Acupuncture for Kids (yes it works)

Fifteen years ago I was plagued with chronic sinus headaches. My sinuses would immediately seal up after every time I ate. I had been on every medication and even had surgery. Still no relief. I went to acupuncture as a last resort. My first treatment I felt immediate relief. It was also the first time I was able to quiet my body and just be. Fast forward fifteen years, my sinuses are no longer a chronic problem. But my eight year old is plagued with OCD/tic disorder and PANDA's. In addition, his teachers began to be concerned about his focus. My mother's intuition was telling me not to go the medication route because of how reactive his autoimmune system is. I wanted to try something different with him.

When I tell people that my eight year old goes to acupuncture reactions are varied from horrified (you let them put needles in your son?) to curious. My practitioner believes in the importance of building a trust between himself and my son. If my son was fearful and unwilling then the treatment would not work as well. So the first couple of appointments he used acupuncture beads. Eventually, Dr. King convinced my son to allow the needles. It was remarkable to see after a couple of weeks of regular appointments, tics and compulsive behaviors began to disappear. And once that happened, focus returned to my son's life. While it seems a paradox to talk about focus problems for OCD sufferers, it is a real struggle. The OCD is the distraction and can become the only focus which creates extreme anxiety in school when its time to buckle down and get work done. Then it is a vicious circle. Acupuncture can really help reduce anxiety in your child. It also can provide a time for your child to recognize what a quiet mind feels like. I don't know that my son ever knew what it was to feel truly relaxed before acupuncture.

I took Karsten twice a week for about three months. During that time, he gradually became more focused and self aware. We even noticed that he began to excel in hockey (which my son totally credits to acupuncture). Eventually our acupuncture appointments and commitment lessened. By spring, we just didn't seem to need it  and by summer I was done with it. Just didn't seem necessary with our lackadaisical summer demands.

Seemingly out of nowhere, my son asked me to take him back. "Mom I need to go see Dr. King," he declared one afternoon last week. It makes perfect sense for us to go back for a maintenance appointment because school starts next week. And with school returns all of those old demons and insecurities. But again the great thing for us was that Karsten was able to advocate for himself and recognize a treatment that helps him to cope. We will probably go back twice a month for a little while. Acupuncture doesn't solve every problem and tic but it can help just as much as any medicine. The best part of acupuncture for us was that it helped us take the first wellness step with our son that put on us a much healthier and holistic path.