Acupuncture on Challenged Children

Introduction

           In 1994 at The Healing centre at Pune, I started acupuncture and had good success with paralytic patients and patients with arthritis of various joints. I had an allopathic background and had been a clinical and anatomic pathologist in Holy family Hospital New Delhi for 24 years and the medical director for the last 10 years.

            My sister who was the principal of a large school persistently requested  acupuncture on a Down’s child in her school. Because of her persistence I attempted acupuncture on the child and could only complete 6 days of treatment. 

•    This child could not speak  
•    She had a vacant expression
•    She had a protruding tongue and dribbling 
•    Her karyotyping showed trisomy   
•    There was constant enuresis(bed wetting)

3 months later the parents returned for another session.  

To my surprise there were marked changes already.

• She had expression on her face
• Her comprehension improved
• Her enuresis and dribbling stopped 
• She was now talking and mixing with the other children. 

   2 repeat acupunctures done annually, produced these changes:

• No fear or aggression
• No enuresis
• Clearly understandable speech resulting in socializing with friends.

This experience awakened us to the possibilities of using acupuncture on human body in health and disease especially for  challenged children - Autistic children, Children with Down's Syndrome, Hyperactive children, and Dyslexic children.
 
The following paper is based on our experiences.

Children with Down's Syndrome

We have treated 16 children with Down’ syndrome.

All had the following features are typical of the Down’s child. 

• A flat face with upward slanting eyes, giving the mongoloid appearance,  with a vacant look  
• A Flat bridge of the nose. 
• A small mouth and a protruding tongue. 
•  Constant dribbling of saliva.
• Constant colds, cough, and chest congestion. 
• Lower than average cognitive ability. 
• Karyotyping showing Trisomy.

Some had hearing loss, ASD (Auricular Septal Defect,) congenital heart defect, intestinal problems.

Methods used in our clinic to treat the Down’s syndrome.

• The main method is Acupuncture. Very fine steel needles are used which are delivered to the acupuncture points using a guide with a spring. The guide with its spring action minimizes any pain from the needle prick.  The needles are attached to an acustimulator powered by a 6volt or 9 volt battery. The acustimulator is kept for ½ an hour. The acustimulator is already set up by marking the levels on an adult, as at 2 and 3 years the children are not able to tell us when the stimulation starts. Electricity is important for the child, as the emotional energy in the aura is also converted into electricity. The child usually falls asleep when the acustimulator is on, quite possibly due to some positive change  taking place in the aura of the child. A few points are chosen on each meridian, and usually the points will vary according to the condition and age of the child at the time of acupuncture. Usually 2 sessions are given annually for the 1st 2 years.  Then 1 session annually until puberty is sufficient. Each session is 15 days.
• The children have colds, cough, and chest congestion. And for this they were given homeo medicines as needed.
• They also have an abnormal amount of aggression which is released by acupuncture and also diffused by Homeopathic medicines.   
• Sedation and painkillers have been used to quieten the child for acupuncture.  Some children do not need either one as they are ready for acupuncture.
  There may be objections to using acupuncture because of the needles. 
  Today there are several options such as   
   1) Laser which works well.   
   2) There are still other and newer methods for stimulating the acupuncture points with painless electrical gadgets.
       

  The emphasis is on stimulating the acupuncture points  

For detailed Case Histories, please click here

Changes seen in the Down’s children after acupuncture

The most spectacular and amazing change is seen within the 1st week of acupuncture in all the children.

• The vacant expression disappears and there is expression in the face and the child becomes aware of its surroundings and especially her /his parents. The child turns towards those calling her/him. There definitely is improved comprehension and this is seen by all those in contact with the child. The remarkable part of this is that the face changes so suddenly, it comes as a surprise to all.

• The typical traits of the Down’s face disappear.
• Dribbling stops very definitely, the mouth is closed and the tongue goes in. 

Other changes seen as the sessions continue are as follows:

• Some who only drank milk even at 2 years of age started eating solid food and masticating.
• All are more aggressive after the first acupuncture session.
• The colds and chest congestion start decreasing.
• Some start walking after the first session, if they have not walked by themselves. In other words the milestones start after the first session.
• Others lose their fear and are socializing with other children.
• Their I Q improves and they are able to follow instructions and understand the material in their school.
  Some are put in schools with normal children and are coping with help.
• At sometime or other bonding takes place with the mother which was missing before.
• They are not completely normal but are able to take care of themselves and are near normal and able to socialize with normal children.

 

The children do need speech therapy, counseling if possible, and a great deal of love ,support and acceptance.

