Treating Children with Acupuncture….
/ 26 June 2014 / 2 CommentsChildren respond well to acupuncture! This may seem a strange thing to say in our society where people are generally averse to needles, but in reality children react positively to therapies such as acupuncture which work holistically and don’t just treat symptoms. Acupuncturist here at the clinic, Andy Roscoe explains.
We see children as young as several weeks old right up to late teens. A lot of presenting complaints for the younger children are digestive or respiratory related.Typically I see kids with snotty noses, poor appetite and ones that generally aren’t very happy. For the older children there may be ongoing physical issues coupled with emotional issues related to adolescence. Treating children in their early phases of life can often heal weaknesses that would otherwise remain with them for the rest of their lives.
There are several variations on the treatments given to children. Some may get a few tiny needles inserted and removed painlessly, others will have these needles left in while they rest. Some get acupressure applied to energy points or meridians on the body.This can be done with our hands but sometimes we scrape the skin with the edge of a smooth tool made of jade. Or sometimes we just use a moxa stick to apply heat from above onto key energy points.
The feedback from parents is that acupuncture/pressure is safe, gentle and effective. Many of these parents have also been taught how to do the acupressure massage themselves, so the skills are passed on and children are kept well without drugs.
I offer a 50% fee reduction for all children up to the age of 16.
Space is also available in a new children’s clinic in Oxford called the Panda Clinic (www.pandaclinic.co.uk). This is one of the few acupuncture clinics in the country set up to specifically treat children. I look forward to welcoming you either in Thame or Oxford.
To find out more, call the Clinic on 01844 215555.
Do you ever put numbing cream on the children? My daughter is deathly afraid of needles, but she wants to try acupuncture. It is weird, but i can’t blame her, I have heard it does wonders for back pain.
Hello Steven,
You don’t say how old your daughter is but it is not surprising that there is a fear of needles in children and also many adults given that most of us have probably only experienced needles when we have had a syringe from the doctor which is a big needle and usually a bit painful because a fluid is being injected into you.
We don’t need to use numbing creams in acupuncture because the needle is so small and usually in and out in less than a second that nothing is felt other than a tiny ache. In 21 years of practice I have only ever had one adult not return because of needle phobia, and have managed to persuade even the most frightened child to accept one needle.
After that they invariably agree that there is nothing to be afraid of and are happy to have a small number of needles each time. And yes it is excellent for back ache!
Andy Roscoe
Director Thame Therapy Clinic