Paediatric Acupuncture for Children in Brisbane

When you think of acupuncture, it might bring to mind images of adults lying on a table covered in needles – not exactly something you'd expect a child to enjoy. However, acupuncture for children is far gentler than many people imagine.

In practice, children only need a few tiny needles, which are much smaller than those used for adults, and they are typically only retained for a few seconds. If the idea of needles still makes your child uncomfortable, there are other, less invasive treatments available. For example, Tuina (pronounced "twee-nah"), a form of Chinese therapeutic massage, can be used from infancy. Children respond very well to Tuina, and as an added benefit, parents can easily learn to perform these techniques at home.

Another effective treatment is Gua Sha (pronounced "gwah-shah"), a traditional scraping therapy that helps improve blood circulation, reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and alleviate tension. Gua Sha is also commonly used to treat colds, fevers, and respiratory issues.

One of the great lessons we can learn from Chinese medicine is the focus on preventative care. In Chinese medicine, children are viewed as having a naturally pure energy, free from the stresses and pressures of adult life. While their immune and digestive systems are still developing, this gives them a unique resilience and ability to recover quickly from illness.

Common conditions such as asthma, colds, flu, fever, digestive upsets, hay fever, allergies, and sleep problems often respond very well to Chinese medicine. Recent studies also show that acupuncture and other traditional therapies can help manage chronic pain, pediatric migraines, bedwetting (both nocturnal and daytime), nausea, behavioral issues, neurological disorders, and even epilepsy.