In Japanese Acupuncture there have been developed special ways of treating children that are especially gentle. The tools that are pictured are some of the types of instruments that are used in treating young children. They are typically gently touched to the skin or stroked on the skin. I don’t generally use needles on children younger than 10 years old and then I use contact needling without any insertion.

Children change quite quickly as any parent knows from witnessing rapid mood changes. So with this type of treatment, it is done quickly and with few points, as the energy shifts quickly. As the changes happen quickly, in the beginning the effects need to be reinforced more often depending on the condition.

The idea behind the treatment is to gently ease the patient into better balance so that the person’s own system can heal him or her. This is especially true with children as the energy moves quickly and has not had so much time to establish the out of balance position. So little nudges can do a lot, in the beginning more frequently, and then as they hold the treatment much less often as a reminder.

Children generally love this treatment as they know they feel better. The first visit they may feel a bit wary but I have found once they feel the effects, they get comfortable.