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June 2009 Article for e-newsletter on Pediatric Acupuncture:

Pediatric Acupuncture

 

Treating children continuously renews my sense of wonder at this ancient art of acupuncture and how its principles are applied in practice. Of all people, children reflect most closely the theory of the five phases and its correspondences. Children are amazing examples of the dynamic balance of the law of yin & yang and its interrelationships. During the first two years of life, children's emotions are pure and uninhibited; hence, their qi (Life energy that animates the body and protects it from illness) flows freely and is readily accessible. In pathology, the symptoms they exhibit are always a clear reflection of what's going on inside. Small children cannot and do not need to tell us what's wrong. The brightness of shen in their eyes; the color on their face and body; the texture and temperature of their skin; and many other signs speak loudly for them. Sometimes during treatment, or when the child comes back for a second visit, the changes are obvious and visible. Children respond so quickly to treatment because they are so yang, or pure.

Through treating little ones, I have become aware that most of the patterns we carry into our adult lives actually start at a very early age. Simply living in an atmosphere of stress, tension or conflicts can create traumatic experiences. These experiences affect the child emotionally, and each emotional pattern will in time affect the child physically. I've seen children as young as one year old suffer from major emotional imbalances.

These imbalances turn into the defense mechanisms we all develop in order to get what we want (or simply to cope with life). In terms of health, these defense mechanisms often lock us into reactionary patterns such as "me against the world," which do not serve our well-being. These reinforce our sense of separation from the universe and tend to create tension, contraction and struggles. The attitude we adopt toward pain and illness is often a major contributor to the progression of an illness. When we feel at peace and at home within and without, we can relax and drop our guards. The qi then naturally flows smoothly and easily. By age three, a child's constitutional tendencies and personality are already in place, along with the type of physical ailments they will be prone to. Strengthening the child's own healing abilities in these weaker areas can make an invaluable contribution to their future health. Recognizing their strengths and respecting their limitations can offer both parent and child an opportunity for empowerment and self-discovery in their own natural state of health.

Oriental medicine views the treatment of children to be extremely important, and when treating children the most important system to treat is usually the digestive system.

According to Chinese medical theory, children's spleens and stomachs up to the age of approximately six are inherently immature (because they are still developing). That means they do not function as efficiently as a healthy adult's does. Until then the digestive systems are weak and overworked, so it is not uncommon to see children complaining of various digestive upset from diarrhea to indigestion.

In Chinese Medicine these complaints can be classified as an accumulation of food. Children's digestion is easily damaged by poor diets and an unnecessary or over use of antibiotics. When antibiotics are used they kill the "bad" bacteria which are possibly causing the illness. Antibiotics simultaneously kill the "good" bacteria (flora) found in your intestines. This "good" flora is necessary for a strong digestive system and a healthy immune system. There is definitely a place for Western medication and antibiotics for severe acute conditions; however, persistent antibiotic use can lead to children having poor digestive systems or recurring illnesses.

When solid foods are introduced in children, one should start with easily digestible foods, like cooked carrots and well-cooked grains such as cream of rice. Because the process of digestion in Chinese medicine is likened to a process of cooking and distillation, foods which are cooked are, in general, more easily digested than uncooked foods. In other words, cooking is pre-digestion. Therefore, infants and very young children do better when they are fed mostly cooked, mashed, partially predigested foods than when they eat uncooked, chilled, or cold foods. Chilled and cold foods "douse" the fire of the spleen and make it difficult to digest the food. In addition, foods that Chinese medicine labels as very "dampening" also easily harm the spleen when eaten excessively. These include sugars and sweets in general, dairy products (and especially chilled dairy products such as cheese and yogurt), peanut and other nut butters, and bread. The digestive system is the pivot upon which children depend on. As parents it is our responsibility to make sure we have control of our children's diets. In the end, one of the key ways to treat all childhood illnesses is to work on the child's diet. If you can change a child’s diet you can affect their overall health for their entire life.

