Pediatric acupuncture: A whole-body approach to healing
Like many adults, children experience challenges with anxiety, pain, stomach issues, injuries, and more. And as with adults, acupuncture can help. Rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupuncture promotes healing, resilience, and treats imbalances in the body by targeting specific acupressure points – typically using tiny needles placed in the skin.
“In Chinese medicine, we look at the body holistically,” said Pediatric Acupuncturist Deborah Dick, DACM, L.Ac. “Everything in the body is connected, which means I’m looking at the whole picture – your child’s unique body, environment, and symptoms – to help them become stronger and pain free.”
Dick has been an acupuncturist for nearly 20 years and is passionate about helping kids of all ages get back to feeling their best.
Dick supports patients – from infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to young children to teens – at M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital as part of our Pediatric Integrative Health Program. She’s especially excited to expand access for outpatient services, no referrals needed. She explains how acupuncture works, the benefits, and how it can complement a child’s traditional care plan.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is based on the idea that there are different meridians, or energy pathways, in the body, Dick explained. When we use needles or other methods to cause pressure at specific points (called acupuncture points) along these meridians, the body releases different neurochemicals that can stimulate and even speed up the healing process and regulate the nervous system.
What can it help with?
Acupuncture can help relieve pain. Dick said it can also be beneficial for a wide range of issues including:
- Mental health concerns like anxiety or depression
- Symptoms of long COVID
- Behavioral health concerns such as ADHD
- Gastrointestinal (GI) issues such as nausea and stomach pain
- Headaches and migraines
- Bone and joint pain
- Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)
- Asthma and allergies
- Other medical issues
How does acupuncture work for kids?
For kids, less is more, Dick said. Needles can make some people uncomfortable. But there are other helpful methods that don’t involve needles at all. Techniques like vibrational therapy, which uses tuning forks to stimulate the body. Dick can also use magnets, beads, or even Legos placed on different parts of the body to activate those acupressure points. There’s also a technique called Tuina (pronounced twee-nah), which is a Chinese medicinal massage that can help create movement in those pathways. Electro acupuncture is also great for alleviating pain. This practice involves adding gentle electric stimulation to the needles. It’s important to know that most kids don’t need all these techniques at once. A little goes a long way.
What about children who are taking medications or are already receiving treatment for complex or chronic health conditions?
Everything Dick does supports and complements the comprehensive medical care a child is already receiving from their doctors. In the Katie Hageboeck Children’s Cancer Research Fund Clinic, she works with patients who are facing cancer, those who have had bone marrow transplants, and kids dealing with other complex medical conditions.
“Part of why I love this job is I can easily coordinate and consult with a family’s care team to understand what they need and how our care plans can work together to support each patient,” she said. “But I’m also here to help children and families who are interested in finding new ways to treat the symptoms they are dealing with. They don’t need a referral or need to be an existing patient to come see me.”
Want to schedule an appointment?
M Health Fairview’s Integrative Health Program blends the “high-tech” world of modern medicine with the “high-touch” world of holistic care to support the whole health of children and adolescents. Integrative health providers partner with care teams at our children’s hospital to offer a variety of evidence-based therapies – including aromatherapy, acupuncture, yoga, and many others – in coordination with conventional treatments to foster a holistic healing environment for patients and their families.
Dick provides acupuncture treatment three days a week in the Katie Hageboeck Children’s Cancer Research Fund Clinic. To schedule an appointment or get more information, call 612-365-8100.
