Acupuncture for Kids

Natural, effective tools to help your child grow into a healthy adult

Common Pediatric Conditions We Work With:

digestive/GI

  • Constipation

  • Abdominal Pain & Tummy Aches

  • Difficulty Eating

  • Chronic Diarrhea

  • Food Allergies

  • Ulcerative Colitis/Crohn’s

dermatology

respiratory/HEENT

  • Asthma

  • Allergies

  • Headaches

  • Recurrent Colds & Flus

  • Acute & Chronic Ear Infections

early gynecology

mental-emotional & behavioral

  • ADHD

  • Insomnia

  • Sensory Processing Disorders

  • Depression

  • Anxiety

  • Eating Disorders & Addictions

developmental

Our favorite thing about working with kids is seeing the incredible change and healing that kids are capable of. Treating kids at these key developmental times helps guarantee a lifetime of good health in body, mind, and spirit. Healthy kids make healthy adults!

  • Eczema

  • Psoriasis

  • Seborrheic Dermatitis (Cradle Cap)

  • Hives/Urticaria

  • Acne

  • Diaper Rash

  • Painful periods

  • Amenorrhea

  • Irregular periods

  • PMS

  • Early onset Menses

  • Autism Spectrum Disorders

  • Cerebral Palsy

  • Down’s Syndrome

  • Learning disabilities

  • Low Weight for Age

complex conditions

kid-specific issues

And so much more…

  • PANDAS

  • Lyme Disease

  • Long COVID

  • Epstein-Barr

  • Epilepsy

  • Tics & Tourette’s

  • Bed-wetting & other urinary problems

  • Colic

  • Birth trauma for both mom & child

  • Juvenile arthritis

But what about the needles?

I’m going to let you in on a little secret—kids of all ages love receiving acupuncture needles, or “tap taps” as we call them. The secret is how we introduce them.

First, we never do anything that your child doesn’t want to do. Our pediatric acupuncture sessions are kid-centric. From the beginning, your child knows that they are safe and won’t be forced to do anything painful or scary.

Second, we focus on building a strong, healthy relationship, because we know that our goal is to achieve long-term, lasting results.

Third, we just ask them! Once kids feel safe and secure and have a strong foundation of trust, they’re often willing to try new things.

Fourth, the “taps” don’t hurt! We use tiny specialized pediatric acupuncture needles. They’re so tiny that 40 of them could fit inside of a standard hypodermic needle. They don’t feel anything like the shots, pricks, and pokes that your child normally receives at the doctor’s office.

What if my child won’t try needles?

Many parents are surprised what their child is willing to try—most of our patients eventually open up to receiving “taps”. But don’t worry, we have many other safe and effective natural tools to help your child heal.

  • Using laser on the acupuncture points has long been a favorite method of treating both kids and adults in Europe and abroad. Totally safe, totally painless, and well-accepted by all ages, laser therapy has been shown to reduce inflammation, strengthen the immune system, promote wound healing, reduce pain, and more!

  • Cupping is our number one most requested therapy—kids love it. Unlike when cupping adults, we use gentle suction cups and light stimulation, so don’t expect the big purple cup marks you’ve seen on TV during the Olympics. It’s very relaxing, totally painless, and feels great.

  • Magnets have long been a popular treatment in modern Japan for regulating the acupuncture channels. We use strong magnets at specially chosen points to help regulate your child’s system and improve their health.

  • Over the 2000 year history of Chinese medicine, practitioners have discovered, refined, and passed down specialized techniques that effectively and safely treat a wide variety of pediatric conditions. We use these techniques in the office, and will often instruct parents in how to use simplified versions of these techniques at home to continue to get great results.

  • Since its discovery, craniosacral therapy has been used for children from birth to adulthood. It has become particularly famous for its incredible results in difficulty latching and breastfeeding, tongue tie (ankyloglossia), children with autism spectrum disorders, sensory processing disorders, and birth trauma.

  • This Japanese non-insertive acupuncture technique involves gently stimulating the acupuncture channels and points using rounded metal tools that are tapped or stroked on the surface of the skin. It is most effective for children under the age of 2, but can be used effectively until age 8.

  • Quite simply: You are what you eat. Using our precise diagnostics and holistic understanding of the body, we help remove hidden dietary triggers and give targeted recommendations that help your child heal. No guilt-tripping, no crazy protocols, and completely individualized to meet you and your child’s needs.

  • Just like with adults, herbal medicine is one of the most effective and revered tools in our arsenal. Our approach to herbal medicine is designed to be easy-to-use so that it’s easy for patients to keep up with their prescription. Our formulas are safe and customized specifically for your child. We at Upright Acupuncture only use the highest quality, pesticide-free, laboratory tested herbs.

  • Think of it like a microscopic massage: we activate tuning forks then place the end of the fork on specific acupuncture points. This transmits tiny vibrations into the acupuncture point, and helps remodel the connective tissue in the area and stimulate the point.

Simply put, we have the perfect match for every kid.

Whether they love science, they love music and sound, or they love touch, we tailor our treatment to match their preferences and needs, so that every child has access to safe and effective natural treatment.