In today’s world, children are exposed to many stressors. Over time, they build up and can cause problems. Some examples of these are:

Accidents/falls, Environmental toxins, Diet, and Emotions.

Cough/Colds

Allergies

Fever

Asthma/Bronchitis

Earaches

ADD and ADHD

Digestive issues

Constipation/Diarrhea

And More

There are several different methods within Oriental medicine for treating children, such as tuina, shoni-shin, and Chinese herbal formulas. Children are not small versions of adults. Their energetics are totally unique due to the fact that their systems are still developing and in a constant process of growth.

Tuina is a form of Chinese bodywork, is a great healing tool for children who need to be touched. It is effective and nurturing in the management of many chronic disorders.is a form of Chinese bodywork, is a great healing tool for children who need to be touched. It is effective and nurturing in the management of many chronic disorders. Shoni-shin is my favorite modality and truly works wonders for common respiratory and digestive ailments. It can enhance circulation and relaxation, thereby improving health in general. Shoni-shin is a form of bodywork that makes use of small metal tools designed to bring qi to the surface, help it move by "spreading" it along the channels, and stimulate specific acupuncture points. There are about a half-dozen different tools in a shoni-shin kit, none of which penetrate the skin. A shoni-shin treatment can be performed in 10 to 20 minutes depending on the age of the child and the severity of the illness. Even a very guarded or frightened child will usually warm up to the idea of shoni-shin, and many actually look forward to it. is my favorite modality and truly works wonders for common respiratory and digestive ailments. It can enhance circulation and relaxation, thereby improving health in general. Shoni-shin is a form of bodywork that makes use of small metal tools designed to bring qi to the surface, help it move by "spreading" it along the channels, and stimulate specific acupuncture points. There are about a half-dozen different tools in a shoni-shin kit, none of which penetrate the skin. A shoni-shin treatment can be performed in 10 to 20 minutes depending on the age of the child and the severity of the illness. Even a very guarded or frightened child will usually warm up to the idea of shoni-shin, and many actually look forward to it. acupuncture needles are generally not used in children under age eight or nine unless there is an extreme acute condition going on, when the child is overly tired, restless or so hyperactive that he/she cannot sit still through a treatment. I practice a “flying dart” method on just a few points which is quick, painless, and goes in and out very quickly. I also will use moxa therapy (heating of the herb mugwort) for cold situations demonstrated in the body. are generally not used in children under age eight or nine unless there is an extreme acute condition going on, when the child is overly tired, restless or so hyperactive that he/she cannot sit still through a treatment. I practice a “flying dart” method on just a few points which is quick, painless, and goes in and out very quickly. I also will use moxa therapy (heating of the herb mugwort) for cold situations demonstrated in the body. Herbal medicine has been used for centuries in China and in the treatment of children. Antibiotics are not always necessary and with herbal medicine you can bypass the side effects experienced from taking medication. Herbal medicine is used for a short period of time when treating acute conditions and longer when treating chronic diseases. has been used for centuries in China and in the treatment of children. Antibiotics are not always necessary and with herbal medicine you can bypass the side effects experienced from taking medication. Herbal medicine is used for a short period of time when treating acute conditions and longer when treating chronic diseases.

Holistic medicine means integrating the spiritual, emotional, mental and physical aspects of our beings. When we treat children with Oriental medicine, we infuse them with the awareness that bodies and minds are connected. The mind drives the body. A peaceful mind allows the body to take the rest it needs when it needs it, allowing the body to regenerate and heal. For too many of us, the mind constantly remains on fast idle, even after we've turned off the engine.

 

 

 

 

February 2009 article on WWEC in WNC Woman magazine:

 

 

 

 

January 2009 article on WWEC in Citizen-Times:

 

New center offers one-stop shop for women's wellness Anne Fitten Glenn • published January 18, 200912:15 am  Zoom Ruth MacNair, left, and Trish Beckman are founders and owners of the new Women?s Wellness and Education Center. - Special to the Citizen-Times/Anne Fitten Glenn