When it comes to relieving chronic pain, acupuncture has been shown to be more effective than dry needling in some cases. This is because of its ability to regulate hormones and stimulate healing throughout the body. Both therapies involve inserting fine needles into certain parts of the body, but the similarities end there. The main difference between dry needling and acupuncture is that, during an acupuncture session, the needles are inserted into points along the meridian lines. These lines represent the organs of the body and are based on ancient Chinese medicine.
Acupuncture is based on the idea of balancing and restoring the proper flow of energy throughout the body. Both dry needling and acupuncture use needles that don't inject fluid into the body. In fact, dry needling gets its name from this fact. Both therapies use the stimulation resulting from the insertion of these fine needles to generate their therapeutic effects. Medical acupuncture involves the use of long, thin needles to stimulate nerves in the muscles and under the skin. Both dry needling and acupuncture use monofilament needles, and the goal of both treatments is usually to reduce pain. While researchers have studied acupuncture as an adjunct treatment for many conditions, dry needling is a newer practice and the tests are less comprehensive.
Rather than achieving an overall reduction in pain by treating a system with acupuncture, the goal of dry needling usually depends on the muscle affected and the type of change being attempted. However, if you're looking for a more natural solution for symptoms related to systemic conditions, such as nausea, dizziness, or allergies, acupuncture has worked well for many patients to treat all of these conditions, and it may be worth trying. Tens of thousands of licensed acupuncturists around the world practice acupuncture, a century-old practice in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Or maybe you need acupuncture, a part of traditional Chinese medicine, which uses energy lines called meridians. Both acupuncture and dry needling use fine stainless steel needles, much finer than those used in a syringe. If you're afraid of needles, you probably haven't tried acupuncture or dry needling either.
More research is needed to determine if acupuncture can help treat arthritis, but some people have found that it can reduce the pain associated with arthritis. While some evidence is inconclusive, acupuncture is widely recognized to be useful in treating certain diseases. The difference between dry needling and acupuncture is that dry needling is used to treat cases of chronic and acute pain without the use of medications, surgical procedures, etc. Dry needling also uses solid monofilament needles (for example, thin as paper) that are inserted into the body, but are placed at different points on the body than acupuncture needles. Like dry needling, acupuncture seems to stimulate the production of endorphins, resulting in natural pain relief.
Dry needling usually uses fewer needles than acupuncture, and dry needles are usually left in place for a shorter period of time. Ultimately it's up to the practitioner to decide which therapy is best for each individual patient's needs. If you're considering either treatment for chronic or acute pain relief, it's important to consult with your doctor or healthcare provider first to determine which therapy is best for you.
