Acupuncture vs Dry Needling

Note: These are my thoughts and considerations based upon experience, and having received both acupuncture and dry needling myself. I am a Chinese Medicine practitioner who provides both acupuncture and dry needling and I find great value in both modalities.

Acupuncture is a modality based upon 3,000 year-old medical theories (archaeologists have found tools used for acupuncture up to 4,000 years ago).

Chinese medicine is used to regulate, unblock, and to balance entire bodily systems, including any psychological and emotional components that arise at the same time. Acupuncture is holistic and treats both internally-generated and externally-created disorders of the body; while dry needling is mainly focused on release of tension, increased mobility, and range of motion, and is always considered, especially in pain relief.

Both acupuncture and dry needling have their value, and are modalities used for specific circumstances that occur within a person.

For me, the key is to know when to use which modality. Often, both acupuncture and Chinese medicine theories are used because there is often an emotional component that is associated with pain.

There are key differences in outcomes for a patient between a practitioner who provides only dry needling and a Chinese medicine practitioner who applies acupuncture theories along with dry needling.

Let’s say you’ve had long-standing shoulder pain. Not only would I consider your physical pain, but I also would consider any other conditions that would create this pain whether they be from emotional stress, overuse, prior health conditions, surgeries, and any emotional conditions such as frustration and fear created by this pain.

The takeaway is that Chinese medicine treats the whole body and mind, not just the physical manifestations of pain.

Please set up a 15-minute consultation if you wish to learn more or would just like to talk to me about your pain.

All My Best,

Dr. Denise An Andert