Acupuncture for Kids

Many of my adult patients find it shocking that I treat children with acupuncture. They can’t believe that children will let me insert needles in their bodies, let alone enjoy their treatments. I think this view is common because they think I’m treating children the same as adults. Maybe they imagine their 5 year old laying on the table for a half hour with acupuncture needles.  Not on your life!   I  usually spend a half hour with my pediatric patients, but most of that time is spent discussing the problem and offering solutions.  The acupuncture portion of the treatment is painless and lasts between 2 – 10 minutes.

Pediatric treatments, especially for kids ages 6 and under are very different than treatment for adults.
From the moment children walk through my clinic, they are very aware that this will not be a typical doctor visit. The environment is relaxing and calm, soft music plays, lights are dim. When I meet my pediatric patients, I talk to them directly and make sure they understand that I’m here to help them and I respect them and their bodies. Trust begins as I proceed with their physical exam. Looking in ears and listening to lungs becomes a fun game. They are not forced to do acupuncture if they don’t want to. When children refuse acupuncture, I use other non-needle treatments that are very effective until the child is ready to try the needle. Eventually almost every child that walks through my clinic door will try acupuncture. To their amazement, they find it is painless!

Child Getting Acupuncture

Treatments for toddlers and young children typically takes place while they’re are playing. Most of the time, the needle insertion goes unnoticed by the child as they’re being entertained by their parent. I do routine examinations on children with their cooperation. I make it fun and we play games. In the typical toddler visit, after a thorough discussion of the child’s health the treatment will take about 2 minutes or so to complete since the needles are inserted and immediately removed. The insertion and removal takes about 1 second or so.

As kids get older and have memories of the hurt and pain from vaccinations, acupuncture is a harder sell for some. That’s when I start with non-needle techniques. Once kids are little more mature, around ages 8 – 12, the needles are retained while the child rests quietly for about 5 – 15 minutes.

Children respond rather quickly to both needle and non-needle treatments. They may experience a significant relief in symptoms immediately or shortly after their treatment. When they start to make the connection that treatments are helping, they gladly come back for more. Once the bond of trust is built, they allow stronger treatments, more needles and in some cases they become even braver than adults!

I see children for many of the same conditions as adult and most commonly treat allergies, sleeping problems, constipation, diarrhea, coughs and colds.  I also treat a lot of chronic conditions such as asthma, eczema, bronchitis and sinusitis.    I typically treat babies for sleeping problems, colic, acid reflux and failure to thrive.

Pediatric acupuncture treatments are very well tolerated by children and effective for treating a wide variety of common childhood ailments.  It works with the child’s body to heal the underlying imbalances to prevent future illnesses.   There are many studies coming out of China and Germany proving the effectiveness of acupuncture treatments for children.  I believe it is only a matter of time before pediatric acupuncture becomes a mainstream treatment.