Children
Acupuncture and herbal medicine (called Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM) successfully treats:
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Why Use Acupuncture or Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM)?
TCM treats the root cause of disease. Western medicine masks symptoms and western drugs are harsh on the liver, and kidneys. The 
goal is to resolve the problem, not to continue to treat it over the lifetime of your child. Western medications give a band-aid treatment to the root problem. Children are medicated too much, too often, and too routinely. My focus is to achieve optimum health fort your child in a safe and holistic manner.
Differences between Western and Eastern Medicine
Some children rarely need to visit a doctor; others face health challenges regularly throughout their lives, a situation that results in a life-long dependency on treatment by health care professionals. Practitioners of Western medicine regard and treat children’s health problems differently from practitioners of TCM.
The results of Western diagnostic tests are acted upon only if they register outside of the normal values. Once your child’s test levels become over or under the norm, their disease is “named” and treated. Subtleties, which may cause (or be precursors) to more serious disease, remain untreated if values register within the normal range. In other words, they only treat what they see.
Western practitioners hold a specific, compartmentalized perspective and standardized beliefs about health problems. It is helpful to understand their point of view and that standardized medical protocols prevail for all patients.
Western treatment does not individualize. If Western physicians sold shoes, all patients would buy the same size. The recipe for treatment is the same for all patients once a diagnosis is established. My experience is that each child is different and should be treated accordingly.
The Western intention is to correlate symptoms to the appropriate disease and use medications to mask or relieve those symptoms. It may not consider what the root of the symptoms is. I see this constantly with children who have digestive problems or sensitivities—I look at the root cause.
Many patients express anger and frustration with the level of depersonalization. They either have to wait days or weeks for an appointment, then wait an hour or more in the reception area, only to spend a few minutes with the doctor, who listens and begins filling out prescriptions or orders for more tests. More individualized care is given with TCM.
TCM approaches you differently. Your child’s symptoms are listened to so that a unique pattern of disease can be established, which results in an individual, specific treatment protocol. In other words, there are many sizes of shoes!
TCM focuses on root causes and can identify and treat disorders without a disease “name” and, in many cases, before it fully forms.
TCM’s potential for early detection, strengthening of the immune system, reversal of symptoms and prevention of disease unfortunately remains unnoticed.
Side effects of TCM or Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) are insignificant in comparison with those of Western pharmaceuticals.
TCM considers the impact of lifestyle, diet and nutritional choices and discusses these as part of the treatment plan.
At what age are children treated?
Young children are treated with acupressure if they are too young to administer acupuncture.
Babies are effectively treated with acupuncture. Yes, it is hard to imagine, but the needles are hair like and are not retained. Toddlers do well with acupressure and herbs.
If your child does not have he temperament for the protocol, I adapt the treatment based on the child’s age, condition and demeanor. I have seen successfully treated patients as young as three days old for thrush.
The goal is to give the child a pleasant and comfortable experience.
Methods of Treatment
This varies with each child and his/her symptoms.
Acupressure, acupuncture, Chinese herbal formulas made specifically or your child or supplements are discussed.
Causes of Disease
TCM recognizes:
An immature digestive or immune system.
Allergies.
External conditions like cold, dampness, wind, heat, or dryness.
Emotional factors.
Toxins in the environment.
Ingested or inhaled toxins.
Lingering illnesses.
Affect of immunizations.
Nutrition, Food choices.
Irregular feeding, over or underfeeding.
Over worry, overwork, anxiety.
Congenital factors or heredity.
Many childhood ailments are easily and quickly alleviated with holistic treatment.
I welcome your questions.
