As an acupuncturist with 7 years of school under my belt, I am concerned that Physical Therapists would be allowed to incorporate dry needling into their practice. Dry needling is using an acupuncture needle inserted at the site of pain. Acupuncturists understand that this type of needling is local only and can disrupt the meridian system, causing unintended side effects. We needle locally and distally in order to balance the entire system while treating pain. One year of theory precedes our training before we begin learning needling technique. A basis in Chinese Medicine theory is essential so that we understand how the whole body interprets insertion of needles. Meridians are real and cause physiologic, neurologic, and systemic changes to occur. Therefore needling only pain sites ('ashi points' in Chinese Medicine terminology) should not be practiced in any way by persons who have no working knowledge of the entire meridian system.