Acupuncture News
News Archive
11-9-04
WHEN ACUPUNCTURIST STEVE Given treats children, it "looks very different" from how he applies the ancient healing method for adults.
"When adults come in, we have a dialogue," said Given, clinic department coordinator for Bastyr University's acupuncture and Oriental medicine program. "I will typically ask the person to remove some clothing to be treated. The person lies down on table and rest for 20 minutes (with needles in the selected points on the face and body).
It's not hard to imagine kids won't do well with that scenario.
"Younger children are not going to trust the needles or sit still," said Given.
Nonetheless, a study published this month in the mainstream medical journal Pediatrics showed acupuncture helps children to suffer fewer symptoms of sneezing, congestion and nasal drip associated with upper respiratory allergies, including the common hay fever or chronic rhinitis.
The Hong Kong-based study is not large - 85 allergy sufferers ages 6 to 19 were tracked - but provides clear evidence that acupuncture can address a widespread problem without prescription or over-the-counter medications. Children in the experimental group were treated for two to eight weeks, while the control group underwent sham acupuncture treatments not using appropriate energy or "chi" points.
Not unimportantly, some of the children in the study were able to stop using antihistamine medication and other drug remedies during the course of acupuncture treatments.
More research is needed to confirm both the safety and effectiveness of acupuncture for childhood nasal allergies, but Given, for one, is not surprised.
"Kids generally respond very well to acupuncture," he said. "Their bodies respond more rapidly and they often do better with decreasing symptoms."
Given said his approach with children is to select needles ahead of time, then perform shallow insertions while talking gently to the patient. He is quick to remove the needle. No 20 minutes on the table - or often less than 20 seconds - for the younger set.
"With 2-year-olds, for instance, the goal is for them to know something happened but not sure what happened," explained Given.
Chris Huson, a licensed acupuncturist who regularly treats children at Capitol Hill Neighborhood Acupuncture, recommends all children under 7 sit on a parent's lap. He targets about four to six points for younger kids and a few more for older children.
"Everything happens within a short time, from a few seconds to a minute or so," said Huson.
The federal government recognizes acupuncture as a proven modality for pain control and nausea (especially associated with chemotherapy treatments). It is not unusual for larger insurance companies to cover some or all of the costs of acupuncture used to decrease sinus pain. In any case, the newly published study is welcome as acupuncture researchers work to build a scientific case for what ancient healers - the use of acupuncture for kids traces back at least 2,500 years - and contemporary practitioners alike recognize as valuable therapy.
"I haven't worked with many kids with allergies, but have experienced success with a lot of adults," said Christy Lee-Engel, a naturopathic physician and licensed acupuncturist at One Sky Medicine in the Lake City neighborhood. Her sessions are $95 with a 10 percent discount for clients who pay in full at the time of treatment.
Lee-Engel said one of the attractions of acupuncture is the almost-immediate relief for some patients.
"It decreases swelling and improves blood circulation in the local area around the sinuses," she said. "Some people can feel their sinuses opening while they are still on the table."
For some individuals, there is more sinus drainage at first. It can mislead you into thinking symptoms are worse when in fact the body is working to eliminate undesirable fluids and germs. Lee- Engel works points along the hands and arms, plus around the sinuses. The hand and arm applications are aimed at improving lung and large intestine function, both associated with good sinus health by acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners.
"One of the good things about acupuncture (for kids or adults) is it is meant to strengthen your tissues and organs," said Lee-Engel. "You feel better and your body works better even if symptoms are not completely diminished."
Lee-Engel said clients with sinus allergies can anticipate relief from symptoms in three to four sessions if it is to be helpful at all. In the Hong Kong study, children experienced a recurrence of symptoms two weeks or more after treatment was completed, suggesting follow-up treatments are a good idea.
P-I health writer Julie Davidow reported in late September that Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle is one of only a few pediatric hospitals in the U.S. slowly introducing acupuncture, massage and therapeutic touch to treat young patients. It appears that Children's is ahead of a promising curve for kids with allergies.
Plus, Given said his experience in acupuncture works wonders for children with asthma.
"It is very effective for treating shortness of breath," he said. "That's what leads to medication dependence for most kids with asthma. Acupuncture can help reduce the whole constellation of symptoms associated with allergies and asthma."
Thanks to some enterprising Hong Kong researchers - and the willingness of a major U.S. medical journal to publish the study - there's a bit more science to persuade doctors and parents to try acupuncture for children in their care. Then it's up to the acupuncturists to win over the kids.
DAYLIGHT DIET UPDATE
We have received dozens of informative and worthy responses from Living Well column readers about becoming part of the three-month Daylight Diet test group discussed last week. Six to eight P-I readers will be working with Mercer Island nutritionist Susan Kleiner. Columnist Bob Condor and his editors will be selecting participants during the coming week. We will notify those individuals by phone or e-mail and Kleiner hopes to have a group meeting the week of Nov. 15. We regret that it will be difficult to reply personally to all other e-mails, but sincerely appreciate your interest. The Living Well column will provide regular updates about the Daylight Diet test group and provide guidance for anyone following the diet individually.
Bob Condor writes every Monday about health and quality of life. He is editor of the Seattle-based Evergreen Monthly, which covers health, environment, food, social good, spirituality and personal growth (visit www.evergreenmonthly.com). Send e-mails to bobcondor@aol.com with any questions or ideas for the Living Well column.
