Acupuncture for Kids: A Natural Way to Feel Better

When we think of acupuncture, we might imagine grown-ups with tiny needles sticking out of their backs. But guess what? Acupuncture isn't just for adults—kids can benefit from it too! This ancient Chinese medical practice involves putting super-thin needles into specific spots on the body to help with various health issues. Sounds cool, right? Let’s dive into how acupuncture can help kids feel their best!

Acupuncture is all about balancing your body's energy, known as Qi (say it like "chee"). This energy flows through pathways called meridians. If something blocks your Qi, you might feel unwell. Acupuncture helps unblock these pathways and get your energy flowing smoothly again. And don’t worry—the needles are so thin that you barely feel them!

For kids, acupuncturists use fewer needles and gentler techniques to make the experience easy-peasy.

The benefits of acupuncture for kids are plentiful. Here’s how acupuncture can help!

Zap away pain. If your kiddo has chronic pain like migraines or joint pain, acupuncture can help. It works by easing the pain and making them feel better overall.

A study published in the journal "Pediatrics" found that acupuncture significantly reduced pain and improved the quality of life in children with chronic pain conditions. The study showed that 70% of the participants experienced a notable decrease in pain levels after just a few sessions!

Supercharge the immune system. Regular acupuncture can give your child's immune system a boost, helping them fend off colds and flu faster.

Tame tummy troubles. Acupuncture is great for digestive problems like constipation, diarrhea, and tummy aches. It helps everything run smoothly in the digestive department.

Snooze like a baby. Struggling with sleep issues? Acupuncture can help kids relax and get a good night's sleep. Say goodbye to insomnia and nightmares!

Breathe easy. If your child has allergies or asthma, acupuncture can be a lifesaver. It helps reduce symptoms and keeps those sneezing fits and asthma attacks at bay.

Feel happy and healthy. Acupuncture isn’t just for physical health—it’s great for mental health too. It can help with anxiety, depression, and even ADHD by balancing the brain's chemicals and hormones.

What Happens During a Session?

A session usually starts with a chat. The acupuncturist will ask about your child's health and what’s been bothering them. Then, the magic begins!

Your child will lie down and relax while the acupuncturist gently places the needles. For kids who are scared of needles, there are needle-free options like acupressure, tuning forks, shoni-shen, and essential oils. Sessions last about 15 to 45 minutes (depending on the techniques used), and many kids find it so relaxing they might even take a little nap!

Is It Safe?

Yes! When done by a licensed and experienced practitioner, acupuncture is very safe for kids. The needles are sterile, used only once, and super thin. Just make sure you choose someone who knows how to work with children to ensure the best experience.

Acupuncture can be a fantastic addition to your child's health routine. It’s a natural and holistic way to handle various health issues, helping kids feel their best both physically and emotionally. If you’re curious about acupuncture for your child, talk to a qualified practitioner to see how it can help!

Inside a Session with Balance Acupuncture

Curious about what an acupuncture treatment with us looks like? Wonder no longer- here’s how your hour with us unfolds!

We begin our session discussing your health concerns and wellness goals. From your emotional well-being to aches and pains, digestion to energy, it’s all connected for us!

We take your pulses and look at your tongue, two important diagnostic tools in Chinese medicine. Both provide insight into patterns of imbalance and the root cause for your symptoms.

We put all this info together to create a highly individualized treatment plan, just for you! This is your “Chinese medical diagnosis”. It may sound something like “Spleen qi deficiency with dampness” or “Liver qi stagnation with heat”.

Your treatment takes place in a clean, private, peaceful setting. Using a gentle insertion technique, we place tiny, sterile, hair-thin acupuncture needles along specific areas and channels of the body to bring your body back into balance.

Before leaving the room, we make sure everything feels comfortable and let you relax on the treatment table for 20-35 min... this is the “acunap”!

Along with acupuncture, your visit includes any necessary extras such as gua sha, cupping, tui na (Chinese medical massage), moxibustion (heat therapy), essential oils, etc.

We may prescribe an herbal formula or discuss lifestyle changes and dietary modifications to further support your health.

