The tool used for dry needling and acupuncture is the same. Both practices use acupuncture needles, which are solid filiform needles. However, this is where the similarities stop. The theory and techniques used during acupuncture and dry needling vary greatly from one another. One of the potential key differences in helping patients decide which technique to go with is the level of discomfort of each respective technique. Acupuncture uses light stimulation with needles and is typically pain-free or very mild. Dry needling, although a gentler approach can be taken by the therapist typically involves stronger stimulation of the area affected which can be uncomfortable at the time the technique is applied “like a strong massage” and last up to a day or two after.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a treatment that targets physical, spiritual, and mental ailments. Acupuncture falls within traditional Chinese medicine, a health system that’s several thousand years old and also includes therapies such as Chinese herbal prescription, cupping, moxibustion, and tui na massage.
During a session, an acupuncturist places small and sterile needles on specific points of the body. These are called acupuncture points, which are essentially “little vortices of energy,” found on the meridians of the body. Meridians are the specific energy channels that crisscross the body.
In these meridians, qi flows. Qi is the vital life-force energy that flows through these meridians. Each meridian is associated with a particular organ system. The points all have particular effects on balancing your body and may relate to specific physical, emotional, or spiritual imbalances. That’s why acupuncture is used to treat so many different things.
Depending on the points that are targeted, specific issues can be alleviated or resolved. In general, acupuncture is beneficial for almost any disharmony of the body and mind because it’s a complete system of medicine of its own. The points chosen are the best ones determined to recalibrate and rebalance the energy of the particular person at that time.
Acupuncture can be beneficial for:
Addiction, reducing cravings, lessening withdrawal symptoms, combating anxiety and depression, bolstering creativity, improving sleep, relieving pain, eliminating constipation, alleviating headaches, stopping smoking, and beating jet lag, fatigue, and insomnia.”
Dry needling
Dry needling technique for muscle stimulation using a needle. It’s called dry needling because nothing is injected into the body with the needle.
Dry needling targets trigger points, which are “knotted” bands of tightness mainly within muscles that have reduced localised blood supply resulting in a built-up of substances in the body which can result in pain. Placing a needle in these areas acts to reduce pain in two main ways;
Flushing out of substances from the local tissue in the area of pain by stimulating fresh bloody supply and stimulating the neuromuscular system to adjust muscle tone. The combination of these two actions can help the muscle in the area of pain to “reset” and to return to a more normal state.
Dry needling can be beneficial for:
Pain relating to trigger points in muscle and myofascial.
In Soulitude Health at present
Tamara and Blake are trained in dry needling
Alex is trained in acupuncture.
If you have any further questions regarding the benefits of these techniques and their applicability to you please speak to one of these trained staff members and they will be happy to help.