Nothing to Sneeze At
A few sessions with an acupuncturist may mean less sneezing and sniffling for your child.
A small study of 6- to 14-year-olds revealed that this popular form of Chinese medicine reduced participants' nasal allergy symptoms and gave them more symptom-free days than a placebo treatment. What's more, the beneficial effects lasted a few months after treatment. If you're looking for an alternative to medications, ask your pediatrician if acupuncture is right for your child.
When asked what they preferred, the kids in the study chose oral medicines over acupuncture needles, but preferred twice weekly acupuncture treatments to daily doses of commonly prescribed steroid nasal sprays. Parents of the children in the study preferred acupuncture to medicines for treating their kids' allergies.
If you and your healthcare provider decide acupuncture might be right for your child, ask him or her to recommend a trained acupuncturist. At your initial visit, ask the practitioner to explain the procedure thoroughly, so you and your child will know what to expect. Also, volunteer for a demonstration -- if your child watches as it's done to you, it's likely he'll feel more comfortable having it done. Ask the acupuncturist to use short needles encased in tape; these look more like bandages and may appear less frightening to a child.
And remember, never adjust the timing or dose of any of your child's prescribed medications without consulting with your healthcare provider first.
