A common question I am asked, as with most of whom have wielded a 0.something millimeter filament needle in their hands (aka an acupuncture needle) is what is the difference between Acupuncture and Dry Needling?
Without ruffling too many feathers in the needling community, I respond with "all forms of needling are Acupuncture, including Dry Needling, however Dry Needling doesn't encompass all what Acupuncture is comprised of".
In Australia, 'Acupuncturist' and 'Physiotherapist', are protected titles i.e. an individual must have the relevant qualifications and registrations with the relevant governing body (in these cases, 'AHPRA' - the Allied Health Practitioner Registration Agency) to be able to use these titles. Confusingly however, the modality 'Acupuncture' doesn't require one to have the same qualifications.
What does it mean? As a Physiotherapist many moons ago, I did a weekend course (2-days) to be able to do Dry Needling on a patient. I could call it 'Acupuncture' as I'm using an Acupuncture Needle and technically I'm inserting the needle in Acupuncture points. In TCM - Traditional Chinese Medicine, these taut banads of muscle are call "Ashi" points roughly translated as "ouch points". Not as many moons ago, I completed a 3-year Master degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture.
Traditional Chinese Medicine looks at the entire person; physical, emotional and even 'spiritual'. Thorough questioning a.k.a. the 10,000 questions, along with physical observation, including pulse taking and looking at a persons tongue are part of the information collection process to help determine where a person's complaints may have originated. Was it from premature birth? A traumatic childhood? A bout of food poisoning? A reaction to a medication? are examples of questions running through a TCM practitioner's mind along with a potential pathway for how something like food poisoning could manifest years down the track e.g. food poisoning > anti-biotics > IBS > stress and anxiety > neck pain and headaches.
TCM Acupuncture is a tool the a Chinese Medicine Practitioner (also a protected title, used synonymously with Acupuncturist, although the latter cannot prescribe herbs) will use to help treat someone's ailments and hopefully promote real healing. These points are located all over the body in various 'meridians' or 'channels' and have recognised functions on the body e.g. points on the legs can help regulate digestion, points on the hands and feet for pain relief, points on the face and head for relaxation. A TCM Acupuncturist will typically use points close to the sore area together with points further away e.g. Acupuncture points (including Ashi points) around the shoulder, combined with pain relieving points in the hands and feet with relaxation points on the head and face.
Lifestyle advice such as avoiding exposure to hot/cold environments, regulating emotions e.g. stress reducing strategies such as breathing techniques or self acupressure of specific Acu-points, diet advice such as avoiding fatty, spicy, cold, sugary food and promoting specific exercises are also part of an Acupuncturists toolkit.
So in summary, all needles are created equal, however where they are placed in the body can have dramatically different effects.
Want to know more? Feel free to call or email Dave on 0466 33 7497 or davidboyd@physmed.co
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