pain or symptoms particularly if the symptoms are escalating (getting worse and worse). If you see a practitioner at Metro health and Medicine they may also refer you to a western medicine doctor (GP or hospital) as appropriate. This blog is not intended to replace a medical treatment or consultation.