ACUPUNCTURE AND DRY NEEDLING

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Acupuncture and dry needling use fine needles inserted into the body to help reduce muscle tension and improve wellbeing.  At the TMJ & Headache Clinic, we have extensive postgraduate training in needling techniques.  

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Acupuncture (from Latin, 'acus' (needle) + 'punctura' (to puncture) is the stimulation of specific acupuncture points along the skin of the body.  Acupuncture is a holistic approach to health derived from eastern medical traditions, and more recently backed up with evidence based research.  It involves the stimulation of anatomical locations on or in the skin by a variety of techniques including the insertion of needles.  Dry Needling has it’s theory rooted in Western medical theory, where a needle is inserted into “trigger points” in the body that cause pain and discomfort.  Stimulation of these points results in alleviation of this discomfort.  Interestingly, which ever medical approach one believes in, traditional acupoints share a very similar anatomical location to the commonly known trigger points.

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There are proven benefits of acupuncture and dry needling in headaches and promising evidence of effectiveness in a variety of other conditions including: nausea, dental pain, menstrual cramps, osteoarthritis, low back pain and asthma.

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Acupuncture and dry needling have been the subject of active scientific research, both in regard to its basis and therapeutic effectiveness, since the late 20th century.  An overview of high-quality Cochrane reviews suggested that acupuncture may alleviate some but not all kinds of pain. 

Acupuncture and dry needling is safe when done using clean technique and single use needles.