Acu for eating problems?

[I H]

Wonder if any of the acupuncturists can help with this? It's about my friend's daughter who is 7. Since she was a baby she's always had a food problem and I wonder if acupuncture may help. She would spit out all her food when she was tiny, and even now she will like a food one day but not the next, and has a real problem with it. They have tried absolutely every way to encourage her to eat but nothing changes. She loves burgers and sweets (obviously they're limited), she's not thin, she is chubby so her calories aren't missing, though her proper nutrition is. She gets alot of tummy upsets and also doesn't drink much. The GP is useless, a dietician didn't help. My reason for asking about acupuncture as a help is this; the way I see it is her body's refusing food at the first point of call, her mouth, for it's own good reason. I'm wondering if she has a liver/gall bladder imbalance, maybe lack of bile aswell as stomach problems? It's just a feeling I have.

 

[Tinky Winky]

Hi Daydreamer

It's hard to say with any certainty that acupuncture will or will not help your friend's daughter. If this case came to me, I would feel quite happy to take it on, and would expect to get changes. Children seem to respond particularly well to acupuncture. I run a children's clinic and find that problems relating to the digestive system are very common in kids.

From what you've written, I would be looking at a primary imbalance in her Stomach and Spleen (this is the digestive system in chinese medicine). In children especially, this can get blocked: pretty much literally the feeling that the tummy is full of food (whether there is food present or not!).

It sounds like it is a constitutional imbalance, i.e. she's had it from very young, and her digestive system may always be a source of trouble for her in some shape or form. Acupuncture can relieve the blockage, and increase the strength of her digestive system, so that her stomach functions well, and more of her food is turned into energy rather than fat (as she's chubby, it sounds like this is happening at the moment).

If this case came to me, I would make a recommend to the cranial-osteopath for 2 or 3 treatments, and follow this with a course of acupuncture, looking at around 4-6 weekly treatments. I would sincerely expect significant changes by this time.

It is important to find an acupuncturist that specialises in treating children. You can get a list of your local practitioners from the British Acupuncture Council, and they also have an online database that you can search here. I'd give two or three a call and ask if they treat children or can recommend a practitioner locally that does.

Hope that helps, but feel free to get in touch if you want more information/advice!
Aragorn

 

[Marcella]

Thankyou Aragorn, I can go off happily and tell that to my friend now. I hope they decide to find an alternative to their endless brick wall of the medical profession.

 

[*Angel*]

Hello,

I agree with Aragorn.
Another therapy that might be considered for your friend's daughter is Shiatsu. It is based on the same theory as acupuncture, but pressure is used instead of needles.
I would also look at the atmosphere arorund meals in the familly. Are they relaxed enjoyable moments or full of tension and stress?

Artemis

 

[big city]

From what I'm told they have been both! Mostly though, mealtimes are just 'got on with' now.

Thanks Artemis

 

[Marie S.]

If one has some physical problem with their digestive system and on top of it meal times "have to be put up with"... that's not a very good combination. But then it's also the chikcen and the egg question: was a bad meal atmosphere there first -which helped "create" the physical problem- or a bad physicl lproblem which created the tensions -and now prevents healing?

Artemis

 

[Colofooniah]

It was the physical first as it started when she was a baby, obviously mealtimes will have got stressful for the parents and therefore the girl, because of their concern, but now they use more of a reward system I think. So meals are usually ok. I'd imagine flower remedies would be a useful back up to any treatment, for the 'thinking' side of it.

 

[Lerah]

Babies can be seriously affetced by emotions... But it is more likely (although not guranteed) to be constitutional if you have somthing since day zero...

Artemis

 

[Fionaghdar]

Hi Daydreamer

I'm currently studying acupuncture and I'd love to know how your friends daughter isgetting onon. Did she try acupuncture? I realise it's been a long time since the post.

Tahora