Dry needling is a technique used by healthcare providers to treat musculoskeletal pain and movement issues needling trigger points with needles. Some people argue that inserting a fine or ultra-fine, I will say acupuncture needles, on the trigger point, is not an acupuncture technique. Let's go back to a brief history of Chinese Medicine. Sun Simiao, a legendary physician of the Tang Dynasty, played a significant role in the development of Ashi points in acupuncture.

Ashi points are acupuncture points that are identified based on pain response rather than fixed anatomical locations or say meridians. The term "Ashi" comes from the phrase "Ah, yes!", reflecting the patient's reaction when the point is pressed. These are often used in pain management and musculoskeletal treatment. Needling Trigger points or Ahsi points are part of the acupuncture practice period.  But if healthcare providers hold NCCAOM or state-recognized Acupuncture or OM licenses, I strongly recommend them to utilize their skill sets. Every licensed OM or Acupuncture practitioner goes through rigorous classes and schools so we can treat our patients in a healthy and safe manner.   

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