This is a hot topic in the acupuncture community as well as an important topic for our current and potential patients to understand, that there IS a large difference between the two practices.
From a well written article in the August 2026 edition of Acupuncture Today, the article by Dr. William Morris The Same Needle In Court: What California and North Carolina Teach Us About Scope: outlines how “dry needling is an invasive procedure with real risks: pneumothorax, nerve injury and vascular damage” are common injuries of dry needling done by unqualified professionals. “Needles (in dry needling) are long enough to reach deeper structures when the angle is wrong, particularly around the thoracic cage and paraspinal (muscles)”. Dry needling from an unqualified professional has led to everything from infection to hospitalizations to surgeries to even death.
What must be understood is that there is no national standard for non-acupuncturist practitioners performing dry needling. Most have only done a weekend seminar with little to no practice on actual patients as compared to the many acupuncturist such as myself, who have completed thousands of supervised clinical hours.
Acupuncturists undergo an extensive education in Allopathic (Western or Bio) medicine as well as Traditional Chinese or East Asian Medicine, in advanced educational programs lasting 3-4 years where we’re additionally taught theology which is; why a needle works when put into a specific spot (acupoint) on the body versus just anywhere on the body. We’re taught to cultivate and grow our skills and knowledge beyond schooling to continually hone our craft. We are the masters of needles and can offer a deeper reach into patients complaints than just dry needling alone.
So the question becomes not whether dry needling works but what level of training has the practitioner you’ve chosen received compared to a licensed, well educated and well trained acupuncturist? Do you need superficial healing or deeper, more experienced lead healing? The choice is yours and I hope you choose wisely.