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Acupuncture and TCM for the treatment of children
Children and Acupuncture
Acupuncture for Babies
Mild and strenghtening acupuncture treatment
Your child's treatment
Common children's complaints
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Acupuncture for Facial Rejuvenation
Children and acupuncture
Acupuncture is an excellent form of treatment for children and it has a long and respected history in China.
In Ireland, acupuncture is used in treatment of babies and young kids but parents are often reluctant to bring their children for TCM treatments even though the parents themselves have tried it before. They think that maybe the child is too young to benefit from it and also because kids tend to be afraid of needles.
In China, it is very common to use acupuncture to treat children as a preventive medicine as well as for childhood problems.
If the parents are able to present it in the right way, the child will be calmer and less afraid during the course of the acupunture treatment.
Acupuncture for Babies
Digestion is the cornerstone of babies’ health.
If it is blocked by wind, they cry. If they have colic, they cry. If they want more milk, they cry.
Acupuncture can be a tremendous way of regulating a baby’s digestion to avoid trapped wind and give a true sense of hunger.
Many babies respond quickly to this kind of treatment, especially if they have strong constitutions.
Babies can also be prone to fevers. Acupuncture has a great tradition of releasing fevers in babies, which may be preferable to using pharmaceutical drugs. Similarly, teething can cause fevers to arise.
Acupuncture treatment seeks to sooth these fevers and settle the often difficult process of teething. Strengthening the immune system is another concern for babies and young children, especially if they are prone to recurrent colds, coughs, glue ear or have experienced vaccinations.
Please feel free to discuss with us how TCM treatments like acupuncture and dietary advice can help in these circumstances.
Mild and strenghtening acupuncture treatment
Acupuncture has the great advantage of being safe and non-invasive compared to surgery and some other forms of medicine and it is also free from the weakening side effects of drugs.
It is holistic and the long-term effects are aimed towards strengthening the child.
Acupuncture for your children is really giving them a natural head start in their health. It is usual for a child's well being to show noticeable improvement during the course of treatment.
Happiness, energy, spirit and immunity all show improvement. Acupuncture also helps to assist the changes children undergo in life.
Your child's treatment
A fine pre-sterile, disposable stainless steel needle will be inserted at a selected point or points. This may cause a small prick (it can even feel more like a tickle then the prick of a needle) but it’s much less than that felt from an injection or immunisation.
After the insertion of the needle(s) your child may feel a tingling, numbness or heaviness sensation and he or she may cry. However, most children feel at ease and do not even notice the needle there and tears turn into smiles.
The length of time that the needle(s) stay in varies accordingly to the age of the child – it could be anything from a minute up to full treatment time of an adult (approx. 15 minutes).
Most treatments are carried out with your child sitting on your lap because they will feel safe and protected – this will be a benefit for the child, the parent and the practitioner.
Common children's complaints include:
Childhood infectious diseases
Colic / digestive problems
Convulsions
Coughs
Diarrhoea / constipation
Ear / nose / throat problems
Fever
Hyperactivity
Immune strengthening
Nightmares
Skin problems
Teething problems
Please feel free to contact us with any specific questions that you might have regarding your child's health and/or treatment advice
Recommended by TCM Ireland: Tiptoe Tots
Tiptoe Tots is an Irish owned company that specializes in soft soled leather baby shoes - available in sizes 0 to 18 months.
Their shoes are 100% soft safe leather, non-slip suede sole and allow feet to move, breathe and grow unrestricted.
Tiptoe Tots has a a selection of exciting and adorable soft soled leather baby shoes and fur lined boots available online at www.tiptoetots.ie
Support Irish business to keep our economy on its feet...
Advice from Tiptoe Tots
The image of a babies’ foot has to be one of the most pure sights on earth, turning even the most hardened of people into mush!
Babies’ feet need to be protected and cared for. When a child is born, they have 22 bones in their feet.
New bones continue to grow and existing bones continue to strengthen well into teenage years - feet are only fully formed by late teens when there are 26 bones in their foot.
Babies’ feet should be free from restriction. Podiatrists recommend that only loose fitting breathable materials should be used. E.g. Loose cotton socks, soft leather shoes and boots.
Beware also of tight fitting sleep suits that may restrict the movement of babies’ feet. Babies’ feet perspire more than adults and again, natural materials are recommended such as leather and cotton. Natural leather allows feet to stay warm in winter, while keeping them airy and balmy in summer.
Crawling starts soon after babies have enough strength in their arms to support themselves. All babies being the little individuals that they are start to crawl at different times, but generally from 6 to 10 months.
There are quite a few crawling styles and your little one will develop their very own style. You may want to cover their feet to protect from harsh flooring or obstacles.
Soft leather baby shoes such as those with elasticated ankle straps are great for protecting feet and they also stay on - far more effective than socks, and in fact, they may well reduce the number of socks lost during an outing!
Crib shoes, sometimes called pre walkers should be made from natural breathable materials such as leather. Babies’ feet are pliable and their bones are soft so it is important that their shoes are soft and unrestricting.
Your baby's first pair of shoes
Taking time to accurately calculate the appropriate shoe size for your baby is an easy yet important aspect of the healthy growth and development of your babies’ feet.
Babies use their feet in different ways in each stage of their development, with activity levels increasing as they move out of the crib stage and beyond 18 months or so. Babies grow quite quickly and you should generally measure their feet every one to 2 months. Sizes can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer so it is probably best to be guided by directions by each brand.
The following guide gives easy to follow directions on measuring your baby’s feet for their first pair of shoes! Measure your baby’s’ feet with baby in a standing position. You will need to hold your baby up if she\he is not standing on their own yet. (Can’t imagine too many new born babies standing on their own but who are we to say it hasn’t or can’t happen!)
Feet expand in both length and width. Measure the length of both feet. One foot may be larger than the other, which is normal. Make sure to size infant shoes to the largest foot. Try to leave approximately 1/3 of an inch wiggle room in the front of the shoe. Measure the width of both feet and, as with the length, fit shoes to the largest size.
TCM Ireland would like to thank Tiptoe Tots for the article above and wish them all the best for their business!