Greetings,

I don’t know if anyone actually reads these letters of objection; yet I hope these are taken into consideration before making your decision regarding “dry needling,”

First, just because something is given a different name, doesn’t make it other than what it is.  The only difference between using needles as a part of therapy in “dry needling” and using needles in acupuncture is the lack of education, training and licensing for those using “dry needling.”

I have received acupuncture since the 1980s, for various body issues that our Western medicine could not remedy, from extreme fatigue to skin rash.  An accupuncturist is required to complete schooling and be licensed.  Even the first acupuncturist I went to, who was schooled 8 years in China in acupuncture (Chinese Traditional Medicine) was required to attend accupuncture school here in the U.S. and pass the licensing test before being able to hang her shingle.

I do believe that acupuncture and physical therapy would be very complementary.  However, the therapist should take the additional acupuncture training to be able to practice it.  Just changing the name to “dry needling” doesn’t magically change what they will be doing.

As the saying goes, a rose by any other name is still a rose.

Thank you for thoroughly considering this issue.

Penelope Amadali