Ask questions! Chinese Medicine is a completely different way of looking at the body. Please feel welcome to ask questions at any time.

Follow-up appointments are recommended to establish a treatment plan, and we will always make referrals to other practitioners for specialized or additional care, as needed!

Book a visit with us!

A Natural, Herbal Approach to Stress Relief

We love integrating Western herbs into our practice. They’re easy to use, fun to learn about, widely accessible, and can be sourced locally and organically. And, there are so many herbs that can help us keep calm and relaxed. The following information is from National Geographic’s special March 2020 edition, Healing Remedies: A Holistic Approach to Health and Wellness, and focuses on herbal stress relief.

(As always, the information provided is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.)

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Caring for the Nervous System

In Western herbalism, caring for the nervous system relies on NERVINE and ADAPTOGEN herbs to help us better cope with stress, relieve anxiety, lift our mood, improve our sleep, and ease our pain. 

Nervines are simply herbs that have some effect upon the nervous system. There are three categories of nervines:

• nervine stimulants enliven and awaken the nervous system. Peppermint, rosemary, and ginger achieve this action without overstimulating the nervous system.

• nervine relaxants have a calming effect upon the nerves, with their effect ranging from mild (chamomile, lemon balm) to powerfully sedative (California poppy, hops). Valerian offers a nice middle ground.

  • german chamomile: one of the best herbs for those who hold stress in their digestive tracts and skin. Anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic.

  • lemon balm: for those who become irritable and cranky if they don’t have enough downtime. For overstimulated extroverts with difficulty focusing.

  • valerian: found in many sleep formulas because it promotes restful sleep. Best for those who are tense and tired. Relaxes tension in the muscles.

  • California poppy: helpful for those whoa re stressed-out, depressed, and cannot sleep due to pain. Mild pain-relieving properties and eases anxiety

  • hops: for those who really need to sleep but lay awake at night worried about all kinds of things.

• nervine tonics nourish and support the nervous system, and are a good choice for those feeling emotionally exhausted or overwhelmed. Tonic herbs include milky oats, skullcap, and St. Johns Wort.

  • milky oats: a classic nervine tonic, helpful for those who are mentally and spiritually tired.

  • skullcap: best for those who are easily upset and overwhelmed. Supports those who do not handle stress well.

  • St. Johns Wort: strengthens and nourishes those who are mildly depressed. Its best for those not taking prescription drugs as it can interact with many.

Adaptogens are helpful for those under a great deal of stress, and include ginseng, ashwagandha, and rhodiola. Adaptogen herbs can be taken for at least 2-3 months, and should be part of a holistic approach to managing stress.

• Ginseng is considered the classic adaptogen, and often used in Chinese Medicine as a qi tonic to improve energy and vitality.

• Ashwaghanda is a rejuvenating tonic, used in Ayurveda, the traditional medical system of India. This herb is recommended for the “wired and tired”.

• Rhodiola has been used in traditional medicine systems for over 3,000 years. This herb can help those with fatigue, mental fog, and difficulty concentrating.

You can make teas or tinctures from these herbs based on which one resonates with you. For young children, stick with chamomile, lemon balm, milky oats, and skullcap. 

HERBAL STRESS RELIEF

This basic herbal formula is great for taking the edge off. And it's simple to make at home- give it a try!

• 10 grams lemon balm herb

• 10 grams chamomile flowers

• 10 grams skullcap herb

• 150 milliliters brandy or vodka OR 170 milliliters vegetable glycerine and 70 milliliters water (use glycerine option for kids)

Grind herbs into a coarse powder and put in a glass jar. Add vodka OR vegetable glycerine and water. Stir well. If you need to add more liquid, put in an additional 15 milliliters glycerine and 5 milliliters water. Cover and let sit for 2 weeks, shaking daily. Strain and pour liquid into a dark bottle, label, and store in a cabinet. Compost herbs. 

how to use

Herbal Stres Relief Tincture (made with brandy or vodka):
Adults: take 1 teaspoon of the tincture 2 to 3 times a day, as needed to ease tension or anxiety. 

