With the increased interest in, and success of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and acupuncture, it has become an important question: Is acupuncture treatment safe for children? The answer is a resounding yes. In fact, acupuncture is one of the safest, most effective medical treatments for children of all ages and for a vast number of ailments and conditions.
Any parent knows that their children are unique and special. And their medical treatment should reflect that uniqueness. One of the main benefits of acupuncture is that it is a personalized treatment, customized for each individual. And this applies to children as well. No two bodies are the same, yet the Western medicine approach to treating children is to treat them the same by recommending pills and medicines that aim to temporarily mask the symptoms without treating the root cause. And many children’s medication comes with unwanted side-effects. Acupuncture is a safe, painless way to treat the cause of the condition, thereby lowering the chances that it will recur.
Acupuncture for children is safe and painless.
What Conditions Can Children Get Acupuncture For?
Because their bodies are still developing and because they tend to be human germ-magnets, children get sick more than adults do. Luckily, TCM and acupuncture can be used to treat a number of common ailments:
- Headaches
- Stomach aches
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Ear infections
- Anxiety
- Skin problems
- Digestive problems
One recent study at the Children’s Hospital in Boston, found that acupuncture greatly reduced the pain children experienced as a result of headaches, stomach aches, backaches, and other pain-causing ailments. Before the acupuncture treatment, the children rated their pain level at 8 out of ten. Following the acupuncture treatment, the pain level was reduced to 3 out of 10. It is as simple as that.
What Does Treatment Look Like?
Acupuncture can be used to treat a number of ailments common to children.
Any aspect of Traditional Chinese Medicine always begins with a conversation and a brief examination, and it is no different with children. The conversation is important, as it will help to customize the treatment to each individual child. The TCM doctor will talk to the child (often with a parent present). The conversation and examination will generally center around the child’s physical & mental health history, as well as the current condition.
Once the discussion and examination are complete, one (or more) of the following methods of treatment will be recommended:
- Acupuncture
- Herbal remedy
- Dietary modifications
- Non-Needle treatment
If acupuncture is recommended, the treatment will be safe and virtually painless. It is also important to note that TCM and acupuncture can also be safely used with other traditional pediatric treatments.
Your child has everything to gain, and nothing to lose.
If you are interested in trying acupuncture for your child or are interested in any other aspects of Traditional Chinese Medicine, book an appointment today by phoning 604-260-2713 or clicking the button below.
