Oakland, CA – How Do I Know If I Need Pediatric Acupuncture or Herbal Medicine?

Many parents ask me how they would know if their child needs pediatric acupuncture and/or herbal medicine. Here are some key times you’d want to use these modalities:

1. Your pediatrician is recommending medication for your child but you’re concerned about the side effects or do not feel comfortable giving pharmaceutical medications for that particular condition;
2. Your child remains unwell despite using the recommended therapies from their medical team;
3. You suspect that your child’s issues are holistic in nature, meaning that both body and mind are involved in their current issues;
4. You’d like preventive care for your child to ensure that their mood, digestion, and immune system function optimally.

Pediatric acupuncture often involves a range of modalities that can be adapted based on the age, size, and disposition of the child. Some children are completely comfortable receiving an acupuncture treatment while others prefer a softer approach using acupressure (pressing on the points rather than piercing the skin with a needle), massage, and soft cupping. Some children prefer to receive a full 30-minute session of hands-on work while others prefer just a few minutes of touch.

Parents often worry that their highly active child will not be able to receive acupuncture. We can always make acupuncture and hands-on therapy work for the child by using brief (sometimes 15-30-second) bits of treatment interspersed with the child exploring the clinic or playing with their toys.

I also receive questions from parents about how their children might be able to take herbs. Especially for young children I typically provide herbs in a liquid tincture that is glycerin-based. The glycerin provides a sweet flavor while preserving the quality of the herbs. These liquid tinctures can be taken diluted in a liquid such as water, coconut water, or an herbal tea, or can be blended into applesauce, yogurt, oatmeal, smoothies, or any other semi-liquid food that the child already consumes. For older children (10 and up) I may also offer pills if that is an easier format for them to use.

If you have questions about whether pediatric acupuncture and herbal therapy may be appropriate for your child, don’t hesitate to contact me at janet@janetacu.com. I look forward to hearing from you!