Acupuncture for Kids

It is a common misconception that acupuncture can only be utilized for adults. Just as children are mini adults, acupuncture and acupressure are safe, drug free and effective way to positively influence your health. For centuries acupuncture has been helping children boost their immune system, help them sleep, and improve digestion, just to name a few.

For many children (and also many adults) the thought of “needles” can be enough to elicit panic and fear. The best way to combat fear is knowledge. Most “needles” that people are familiar with are hollow bore needles used to give shots, while acupuncture needles are solid needles and thinner than a piece of hair. It is estimated that you can fit 15-20 acupuncture needles inside of a hollow bore needle.

Originally Acupuncture was developed as a general medicine as a way to put the body back into balance through the use of small fine pins, or needles as they are more commonly called. Initially the mechanism behind the how and why acupuncture worked was unknown. Generations of Chinese Medicine doctors would treat patients based on knowledge passed through families of doctors. Those doctors would record their findings and new treatments would evolve over time.

Today we have modern medicine and many scientific studies to tell us exactly how acupuncture works. There are many ways in which a small acupuncture needle can positively affect the body, but mainly acupuncture works to affect the nervous system and the brain. Our central computers, aka our brains, are wired through the nervous system, and if that wiring somehow misfires, bodily functions down the line can feel the effects. Recent research has shown that where the nervous system is found most superficially along the inner wrist correlates almost exactly with the location of acupuncture points. Coincidence? Most likely not.

At Milwaukee Community Acupuncture we welcome kid patients, as long as they are the right candidate and are able to speak in a quiet voice and rest for 10-20 minutes. It is recommended that before coming in for treatment you have an honest conversation with your child about what to expect. For most kids, treatments will include around 1-10 needles placed in the arms below the elbows, and legs below the knee. They will be asked to sit quietly with the needles in for around 20 minutes. The needles feel like a tiny pinch upon initial insertion, seconds later that sensation dies completely. For kids who don’t want to try needles we can use acupressure tools to stimulate the acupuncture points and channels, these tools are called sho ni shin.

Parents are encouraged to sit with their child for their first visit. At subsequent visits parents are welcome to come for an appointment with their child; we ask that the child be able to sit quietly in the treatment room until your acupuncture session is over, typically 40-45 minutes. Many families come and get acupuncture together, it is a great way to bond and do something good for yourself at the same time.

Acupuncture is a painless and safe way to improve the health of your entire family. We hope to see you and your kiddos in the clinic soon!