For thousands of years Chinese medicine has been proven to successfully treat children’s ailments. This form of healing has a deep understanding of the physiology of children and the continual growth and development of their organs. For example, according to TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), before the age of six, the digestive system, consisting of spleen and stomach, is inherently vulnerable, which can result in a deficiency of the vital energy of the body. This deficiency can lead to an accumulation of food matter in the stomach and intestines, weakening the immune system. Indigestion is one of the main causes of many childhood illnesses, such as ear infections, asthma and stomachaches. Ironically, when a child has an ear infection, western medicine often administers antibiotics which further weakens the digestive system and opens the child up to more illnesses that require additional antibiotics. Antibiotics can be useful but should be used as a last resort.

The child’s diet, especially during treatment, is very important for good health and preventing disease.
Some key points to keep in mind are:

• Excess sweets damage the spleen
• Eat a proportion of food that doesn’t overtax the system
• Eat a variety of foods within all the taste categories (sweet, sour, salty and bitter)
• Have minimal iced drinks or ice cream
• Eat high fiber foods

When children are overfed or eat the wrong foods, their stomachs become congested and distended, making digestion difficult. This congestion also creates excess phlegm, constipation, irritability, anxiety, headaches, sleeplessness and lingering streptococcus. It prevents the transportation and transformation of food into vital energy for good health.

In our practice, we work towards bringing the child back to his or her innate well being with the use of acupuncture, hot stone herbal treatment (especially good for pneumonia, bronchitis or for those children who have needle-phobia), hot herbal packs and Chinese herbal patches (especially useful for injuries). The Chinese herbs we use are of the highest quality, are pesticide-free and chemically tested. They are easily administered in juice or water.

Children are more resilient than adults and their conditions change rapidly. They usually don’t require many treatments and only a few thin needles are needed for optimal results.

Pediatric Conditions Treated In Our Clinic

Orthopedics

Sports injuries (football, soccer, ballet, gymnastics, baseball, tennis, volleyball, basketball)
Neck, back & joint pain; ankle sprain or strain
Juvenile arthritis
Post-surgical trauma (to reduce swelling and pain for quicker recovery)
Head injury (concussion)

Digestive Disorders

Chronic and acute abdominal pain
Constipation and/or diarrhea
Nausea

Skin Conditions

Acne
Rosacea
Eczema
Psoriasis

Respiratory

Asthma
Allergies/Hay Fever
Bronchitis and coughs
Laryngitis
Sinusitis

Urinary Conditions

Bed wetting
Urinary tract infections
Urethritis

Other Conditions

Depression
Nightmares
Anxiety
Sleep disorders
Headaches