My child is very afraid of needles, what should I do?

Don’t worry! Needles are usually only used on older children (usually 7 or 8 years old and up). We work up to that process and only use needles once a child is completely ready to do so. There are many modalities that we use in Pediatric Acupuncture treatments that do not involve needles; tuina massage (a type of traditional Chinese medical massage), shonishin (a Japanese style acupuncture without the needles), heat therapy, herbal medicine, and dietary recommendations.

 

Does it hurt?

No! Pediatric Acupuncture treatments are painless. They are focused on helping your child relax and feel comfortable while promoting the body to heal itself.

 

My child is very active and I am concerned he or she won’t sit for a treatment.  Should we not do acupuncture?

When working with kids I never expect them to sit still for too long, after all they are kids!  I often treat children while they are playing with their toys or sitting on their parent's lap. Often times, other siblings are in the room playing, helping or asking great questions about how this all works! As the practitioner, I must be flexible and treat according to the cues of the child.

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Is Acupuncture safe for kids?

Acupuncture is extremely safe for children. There are very few side effects of acupuncture. Some of the more common side effects are good effects; better sleep, better digestion, being relaxed after a treatment. Occasionally there can be less desirable side effects such as bruising, bleeding or tingling if a needle was used, all of which tend to go away relatively quickly. In the hands of a well trained and licensed Acupuncturist side effects are a very rare occurrence.

 

Should I tell my Pediatrician or Primary Care doctor that I or my child is receiving acupuncture?

Yes! It is advisable to always inform your physician about any treatment that you are seeking and it is also very important to have a list of medications and supplements that you or your child are taking available during your first treatment with your acupuncturist. Some physicians will also refer Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine practitioners to patients. Just remember to make sure that these practitioners are certified by the NCCAOM and licensed in your state to practice acupuncture.

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How long are pediatric wellness visits? 

For children, the first visit will last approximately an hour.   Follow up visits will be approximately 30 minutes long.

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Do you take insurance? If you don't, why not?

No, we do not take insurance at this time.  We can provide you with a super-bill with codes for billing that you can send into your insurance company.  That way, they can decide how much to reimburse you. 
At Little Owl Medicine, we try to keep our prices fair and reasonable.  We believe very strongly that money should not be an influencing factor of whether or not you or your children should receive medical care.  We believe that it is possible for both the practitioner to receive a fair wage, and you, the patient, to pay a reasonable fee.  We have chosen not to be on the insurance panels to ensure that happens. Not being on insurance panels does not affect my licensing, accreditation or educational requirements.  

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