Acupuncture For Kids?!? Sticking your kid with needles is probably not the first thing you think of when they aren’t feeling well. But acupuncture is a gentle, effective treatment for your child, with no dangerous side effects.
In my practice I see kids for many common conditions that have likely run their course through your house. Things like the common cold and coughs can effectively be treated with herbal medicine tinctures and acupuncture or non-needle techniques, especially if caught early. Ongoing loose stool, constipation and other tummy troubles can be treated with Chinese Medicine, as can rashes, hives, and eczema. Kids with asthma and allergies benefit from regular treatment to reduce their dependence on inhalers and anti-histamines. After all, who wants their kid to be on life-long medications?
More and more I’m seeing kids suffering from anxiety and other stress-induced issues as our world becomes more busy, more scheduled, more demanding for our little humans. These kids especially enjoy the nervous system calming effects of acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.
Kids respond particularly well to Chinese Medicine. Their bodies are young and new and receptive to becoming rebalanced with gentle treatments.
It may seem crazy that your kid would even allow someone to treat them with acupuncture, but I do my best to make it a pleasant experience for everyone, including you! You don’t need added stress when your kiddo is unwell!
It’s no surprise that not all kids are excited about acupuncture. Most kids only associate needles with shots or blood draws and obviously they want as little of that as possible. Luckily, I have a whole bag full of tricks and needles are only one of them.
I commonly use several non-needle therapies with my young patients. One of the favorites is cupping (made famous most recently by Michael Phelps during the Olympics). Cupping is amazing at helping with lung issues like cough and asthma, in addition to being useful for strained and tight muscles.
So next time your kid is feeling unwell, stressed, or anxious, or you are looking to manage a chronic condition with less dependence on pharmaceuticals, remember acupuncture is for everyone, kids included!
xoxo,
Laura Schultz, L.A.C.
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