What’s the Difference Between Acupuncture and Dry Needling?

(And Why the Distinction Actually Matters)

I get asked this question a lot:

“Do you do dry needling?”

And every time, I take a deep breath before I answer. Not because I mind curiosity — I love when people want to learn — but because the question carries an assumption that acupuncture and dry needling are basically the same thing.

They’re not. Not even close.

The Short Version

Dry needling is one small technique borrowed from acupuncture — stripped of the system, depth, and cultural roots that make acupuncture a complete and living form of medicine.

The Training Difference

Licensed acupuncturists complete 3–4 years of graduate-level education, totaling over 2,000 hours of anatomy, physiology, safety, diagnosis, and acupuncture technique. We’re board-certified, licensed, and trained to work safely and holistically with the body’s physical and energetic systems.

Dry needling certifications for physical therapists or chiropractors, by contrast, usually involve 20–50 hours of weekend coursework. That’s not an insult — it’s just the reality. It’s like comparing a master mechanic to someone who just learned to change oil. Both use tools, but one understands the entire system inside and out.

So when someone asks if I “do dry needling,” it’s a bit like asking an elite basketball player if they can play backyard meatball. Sure, I can — but that’s not really the question you mean to ask.

A Metaphor (and a Pop Culture Moment)

It’s even more vivid if you picture this: that New Girl episode where Schmidt — an average-built white dude — challenges a professional women’s basketball player to a one-on-one game. He thinks he’s got a shot just because he’s a guy. Spoiler: he does not.

That’s what it’s like when people assume dry needling and acupuncture are the same thing. You’re looking at the epitome of a trained, disciplined, goddess-level professional — years of study, lineage, and precision — and comparing her to someone who spent a weekend “learning” a similar technique.

It’s not that PTs or dry needlers are bad people — many are skilled, talented, and incredibly helpful. But there’s an assumption that proximity to the same tools means equivalence in skill. It doesn’t.

And yet, in our healthcare system, the “weekend warriors” are often the ones validated by insurance, integrated into hospitals, and unquestioned, while acupuncturists are still asked if our medicine is “real,” or if we “believe” in it. That’s the subtle kind of cultural erasure I’m talking about: when something ancient, non-Western, and deeply rooted in another culture is only legitimized once it’s stripped of origin and framed in biomedical terms.

The Intention Behind the Needle

Acupuncture uses fine, sterile needles placed along specific meridians to restore balance, circulation, and communication in the body. It’s gentle, precise, and works on the whole person — body, mind, and nervous system — not just one tight muscle.

Dry needling focuses on isolated muscle trigger points, aiming to provoke a twitch response and mechanically release tension. It can provide short-term pain relief, but it’s often more aggressive and can leave people sore for days.

Many of my patients see both their PT and me for the same shoulder or back pain. They often come in saying, “I’m still sore three days later.” I can often treat that same area without ever putting a needle into it — by addressing interconnected systems that release tension indirectly. They leave lighter, calmer, and able to move freely again.

The Experience: More Than a Technique

Another big difference is the treatment experience.

Dry needling often happens in public or semi-public spaces, with quick insertion and removal. There’s rarely retention time, privacy, or relaxation built in.

Acupuncture, on the other hand, takes place in a private, calm room. Patients lie down, breathe, and let their bodies reset. Needles stay in for 20–40 minutes, often creating a deeply restorative “needle nap.” This isn’t just relaxation — it’s part of the medicine itself. Acupuncture treats more than pain: it regulates hormones, digestion, sleep, and emotional health.

Respect Where It’s Due

I want to be very clear: I deeply respect physical therapists. They are essential clinicians who help countless people regain strength and mobility. Many are highly skilled, compassionate, and collaborative.

But dry needling is acupuncture. It has been repackaged, renamed, and often taught without the full training or context that makes it a complete medical system. The same has happened with Gua sha, which is now often presented as “scraping” or the Graston Technique, stripped of its cultural history and lineage.

Cultural and Systemic Considerations

I also want to acknowledge my own position: I’m a white practitioner practicing a medicine with roots in East Asian culture. I do this respectfully — I’ve studied with teachers from China, trained through authentic lineages, and read classical texts. I embrace the culture, history, and philosophy behind this medicine, and I give credit where it’s due.

This is important because our system often validates the repackaged version (dry needling) while questioning acupuncture itself. Patients rarely ask if dry needling is “real,” yet acupuncturists are routinely asked whether our medicine works or if it’s “just belief.” That’s not about evidence — it’s about cultural bias and erasure.'

The Bottom Line

• Acupuncture is a complete medical system — addressing pain, stress, sleep, digestion, hormones, and more.

• Dry needling is a narrow, biomedical repackaging of acupuncture techniques, often learned in a weekend course.

• Gua sha has been similarly repackaged as “scraping” or the Graston Technique, often without acknowledgment of its roots.

• Acupuncture offers privacy, relaxation, and a holistic treatment experience; dry needling focuses on immediate trigger points, often in public or semi-public spaces.

Yes — I can do dry needling. But what I actually do is acupuncture — safer, more comprehensive, and grounded in a rich lineage of study, precision, and cultural respect.

Closing Note for Website:

At Full Scale Wellness, I practice acupuncture that honors its traditional roots while integrating modern understanding of the body and nervous system. If your only experience with needles has been dry needling, come experience the difference. You’ll leave refreshed, restored, and genuinely cared for.