Acupuncture is an essential part of Chinese medicine, and dry needling is the same therapy as acupuncture, using the same equipment (e.g. acupuncture needles produced by acupuncture needle manufacturers in China and US) and the same trigger points (as known as Ashi points recognized by ancient Chinese physicians). DN founder(s) simply created a new nomenclature like DN to to distinguish from Western's injections (Wet Acupuncture) and circumvent acupuncture registrations across various statues, for purpose of unknown risk to the public. If you need to stick a person with a sharp object (i.e. needling), you need to have proper license and training to do, (e.g. become a licensed acupuncturist), pay attention to whom you treat with needles, being a responsible healthcare professional who values life is way more precious than being able to make those extra few bucks by sticking the bill to the insurance companies.