Herbal Stress Relief Glycerite (made with vegetable glycerine):

• 40 to 60 pounds: 1/2 teaspoon 2 to 3 times a day, as needed

• 60 to 90 pounds: 1 teaspoon 2 to 3 times a day, as needed

• 90 to 120 pounds: 1 1/2 teaspoons 2-3 times a day, as needed

• Over 120 pounds: 2 teaspoons 2 to 3 times a day, as needed

TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND ENJOY!

Resources:

“Healing Remedies” by Tieraona Low Dog M.D. National Geographic, March 2020.

Why Fall is the Perfect Time to Tidy Up (and other lessons from the metal element)

We’re all familiar with spring cleaning, but fall is a perfect time to de-clutter and tidy up! Here’s why:

Fall welcomes in the metal element phase. In Five Element theory, each element (fire, earth, metal, water, and wood) has special associations with particular areas of life, certain emotions, personalities, shapes, colors, seasons, and organ systems in the human body. Understanding the five elements allows us to bring harmony in our home and in ourselves. The metal element is all about a lesson in letting go.

The metal element represents transformation. Fall is a season of transition, the time in between summer and winter, when yang transforms to yin. You can see this transformation happening in the environment: leaves fall off the trees, and the days are shorter and cooler. Resonating with the energy of the season, it’s natural to feel that urge to transform our own living space, as well.

The power of metal is decrease. After the growth of spring (wood), the abundance of summer (fire), and the harvest of late summer (earth), we come to fall (metal), a time to decrease. When summer transitions to fall, we can feel the weight of excess accumulation in the form of mental and physical clutter. Decluttering our space will help to let go of excess and find levity in our space.

The metal element likes structure. Following the endless summer days, fall brings back routine and structure. The school year begins, summer travel ends, and its back to the day planner. The metal element thrives with structure, organization, and methodical planning. Now is the time to bring that metal energy into your home!

In her book “The Holistic Home”, Laura Benko explains that fall is a time of harvesting and gathering your ideas: “Use this time to prepare yourself for future goals like researching for a book, collecting ideas for redecorating, or planning a wedding or trip.” Decreasing clutter invites space that fosters ideas, planning, and preparation.

(Note: if you need some organizational or decor ideas, consider incorporating some metal element feng shui. The color of metal is white, and its shape is a dome. Incorporate items made of metals, rocks, and minerals into your home. Examples are bronze picture frames, stainless steel kitchen containers, white desk organizers, and geode bookends).

Grief is the emotion of metal. Fall is the season when the qi (energy) moves inward, and days become shorter and darker. Grief is part of the qi of the season: there is decay in nature, and a strong sense of letting go as nature prepares for new life.  Cleaning out our closets can allow feelings of sadness and loss to move through in a healthy way.

The Metal element organ systems inspire and let go. The lungs and the large intestine are the organ systems associated with the metal element and the fall season. The lungs are about inspiration, and the large intestine is about elimination.  Our lungs take in cleansing breaths and exhale carbon dioxide. The large intestine eliminates waste from digestion.  Both organs let go of toxins and absorb essential nutrients needed for life. 

Staying in sync with the seasons, we should bring this theme of discernment into our home come fall.  What is valuable, what is not? Consider the energetics of the lungs: cleansing, purification, and inspiration. Create a space that inspires you! Consider the energetics of the large intestine: elimination. Let go of excess and things that are no longer needed, and tackle spaces that make you feel weighed down. 

Chinese Medicine proposes that we should live in harmony and balance with the cycles of nature.  Fall is about shedding our leaves and letting go. If we resist or act counter to what is happening naturally in our environment, our body, spirit and mind can suffer. Benko explains, “de-cluttering your mind, body, spirit and home is essential to living life more fully. It’s easier to feel joy, to think with clarity, and to make your goals happen.”

We acquire a lot of material possessions during our lifetime. Many spiritual teachers recommend that people continuously let go and pass through life, contrary to our tendency to hold, posses, and hang on to things. When we hold on to things for too long, there is lack of movement and change, and the Qi (energy) in our home becomes stagnant and our personal energy can feel compromised.

