Acupuncture and Acupressure

• For patients staying at the hospital, acupuncture is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Your child’s primary doctor or a healthcare team member must put in a consult order for your child to receive acupuncture. Talk to your provider or nurse if you are interested in acupuncture for your child.

• Outpatient (clinic based) acupuncture appointments take place on Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Your child can be referred for acupuncture by a member of their Seattle Children’s inpatient primary team or through a provider in the Pain Medicine Clinic.
• If your child has not had acupuncture during an inpatient hospital stay, the Pain Medicine Team may need to evaluate your child before they receive acupuncture in our outpatient clinic.

Acupuncture is the practice of inserting very thin, filament-like needles at specific points on the body known as acupuncture points. Acupressure uses gentle manual pressure at specific acupuncture points on the body. These therapies stimulate the body to heal from illness, maintain health, and reduce pain and other symptoms.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) states that our body is connected by a complex system of channels, or meridians, with over 365 acupuncture points. Illness is thought to be caused by an imbalance or improper flow of vital energy, called qi (pronounced “chee”), throughout the body. To restore balance and the flow of qi, specific acupuncture points are stimulated with needles or other treatment methods. Some of the other treatment methods may include acupressure, tuina, laser, moxibustion, cupping, guasha, and electrostimulation.

Acupuncture relieves pain by stimulating nerves and the release of neurochemicals that block pain messages and affect the way these messages are interpreted by the body.

Acupuncture is used to treat a wide range of medical problems in adults and children, including:

• Nausea and vomiting after surgery or chemotherapy
• Headache, neck pain, back pain, menstrual pain and muscle pain
• Pain after surgery or dental procedures
• Fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis
• Respiratory problems, including sinusitis, bronchitis, asthma, sore throat, frequent chest infections, hiccups
• Upset stomach (gastritis), ulcers, constipation, diarrhea, spastic colon, inflammatory bowel disease
• Peripheral neuropathy, stroke rehabilitation, problems sleeping
• Urinary and reproductive problems
• Addiction

Acupuncture and other treatments are provided in a gentle and safe manner. The needles are stainless steel, solid and very thin. They are different from the hollow needles with cutting edges, and are unlike the needles used to give a shot or start an IV.

Your child will likely feel little to no discomfort when the needle is inserted. Some patients feel a dull, warm, or heavy sensation where the needle is inserted. This response, called “de qi,” is caused by stimulating the acupuncture point. It will go away when the treatment is over. Your child may feel relaxed and calm after the acupuncture treatment.

The number of treatments recommended for your child is based on their needs and the condition being treated.

Side effects from acupuncture are rare. We use single-use, disposable, sterile needles; so, the risk of infection or spreading of germs is very low.

Many health insurance companies in Washington will cover the treatments, although not all do. For example, acupuncture is not covered by Tricare. Some insurance plans have limits on how many treatments are covered. Check with your child’s insurance plan to make sure acupuncture is covered.