How to Use Acupuncture to Treat Colic

Any parent whose baby has had colic can tell you it is not a pleasant experience in the least. Colic, simply defined, is a condition marked by long periods of excessive crying for apparently no reason. Some babies find relief from colic when they begin to drink a new type of formula or take a medication to relieve gas pain. Some babies just outgrow colic at around 3 months of age. Parents can also use acupuncture to treat their baby's colic.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Directory of acupuncturists
• Appropriate clothing
• Log or journal

1. Use a provider directory to find a licensed acupuncturist near your home. Acufinder is an online acupuncture referral service with a directory (see Resources below).

2. Ask the acupuncturists you have located if they practice "Shonishin," a Japanese form of acupuncture that does not use needles. Pediatric acupuncturists who employ Shonishin use metal tools to lightly tap or put pressure on certain areas of an infant's body. The pressure can help balance the baby's energy and lessen episodes of colic.

3. Keep a diary or log of the baby's colic--the hours of the day or night she cries and the length of time each episode lasts--to bring to the acupuncturist's office. This can help the provider determine how to treat the baby.

4. Dress your baby in garments that are easy to remove or work around so the acupuncturist can have access to all meridians, or pressure points, that he needs to touch. A two-piece outfit is more practical than a one-piece sleeper in this case.

5. Feed your baby about 2 hours before the appointment. Acupuncturists do not like to treat patients on an empty stomach, as it is a common cause of dizziness during treatment.

6. Speak gently and in a soothing manner to your infant as he is being treated by the acupuncturist. The goal is to let the child relax as the examination and treatment occur. Acupuncture treatments are most effective when there is no stress in the patient's body.

7. Observe your baby at home after the first acupuncture treatment to determine if the colic has lessened in intensity. Report your findings to the acupuncturist so she can determine how to proceed. Most appointments with children last for 15 to 20 minutes and take place several times a week in order to be effective.

Tips & Warnings

• If the idea of using needles on your child is not appealing, inquire about the other ways an acupuncturist can treat your child. In addition to the Shonishin method, acupuncture can be done through sound waves using tuning forks. Acupressure is another alternative to traditional acupuncture.

Resources

• Acufinder.com to find an acupuncturist

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