by Shoshanna Katzman, L.Ac., M.S.

(HealthNewsDigest.com)...How many people realize how much acupuncture treatments can help children rid themselves of unwanted illness? Rearing children without overuse of antibiotics, ear tubes, allergy shots, and excessive use of OTC and prescription medications can be a daunting task. If western society understood how effective these treatments are for children unnecessary suffering could be avoided. For centuries, acupuncture has been a natural, safe and effective treatment for people young and old alike.

Life-threatening pediatric illnesses must of course be treated with western allopathic medicines, however acupuncture and other alternative therapies must not be overlooked as viable treatment options for children. The acupuncture approach views the existence of symptoms or disease as a result of the body being out of balance. This is based on the concept of Qi, pronounced chee, the vital energy that flows through 14 main meridians pathways traversing within the human body. The Chinese believe that a meridian blockage or deficient Qi flow causes ill health in the body. Acupuncture treatments are done to remove Qi blockages and strengthen the flow of Qi to restore health.

An acupuncturist determines a Chinese diagnosis during an initial consultation to determine which meridian needs balancing in order to restore health to the body. A practitioner gathers symptoms and sign exhibited by the patient and formulates them into a differential diagnosis to determine the course of treatment, usually 10 to 15 sessions received over several months depending upon the childs health status, duration of problems combined with severity. Upon completion of this treatment series a re-evaluation is done to determine the need for additional courses of treatment. Conditions such as chronic ear infections, allergic reactions, digestive disturbance, acute and chronic pain, athletic and dance injuries, asthma, chronic colds or flu, obesity, chronic fatigue syndrome, failure to thrive, migraines and ADHD are some of the more common pediatric problems that acupuncture is used successfully to treat.

According to Chinese medicine, a childs constitution and energy level is determined prior to birth during the first few months of pregnancy. The physical and emotional health of the parents has a profound impact on the state of their baby at birth. After birth, the parents still need to feed their child a continuous supply of energy to complete the development of their meridians. When children dont receive this special energetic attention from their parents they can become ill.

Based on the Five Element Theory, a childs health is dependent on the parents health. It is thus common for an acupuncturist to treat the mother to treat the child. This combined with the treatment of the child helps a child heal their mental, physical and emotional aspects as well as provide Qi nourishment to their meridians. The experience of visiting an acupuncturist is a major step toward a childs healing process as it makes their symptoms more real and promotes healing purpose.

A child should have their consultation without siblings to provide an opportunity special time with their parent. What cant be easily expressed at home, seems so clear in front of a compassionate and intuitive health professional leading to profound resolutions. Future visits can become a favorite special time together. Some children prefer to receive treatments alone and thrive on independence. Others come with their entire family taking turns watching each other receive treatment.

The following explains some specific Chinese medicine views of pediatric diagnosis and treatment strategy:

· stomach and spleen energy, which governs transportation and transformation of food in the body, is more delicate and weak

· blood and Qi converge in the hands and feet of young children

· yin is insufficient

· vital organs are fragile and soft and Qi easily leaves its path

· can become ill easily and their illness can become serious quickly

· vital organs are clear and spirited, so children easily and quickly regain their health

· The liver meridian is often out of balance

Children get sick quickly and heal quickly. Acupuncture is an excellent treatment choice to help them heal even quicker. Teaching a child early on that their bodies are able to heal on their own is a tremendous gift, one that they can turn to for the rest of their life.

From Healthy.net