Acupuncture

Acupuncture refers to the insertion of tiny, hair-thin needles into the skin at strategic points to ease pain and treat many diseases. Practiced in China for more than 2,000 years, acupuncture is based on the belief that the body contains energy called Qi that flows throughout the body on pathways called meridians. When you’re healthy, this energy flows freely; but when you’re ill, the energy may be weak or blocked. During acupuncture treatment, the therapist tries to improve the energy flow along the meridians.

The majority of our patients are seen for:

• Headaches
• Abdominal pain
• Limb pain
• Back pain
• Chest pain

In addition, we see children with:

• Cancer
• Sickle cell disease
• Hemophilia
• Cystic fibrosis
• Endometriosis
• Crohn’s disease

How Children’s Hospital Boston approaches acupuncture

Here at Children’s, acupuncture is performed by a doctor fully licensed in western medicine who’s also had thorough training in acupuncture as a specialty practice. The Medical Acupuncture Service at Children’s is one of the most active pediatric medical acupuncture services in the country.