Treating Kids with Acupuncture

In today’s rapidly changing world, kids are facing more stress than ever before.

When I first opened RiverWest more than a decade ago, I treated children mostly for allergies. But today, I’m caring for more and more kids diagnosed with ADHD, ADD, Asperger’s, and Autism— conditions whose labels may follow them for the remainder of their lives, oftentimes, unfortunately, defining who they are in a less than positive way.

The stress and anxiety that kids deal with today has significantly increased. I recall that at one time it seemed a child’s biggest concerns were: Will I be picked first or second for the baseball team? What time is lunch? And, who will be my best friend today at recess?
Today’s kids grapple with heavier questions, such as: Where will I fit in? Who am I? What are the expectations of my teachers, my friends, and my parents? What other activities will I participate in and how do I carve out time for those? How can I have enough time and space for all that demands my attention?

Such burdened questioning—and the anxieties that accompany them—has brought many kids to RiverWest Acupuncture for relief. The good news is our treatments are highly effective for kids with a variety of concerns. Some of the more common manifestations of their stress that we want to help them with are:

• Sleep disturbances – falling asleep or waking up
• Anxiety issues – worry, fear, nervousness
• Mental acuity – ability to focus

I use a three-prong approach. First, I use a gentle technique that does not involve needles as a way to restore balance and free flowing qi, which supports the child to grow and thrive naturally. Because they are young, kids have the advantage of not having a long history, and so their bodies adapt and heal quicker than adults. In addition, I will teach them techniques that they can use anywhere to help relax, focus, and calm themselves in minutes. Last, I give them an herbal tincture they take orally that effectively and gently calms them. I have had great success treating children with this protocol and look forward to serving your child.

This is the activator too that I use to treat children that are afraid or too young for needles. It is simply pressed gently against the appropriate points and is extremely effective.