Commenter:
kuichao Wei, L. Ac., OMD Wei's Acupuncture, Inc
Dry needle is a one style of acupuncture.
Dry needle is a one style of acupuncture.
I have been practicing acupuncture for 40 years. Also, I had been a surgeon in China for 10 years before I came to United States.
The definition of acupuncture refers to the originally Chinese practice of inserting fine needles though the skin at specific points especially to cure disease or relieve pain. (See Merriam Webster Dictionary, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acupuncture). The definition of trigger points in dry needle is a localized, usually tender or painful, area of the body and especially of a muscle that when stimulated gives rise to pain elsewhere in the body (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trigger%20point). Whatever it is called, dry needle belongs to Acupuncture. So, dry needle is one of style of acupuncture.
If you want to use needles to treat patients, the practitioner should get an acupuncture license.