Why Acupuncturists Are the Gold Standard for Needle-Based Therapies
In today’s healthcare landscape, patients have more options than ever when it comes to managing pain, restoring mobility, and improving overall wellness. Among these options, one modality stands out for its depth of training, centuries of clinical use, and holistic approach: Acupuncture
Acupuncturists Are Anatomy Experts
When people first come in for acupuncture, one of the most common questions they ask is:
“How do you know where to put the needles?”
The answer is simple: it’s not random—it’s rooted in thousands of hours of rigorous training in anatomy, physiology, orthopedics, and traditional Chinese medicine.
Licensed acupuncturists are anatomy experts. We study the muscular, skeletal, vascular, and nervous systems in depth, and we learn to locate over 360+ acupuncture points on the body with precision.
It can be confusing for some patients who come in for hip pain and think we would just stick one deep needle in their hip to help. But each acupuncture point has a specific therapeutic function, and its location is carefully chosen based on the individual’s condition—not guesswork.
What do we treat? A lot of pain!
All licensed acupuncturists are trained in anatomy, physiology, and treating muscle and nerve pain. In fact, in Oregon, becoming a licensed acupuncturist (L.Ac.) requires:
💫 Extensive biomedical coursework (anatomy, physiology, orthopedics, neurology, pathology)
💫 Treatment of musculoskeletal and neurological conditions
💫 1000+ hours of hands-on clinical training in safely and effectively needling muscles, nerve pain, and trigger points
💫 Licensure by the Oregon Medical Board
This means your care is in the hands of a professional whose entire practice is centered around needle precision, safety, and effectiveness.
Dry Needling IS Acupuncture — Here’s What You Should Know
You might have heard of something called “dry needling” being offered by physical therapists or other health care providers. What many people don’t realize is that dry needling isn’t a brand-new treatment at all—it’s actually a type of Acupuncture focused on orthopedics.
The term “dry” just means the needle isn’t carrying medicine or fluid, like a cortisone or antibiotic shot would. Instead, it’s a solid needle that’s used to release tight spots in your muscles, ease tension, and reduce pain. This is orthopedic acupuncture, and most acupuncturists are rigorously trained in orthopedics.
So why the different name? Mostly, “dry needling” has been adopted by non-acupuncturists to describe this orthopedic technique without connecting it to acupuncture’s deep roots in East Asian medicine—or the extensive needle training licensed acupuncturists complete.
Training matters—especially when it comes to your care.
Licensed Acupuncturists (L.Ac.) undergo 2,000–3,000 hours of graduate-level education, including 600–1000+ hours of supervised clinical training which is specially focused on needling patients. We receive extensive instruction in anatomy, physiology, pathology, orthopedics, needling techniques, and needle safety protocols, all through both a Western biomedical and Traditional East Asian lens.
By contrast, many non-acupuncturist providers offering dry needling complete as little as 20–50 hours of training on needling. While various professionals contribute to healing in important ways, needles are our specialty—and our training reflects that. When you choose a licensed acupuncturist, you're choosing a provider with deep, focused expertise in needle-based therapy.
