Can Children have Acupuncture ?

Yes, they can! Traditional Chinese Medicine has a long history of treating children with acupuncture and Tui na (Chinese medical massage).

In Japanese acupuncture, the paediatric-focused treatments are called Shonishin, has roots from ancient China, but was then developed further in Japanese acupuncture teachings.

Shonishin doesn’t use acupuncture needles but rounded massage acupuncture tools that don’t penetrate the skin. These specialised tools stimulate the acupuncture points and channels.

The set-up of paediatric acupuncture is different from adult acupuncture, which may be familiar with. Younger children can sit in their parents’ laps or sit up on the table and be involved in the treatment. 

All treatments are tailored to suit the individual child and their Chinese medicine pattern. Needling or non-needling techniques are very gentle and painless. In paediatric treatments, we use a variety of tools and techniques, such as:

Tuina (Chinese medical massage)

Cupping with soft silicone cups (glass for older teens)

Guasha uses a stone tool along the skin with oil.

Shonishin (Japanese rounded massage acupuncture tools)

Moxibustion is, very safe burning of compacted mugwort sticks to create heat in certain areas to move and build qi.

Essential oils- depending on the child and their preferences.

If the child is afraid of needles, we can use plenty of Shonishin / non-needling techniques, especially for children under the age of 7 years.  In Chinese medicine theory, the channels on a child's body aren't fully formed until about the age of 7. Which is why techniques like Tui na, cupping, guasha, moxa and Shonishin can be effective in delivering treatment. However, for the most effective treatments of older children and teens, we can use a combination of non-needling techniques and acupuncture needles. Which uses super fine (smaller than a strand of hair) acupuncture needles, using a very gentle needling technique.

The age range for Paediatric acupuncture is for babies, children, and teens from 0 to about 16. Paediatric acupuncture can be a great way of helping children (big and small) have holistic health care, which can help balance and harmonise their systems.