Recently, some of my new patients have asked me, “What is dry needling?” and “What’s the difference between dry needling and acupuncture?” When I asked them about their experiences with dry needling, some said the practitioner used the same type of needle that I use for acupuncture, inserting it into the muscle where they were feeling pain. Some even mentioned that the practitioner hooked the needles up to an electro-acupuncture machine. For some, the treatment helped; for others, it did not.
After thinking about it, here’s how I usually respond:
“Dry needling is acupuncture performed by someone without an acupuncture license,” or,
“Dry needling is simply inserting an acupuncture needle into a painful area.”
Most people receive dry needling at a physical therapy office. While physical therapists and other healthcare providers receive training in various techniques, they typically do not undergo the extensive, focused education that licensed acupuncturists receive.
To become a licensed acupuncturist in the U.S., one must complete at least three years of graduate-level education covering the fundamental principles of East Asian medicine, the meridian (channel) system, and the 365+ acupuncture points. Students learn how to use these points in combination to bring about significant changes in how we feel, move, and function—both physically and mentally. This is followed by nearly 1,000 supervised clinical hours under the guidance of experienced master acupuncturists. Lastly, aspiring acupuncturists must pass rigorous board exams in order to earn licensure.
Without this training and licensure, practitioners cannot legally or ethically call their treatment “acupuncture,” even if they are using acupuncture needles.
So, why do practitioners from other professions use “dry needling”? Perhaps because acupuncture has shown to be more effective in some cases than the core treatments they were originally trained in.
It’s worth noting that many medical doctors, physical therapists, and chiropractors have chosen to attend acupuncture school, complete the full training, and earn a license. Once licensed, they refer to what they do as acupuncture, not dry needling.
Acupuncture is far more than simply inserting a needle where you feel pain. The choice of point, needle depth, technique, and manipulation all play a critical role in the treatment’s effectiveness. Acupuncture has even been used to induce anesthesia during surgery, reducing the need for conventional anesthetics and minimizing side effects—something that demonstrates the profound power of this medical system.
If you’re interested, here’s a BBC documentary that explores acupuncture’s use in surgery:
👉 Watch here
