Pediatric Acupuncture

Children as young as one week old can be effectively treated with a non-insertive acupuncture technique called Shonishin. This Japanese method consists of light holding, tapping, brushing or rubbing with blunt tools at specific acupuncture points or along entire channels. This treatment is interactive and the practitioner will be in the room with the patient throughout the entire duration of the treatment. Most children enjoy and look forward to their treatments.

 

Because children are quite sensitive and have a lot of energy, acupuncture is extremely effective in balancing a child’s energy patterns and restoring their natural state of health.  Most health issues in children stem from an immature and weak digestive system.  This system can easily thrown into chaos when there is overeating, poor diet, cold foods, an excess consumption of sweets, unexpressed emotions, overuse of antibiotics and even over-stimualtion like television or computer games. 

 

In Chinese medicine, these stimuli put too much emphasis on the Spleen.  This organ is responsible for the transportation and transformation of food into fuel for our bodies.  When the Spleen is overworked, its process is impaired and creates dampness leading to bloating, gas, diarrhea or abdominal distension.  Over time, these symptoms become chronic and develop into illness such as allergies, nasal congestion, ear aches and asthma.

 

Acupuncturists have many types of tools that children easily associate with and surprisingly most children don't have an issue with the needles.  Parents are usually the more timid ones when their child gets needled for the fist time.  The number of needles used during treatment typically relate to the the age of a child (a 6 year old will get 6 needles or less).  Often times, needles are not used at all.  Needles are also retained for a very short period of time because a child's Qi is more superficial and circulates quicker than an adult.

 

Common illness treated with Oriental medicine:

• Constipation

• Cough

• Hyperactivity, Attention Deficit Disorder, Attention

• Fever

• Urinary Tract Infections

• Bed Wetting

• And More

 

Initial Consultation & Treatment- 60 minutes. Follow-up treatment- 30 minutes.