Traditional Japanese Acupuncture — What is the Difference?

If you believe that quality is a vital aspect of life as is your health and wellness, please read this article.
The situation regarding Medical practitioners, Physiotherapists, Massage practitioners, in fact all shapes and kinds of health practitioners and the practice of Acupuncture in Australia is ambiguous to say the least.
The use of dry needling amongst a variety of modalities, especially physiotherapy in recent years is perceived by many folk as the practice of Acupuncture.
Dry needling, as wise practitioners of the above modalities will tell you, is not Acupuncture.
Medical Acupuncture and the many simplified versions of needling used by many practitioners of Allied Modalities DO NOT apply the 3,000 years of clinical wisdom encapsulated within the practice of Traditional Acupuncture.
The vast difference between the therapeutic application of acupuncture needles in Dry Needling, Medical Acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Acupuncture and the more refined Traditional Japanese Acupuncture is exemplified by the use of thick gauge needles in the former versus the use of extremely thin gauge needles in Traditional Japanese Acupuncture.
A very mechanical manipulation of thick gauge needles versus the subtle energetic application of very fine needles are the polar opposites from which these modalities operate using similar instruments.
Practitioners of the point-based TCM Acupuncture with its dependence upon thicker gauge needles and mechanical stimulation might have a much tougher time convincing other modalities and the consumer that there are major discrepancies in the therapeutic application of Medical Acupuncture, dry needling and Traditional Chinese Acupuncture.
My profession’s inability or unwillingness to stand up and be counted in the public eye as a beneficial and legitimate healing modality has left the door wide open for every man and his dog to lay claim to the practice of Acupuncture merely because they have a needle in hand, and if you’re lucky, have completed a couple of weekend courses.