bOOK AN APPOINTMENT
If you are unsure if acupuncture is the right treatment for your child, I would be happy to answer your questions in a FREE 15min telephone appointment.
BOOK FREE 15min TELEPHONE APPOINTMENT
Every child needs a tailor-made approach and method of treatment-appointments will suit the nature and needs of your child, ensuring an effective treatment as well as one that is a positive experience for your child.
0-11 YEARS
Children are often happy to try needles-sometimes they are reluctant to try needles at first, but change their minds after a few sessions-but if not, there are alternative, needle free techniques. At each session, the treatment method will be balanced with the ensuring your child has a positive experience.
NEEDLE FREE TECHNIQUES
If your child is reluctant to try needles, there are a number of other techniques that can be used:
Paediatric Tui na
Tui na is a highly effective and gentle massage treatment. It is practical and intuitive-babies and children usually love it! A variety of massage techniques, including stroking, and tapping, on the hands, arms, legs,
feet, back and abdomen are used, depending on what condition is being treated. Paediatric tui na is most effective on children up to the age of 7, but is sometimes used on older children and in conjunction with needles.
Shonishin
The Japanese term shonishin means ‘children’s needle’. It does not use actual needles, but small softly shaped tools that are used to gently stroke or tap on the child’s skin. Shonishin is a gentle and non-invasive treatment for babies, including premature infants, young children with various conditions and also teenagers on the autistic spectrum. It can be used by itself or combined with another treatment method.
Press Seeds
At the end of a treatment, a press seed may be placed on a specific acupuncture point. This provides very subtle stimulation of the point and once on, children usually forget about it. If necessary, parents will be given press seeds and full instructions on how to apply them at home.
QUESTIONS YOUR YOUNG CHILD MIGHT ASK...
No! The most likely reason you’ve had needles before is when you’ve had either vaccinations or blood tests. Acupuncture needles are much, much finer, in fact they are finer than just one hair!
When they are inserted, you may feel a very mild, buzzy-type feeling. Many children say they don’t feel anything at all, or if they do that the feeling is ‘ok’ or even that they like the feeling. Some needles go in and straight out again. Others stay in for a few minutes, butwhen the needle is in you won’t even know it’s there.
No! Although most children find they are OK with the needles, you don’t need to have any at all. I can use other treatments, like massage. You might decide you don’t want to try needles straight away, but then change your mind, that’s ok too.
12-18 YEARS
Adolescence is a time of change and discovering who you are. Acupuncture can help make
this process a smoother one. Common reasons that young people seek treatment for are:
Anxiety
Depression
Menstrual Conditions
Acne
Headaches
Migraines
Sleep
Allergies
Intolerances
WHAT TO EXPECT
For some children, coming to their first acupuncture appointment can make them a little nervous. Everything will be done to make them feel safe, comfortable and relaxed. Chatting about hobbies, pets, school and home life often help children relax. The first session will last up to 1hr, with the aim of diagnosing and build rapport with your child.
You, (and depending on their age), your child, will be asked questions about their health now and in the past. Close attention is also paid to signs, such your child’s complexion, their stature and tone of voice. Your child’s pulse may be taken and their tongue looked at. The treatment will be explained to your child, so that they know what is happening at each step.
If needles are to be used it is with a child-friendly needle technique. Children need very few needles and up to the age of around 7, needles are inserted and immediately withdrawn, so that the child does not need to remain still for any length of time.
Lifestyle Advice
Small changes to diet and/or routine can often make a big difference to children. Discussion with parents about the practicalities of implementing any suggested changes are very welcome.
QUESTIONS YOUR CHILD/TEENAGER MIGHT ASK...
Acupuncture is one of the longest established forms of healthcare in the world. It takes three and a half years to to become an acupuncturist. During this time, as well as
learning the theory and practice of Acupuncture and Chinese medicine, acupuncturists also learn some conventional medicine too. You can trust that any acupuncturist who belongs to a professional body called the British Acupuncture Council (www.acupuncture.org.uk) has received appropriate training.
Acupuncturists are trained to use subtle diagnostic techniques that have been developed and refined for thousands of years. The focus is on you as an individual, not your illness, and all symptoms are seen in relation to each other. Treatment involves the insertion of very fine needles into specific points on the body to affect the flow of your body’s qi, or vital energy
No, it isn’t painful. Acupuncture needles are so fine that most people don’t feel them being inserted. It is normal to feel a mild tingle or dull ache as the acupuncturist adjusts the needle to direct Qi. While the needles are in place most people feel deeply relaxed which can continue after they are removed.
Acupuncture treats a wide range of conditions. The most common reasons that teenagers come for treatment are:
Acne
Anxiety
Depression
Digestive issues
Headaches and migraines
Painful periods (and other menstrual problems)
Sleep problems
This list is not definitive and there are lots of other reasons teenagers seek treatment too. Sometimes, a teenager will come without a specific condition, but because they are finding the massive changes that go on around adolescence challenging or difficult. Acupuncture can be really effective at helping to make this transition smoother.
When they are inserted, you may feel a very mild, buzzy-type feeling. Many children say they don’t feel anything at all, or if they do that the feeling is ‘ok’ or even that they like the feeling. Some needles go in and straight out again. Others stay in for a few minutes, butwhen the needle is in you won’t even know it’s there.
When I first see you, I will need to ask a few questions about why you have come for treatment in order that I can make an accurate diagnosis. I will also ask to have a look at your tongue, and take your pulse. I will then ask you to lie on my couch and will insert the fine needles. Sometimes the needles stay in for around 15 minutes; sometimes I will insert one and take it straight out. The minimum number of needles I would use in one treatment is 2. The maximum number would be 8.
Before each stage of the treatment, I will explain to you what I would like to do and check that you are happy with it. You have the option to say ‘no’ at any time to something you are not happy with.
Most of the points I will use are on your lower arms and lower legs, so it’s helpful to wear trousers that can be rolled up to the knee. I will sometimes want to use points on your back or front torso. If you would rather not have needles in a particular part of your body, if you tell me this there is nearly always an alternative point I can use.
We don’t have to – but we can’! One of the benefits of acupuncture treatment is that I make my diagnosis by various signs I observe (such as your eyes, pulse, tongue etc). So if you don’t feel comfortable talking at length about how you are feeling, that is absolutely fine. If, however, you feel it would be helpful to talk about how you are feeling, then that’s wonderful and I will always be happy to listen.
Yes! I am bound of strict codes of ethics and safe practice. I will not share anything that you have told me with anybody else. The only exception to this is if you tell me
something which makes me seriously concerned for your welfare or the welfare of others. If I think it would be useful to liaise with your G.P or another medical health professional, I will ask your consent to do this beforehand.
Your parent or legal guardian needs to stay in the room during the first session, as he or she will know details about your health history that you may not remember! After that, it is up to you what you would prefer. He or she can either stay in the room for none, part or all of your treatment. You can decide what you are most comfortable with and this can change as treatment progresses.
Acupuncture is not a quick fix, and you will usually need a series of appointments in order to feel better. However, depending on the condition, many people start feeling some kind of change almost immediately. When I first see you, I can give you more of an idea as to how many sessions I think you may need.
Yes, there is a lot of evidence about the effectiveness of acupuncture, and this is increasing all the time. If you are interested in reading more about this, I recommend the
following website: www.evidencebasedacupuncture.org
