Dry Needling versus Acupuncture for the natural harmony

Historically, there have been noticed historical differences between acupuncture and dry needling therapy. Dry needling has a medical background, with the syringe being used for alleviating pain, instead of the acupuncture needle.

Dry needling

Its origins started during the 1930s with Dr. John Kellgren, a British Rheumatologist. He discovered that by injecting saline within the muscles, pain can be produced in distinctive pattern and remote from the injection are. He also identified that manual pressure on the tender areas in the muscle tissue could produce referral patterns similar to the injection. Having short acting analgesic procaine injection injected can relieve pain that is produced by manual pressure.

Definition

Dry Needling could be defined as a short term, rapid needling process to dysfunctional or altered tissues for restoring or improving function. It might include, however is not limited by myofascial trigger points, connective and periosteum tissues. This can be performed by the acupuncture needle or other injection needles without fluid being injected.

Acupuncture

This practice is known to have originated over 5,300 years ago. Probably, the initial evidence found related to acupuncture treatment is considered to be the discovery of the Tryolean Iceman ‘Oetzi’ in Austria’s Otzal Alps.

Definition

It is noticed that Dry Needling focuses on single tissue treatment, thus causing pain. On the other hand, acupuncture is said to be based upon providing general health treatment, which is perhaps beyond the practice scope of majority of the therapists practicing Dry Needling Therapy. Acupuncturists use different examination techniques specific to TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) like tongue and pulse examination. Here, the aim, technique including the procedure before applying the intervention or the skill is entirely different.

It is rather, the stimulation of particular acupuncture points present on the skin, involving different procedures like application of pressure, laser light or heat or thin needle penetration.

What exactly both are known to treat?

Dry Needling: It treats pain arising from myofascial or muscle tissues.

Acupuncture: This treatment according to WHO is used for providing treatment for more than 40 different medical conditions, which includes respiratory conditions, allergies, gastrointestinal disorders, nervous conditions, gynaecological problems, disorders of the nose, throat and eyes, childhood illness, etc. Also, chronic pain and headaches caused by problems like arthritis and back injuries are also treated.

Treatment method

Dry needling: Acupuncture needles get placed into the taut bands or trigger points of the muscle tissues, palpated by the qualified practitioner. The objective here is to have local physiology, tissue tension and normal muscle health restored. It helps to reduce pain, arising from the tender taut bands within the muscle tissues.

Acupuncture: Special acupuncture needles get placed into distinctive locations known as Acupoints. They are present on twelve imaginary meridians or channels on the body. The 360 primary Acu-points are distributed all over the human body by the meridians.

Who practices such therapies?

To become a Dry Needling Therapist, there is a need to complete at least 2,000 training hours focusing on musculoskeletal conditions and treatment before attending the Dry Needling course.

Acupuncturists on the other hand are said to train as undergraduates after completing the five-year course, involving training in various modalities like Chinese Herbal medicine.

The author writes for http://www.naturalharmonytcm.com.au/ and provides topics on the different types of alternative treatments offered to patients.