Two new, interesting bits of news occurred in the acupuncture industry. Not that nothing ever happens in the industry, but they caught my interest a little more than usual.

A few months ago, a patient asked me if I knew what "Dry Needling" was. She said it was an acupuncture technique. I was embarrassed to say I didn't know. Now I do. In a landmark ruling in Oregon in January, dry needling was determined to be acupuncture, whereas the term "dry needling" was used to bypass acupuncture law.

Because acupuncture is such a dynamic tool in resolving musculo-skeletal issues, a group of allied health professionals (mostly chiropractors, massage therapists, nurses and physical therapists) wanted to use acupuncture on their patients/clients, but didn't want to go through the rigorous training to be able to do it. So they changed the name in order to try to skirt the professional education needed to do acupuncture.

In most schools, to become a Licensed Acupuncturist, you must have a Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Science. Then about 3,000 hours of classroom study and about 200 hours of clinical training is required. Generally, it takes four to five years to complete this education. The training for dry needling is 24 hours. That's a VAST difference!

The problem is that the public doesn't know the difference. To them, an acupuncture needle is an acupuncture needle, and they automatically assume the practitioner administering the treatment knows what they are doing and are adequately trained. This sub-standard care could give acupuncture a bad name, not only because it may not be as effective, but also, they could hurt someone!

How can you know who is properly trained? Look for a "Licensed Acupuncturist." If they have the additional training to get their doctorate degree (designation after their name will have O.M.D. or D.O.M. - Doctor of Oriental Medicine), all the better. Oregon was smart and made it illegal to practice dry needling, requiring a license to practice acupuncture, which is what it really is.

The other newsworthy event is that acupuncture has made it into the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) in Colorado. MRC is under the auspices of the U.S. Government's Office of Emergency Management/Incident Command Center and FEMA. Through an organization called "Acupuncturists Without Borders," acupuncturists are able to get specialized training in trauma care. Dispatched to disaster sites such as Katrina, Boulder and California wildfires, Haiti, and other disaster sites, AWB-trained acupuncturists provide free acupuncture treatments to evacuees, residents, first responders, emergency personnel, volunteers and other care providers to help with emotional recovery following a disaster.

To be recognized as part of the official responders in a disaster setting is a big win for acupuncturists. I personally have been trained in this capacity through AWB and am ready to respond to a disaster, as well. Of course, you don't have to have been in a disaster to suffer PTSD, and I am ready to help in that capacity, too.

Holly Carling is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Naturopathy, Clinical Nutritionist and Master Herbologist with more than 32 years of experience. She is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health-care services and whole food nutritional supplements in her Coeur d'Alene clinic. Visit Carling's website at www.vitalhealthandfitness.com to learn more about Carling, view a list of upcoming health classes and read other informative articles. She can be reached at (208) 765-1994 and would be happy to answer any questions regarding this topic.