Qi stagnation can feel like stress, frustration, or irritability. Particularly in the fall, if the movement of lunq Qi is impaired, this feels like asthma, shortness of breath, chronic coughs or colds, or chest tightness. Stagnant large intestine Qi can cause abdominal pain or constipation. Creating movement and space in our home promotes the healthy flow of Qi in our environment and in ourselves, and supports a balanced metal element.

Organizing, decluttering, and perfecting the home will come more naturally to people with more metal energy in their elemental make-up. Hello, Marie Kondo! But achieving a minimalist, highly organized space is not for everyone. The fall clean-up is more about cleaning out your closets, creating a space where you feel inspired, a space where you can BREATHE, a space that feels lighter, and a space that fosters the qi of ideas and creativity to flow.

Resources:

Benko, Laura. “The Holistic Home: Feng Shui for Mind, Body, Spirit, Space” (2016).

Hicks, Angela. “Five Element Constitutional Acupuncture" (2004).

Morris, Laura. “Clutter vs. Mess”: www.mindfuldesignschool.com. March 4, 2019.

It's All Connected: The Amazing Meridians

It may seem strange, at first, that when you get an acupuncture treatment for a backache we needle a point behind your knees, for a toothache we needle a point on your hand, or for gall bladder stones we needle a point on your foot.  

What makes it possible for points on the wrist to treat pain in the chest, or,  points on the back to treat the brain and mood disorders is a distribution network in the body called meridian systems. 

The meridians are like a giant web, circulating qi and blood throughout the body and linking different parts of the body together. 

Every organ has its own meridian, or channel, that traverses a certain area of the body. The flow of Qi in the meridians concentrate at certain areas- these are the acupuncture points. When needled, acupuncture points can regulate the way in which the body functions and has been shown to effect the electrical and nervous systems of the body, impact neurotransmitters, and reduce substance P (which is responsible for the sensation of pain).  

There are hundreds of acupuncture points located all over the body, from head to toe. How do we choose which points to use? 

Based on a person’s health history, chief complaint, tongue and pulse diagnosis (that’s a big, fascinating topic for another time!), and channel palpation (pressing along the channels to find areas of tenderness or pain), we establish a Chinese medical diagnosis and select a unique group of points that work together to treat the patient’s symptoms and their underlying cause. 

This is why acupuncture is a “root and branch medicine”. 

A treatment plan for a migraine may include points that stop pain and reduce tension (the symptoms, or "branch"), in addition to points that target the underlying pattern of imbalance, or root cause, such as Liver Qi stagnation. A treatment plan for allergies may use points to open the sinuses and stop sneezing (the branch) and strengthen deficient Lung Qi (the root). 

We consider which channels and organ systems are affected, and often chose local and distal points as part of your treatment plan. 

Remember: every part of your body is connected by the meridian system! 

Locally, acupuncture points can move qi and blood, stop pain, increase circulation and decrease inflammation at the site of injury or disease. Distal points will open the affected channels to move pain out, encourage circulation along the entire channel, and strengthen channel deficiencies.

The Gall Bladder meridian, for example, descends from the head and temples to the ribcage and hips, and then travels down the legs to the fourth toe. Needling Gall Bladder points on the feet can treat issues at the opposite end of the channel, like head aches, gall bladder disease, and rib pain. 

Each point has its own special action on the body, and each point works at both a physical, mental, and spiritual level. 

The location of the point, its associated organ system and meridian, and even its name indicates what that point can do. Acupuncture point Pericardium 6 (PC-6), is a point along the pericardium channel which begins at the middle finger, travels up the arm and ends at the center of the chest.

Anatomically, the pericardium is the membrane that surrounds the heart. In Chinese Medicine theory, the pericardium is called “the heart protector”. The name of this particular point, “Inner Gate”, refers to how the heart regulates its boundaries: what gets let in, what gets let out. The point functions to open the chest, stop chest pain, circulate heart qi and blood, and calm anxiety. It’s location over the median nerve at the wrist makes it a great point to treat carpel tunnel syndrome and other arm and wrist issues.

Acupuncture allows us to access our health and wellness from a holistic perspective. It acknowledges that everything is connected, and that it is possible to address multiple issues with one singular treatment!