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TRAINING SUCCESSFUL PRACTITIONERS

Chinese Medicine and Children

Paediatrics’ has had a long history in Chinese medicine and has been practiced since the Song dynasty (960 – 1279). Chinese doctors realized the differences between treating adults and children, realizing that they are in many ways different in physiology and how to approach treatment.

I first began to use acupuncture and natural medicine when my own children came into this world. Quickly becoming frustrated at the pitfalls of conventional medicine, I changed my career and now specialize in treating children of all ages and conditions.

Our children live in a world of rapid change, fast paced technology, environmental toxicity and pollution, processed and denatured foods, sugar, fluoridated water, unnecessary antibiotic use and vaccinations, the list is endless. Children are constantly bombarded with these attacks on their fragile and growing bodies.

In Chinese medicine good health is reflected in a correct balance between Yin and Yang, an Asian concept of looking at the universe, nature and also our bodies. Inherent in all of us, is a regulatory system that is thrown out of balance by these “attacks” which either in the short or long term if left untreated can cause disease.

Chinese medicine approaches the underlying reasons for the imbalance and attempts to correct it. If you think of a tree, when there is a problem with the roots, no amount of tending the branches will stop the tree from decaying and so it is critical that we treat the roots of a disease as well as the symptoms (branches). Too many times modern medicine has no answer and practices symptomatic relief full stop. We want a quick fix for everything in our western society but the problem remains that in most cases it has taken time for a disease to present and so it must take some time to correct the imbalance from the roots up.

The main conditions that I see on a daily basis are respiratory, digestive and skin complaints. All of these conditions believe it or not are linked and most times have their root in the digestive system (Spleen) in Chinese medicine

It is said in the classic textbooks that “child’s spleen is often insufficient”.  In the womb we live on our mother’s supply of nutrients and don’t have to digest our food.  After birth, the main problem we have, is that we have to eat and digest in order to grow, the spleen has to work very hard as a result. Spleen related disorders are very common. It is said, that the digestive system in an infant is not at its optimum till around 7 years of age.

There is so much we can learn from Chinese medicine practices that can change the way we look at healthcare.

To hear more about this and other issues facing us as parents, book a place at the CNM Open Day- September 3rd 2016.

Michael Lawlor, Lic Ac, Dip Ac, Dip Nat.

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