It has been brought to my attention that one of the main arguments forwarded by the Physical Therapists is that acupuncture is "energy medicine" and thus distinct from DN.  This claim is patently false. The "energy meridian" myth was a 20th century fabrication on the part of a French bank clerk named George Soulie de Morant.  It has no historical or scientific basis.  Donald Kendall, Paul Unchuld and many others have published extensively on this topic.  It is true that Dr. Travell et al discovered trigger point needling independently and systematized it brilliantly. However the Chinese classics also reference the Local Twitch Response (LTR). DN is an amazingly effective procedure  when it is indicated, with volumes of research to support its use. I utilize it every day in my private practice.  However, I would prefer that it remain in the hands of practitioners with extensive training in the use of needles: medical doctors, osteopathic physicians & acupuncturists.