Anacortes Family Acupuncture Heather Fairall, L.Ac., EAMP                    360-202-0978            902 28th St. Anacortes, WA 98221

Pediatric Acupuncture

"How do you do acupuncture on kids?"

This is the number one question I am asked when I talk about pediatric acupuncture.  Here is a "quick look" at how acupuncture for kids is different than acupuncture for adults.

Pediatric Acupuncture: a quick look

• Use fewer needles
• Use very fine and highest quality needles
• Use other "needleless" tools and techniques
• Short needle retention time
• Nutrition and dietary advice is at core of treatment
• Only use needles and other tools when the child and parent are comfortable with those treatment options

Needleless Options

When treating children, I usually employ one or more "non-needle" tools or techniques.  These allow me to access more points (or tender areas, like the face or around the ears) with fewer needles. 

Tuning Forks (Acutonics): These forks, that vibrate at specific frequencies, are activated and placed on acupuncture points.  I like to think of acutonics as a super-charged acupressure technique.  I find them to be especially effective for calming the nervous system (ADD, ADHD, insomnia), clearing sinus congestion (allergies, common cold, sinus infections), moving fluids in ear canal (ear aches and infections), and for moving and strengthening the digestive system energy (diarrhea, constipation, colic, GERD & reflux).

Microcurrent (Superficial electrical stimulation): Using a hand-held microcurrent tool, I am able to gently stimulate acupuncture points with a low-level electrical stimulation.

Tui Na (Traditional Chinese massage and acupressure): Massage technique designed to stimulate acupuncture points. Tui Na is helpful for moving energy in specific areas and stimulating the immune system, for example, massage over the upper back is helpful for many respiratory conditions.

Sho Ni Shin (Traditional Japanese no-needle pediatric acupuncture): Acupuncture points and channels are "tapped", "pressed", and gently "stroked" on the skin with metal, copper, or gold tools.