Autistic  Spectrum Disorders

        This group includes autism, Asperger’s syndrome, Rett syndrome  PDD  (Pervasive development disorder) and some add Hyperactivity which is slowly increasing in the world of today.

• The main feature of autism is impaired social interaction.
• Autistic children avoid eye contact.
• They may not respond to their name.
• They have a love for routine and cannot bear a change in protocol.
• They may engage in self abusive behavior as biting and head banging.
• They usually engage in repetitive movements as rocking or watching a fan moving.
• Some are hyperactive and cannot sit still for even a minute.
• Some will not talk at all.

Autism has become quite common in all countries, and is on the rise.

The causes of Autism are not clear but here are a few possibilities.

1)      There may be a special set of genes responsible

2)      Environmental factors during the primal period may be a cause according to a study by Dr Michael Odent in the U.K.

3)      A Swedish study by Dr Niko Tinberg unearthed factors as induction of labor, deep forceps delivery, and birth under anesthesia.

4)      Vaccinations have also been blamed.

To date there is no real clarity as to the cause of autism. Also as such there is no cure for it. How ever there are many therapies and behavior interventions  to help these children.

• A casein and gluten free diet has commonly been prescribed for these chlidren.
• In Kuala Lumpur Malaysia acupuncture and Chinese herbs have been used with success.
• Ritalin has also been used and supplements as magnesium and Vitamin B6.

Methods used in our clinic to treat Autistic Children.

We have treated 8 autistic children.

• Our first line of treatment has always been homeopathic medicines to reduce the aggression which is high in these children. Because of the aggression they have they cannot sit still, and self abuse  is common as biting oneself and head banging.

The medicines for aggression—are Absinth, Aethusa , Agaricus ,and Belladonna. We have found these helpful in combination, and they may be given orally or through hair energy transmission. 

• Acupuncture was given in the same way as for the Down’s children. Read the section above on Down's Syndrome for details of acupuncture treatment.

 We have treated 8 autistic children and the summary of changes follows.  2 took 4 sessions each of acupuncture each and benefited sufficiently to be put in school and they can also take care of themselves.

Changes seen in Autistic child after acupuncture

• Hyperactivity begins to decrease, some already after the homeopathic treatment. The child is less fidgety, begins to calm down and sits still .
• Some who were biting themselves or others stop this sooner or later.
•  They are able to alert a caretaker when they want to pass urine or stool.
• They are aware of people around and starts making eye contact.
• Enuresis stops sooner or later.
• Some attempt speech.   One who took 3 sessions talks well and goes to a normal school.
• They sleep well at night
• Those that had colds are gradually better.
• In other words the child starts to become more normal  as the sessions of acupuncture continue.

The Dyslexic syndrome

  The best definition of dyslexia is “ A type of learning disability that impairs a person’s ability to read write or talk. 

Usually

• The letters are reversed and reading is a problem.
• Or the writing is difficult, now termed dysgraphia.
• Or again there is trouble with mathematics and this is termed dyscalculia.
• They lack self esteem and are usually loners.
• But they are gifted in some way and their I Q is usually not low.

Various workers and doctors have given theories based on their research or the cases they encountered but to date no one theory is satisfactory.

And there is no cure for dyslexia. ADD (attention deficit disorder ) is also included in this group.

There are now special schools that have methods for helping these children to learn. Some methods have been invented by dyslexics themselves, and are used all over the world including India.

Methods used in our clinic to treat Dyslexic Children

We have treated 10 children with dyslexia, these children respond faster to treatment.

In our centre the treatment given was the same as for the Down’s children - Homeopathic medicines for aggression and for fear and acupuncture with electrical stimulation. Appropriate painkillers were given and in the beginning a mild sedative.

Of all 3 conditions dyslexic children are the easiest to treat. They respond faster to treatment than the other the other 2 conditions.

These children may have any or all of the following.

• No interest in reading, writing ,or study as the letters may appear interchanged.
• They are loners and do not mix with others, and may be moody.
• Some do not like sports.
• Some may excel in computers, TV fixing or engineering.
• Some have no toilet habits and pass stool  and urine wherever they are.
• Again some may have colds and coughs constantly.
• Asthma is commonly seen in some.
• Enuresis is also common. 
• In ADD, besides any of the above, the child is also prone to hurt herself/himself.

Changes seen in Dyslexic child after acupuncture

We have treated 10 children with dyslexia, these children respond faster to treatment

•  Soon after their first session of acupuncture, some children who were loners start talking to their friends and teachers.
• They become aware of their surroundings and are interested.
• They begin taking an interest in their studies.
• Their concentration improves.
• Those who had difficulty with reading or writing start to improve.
• Enuresis if present stops sooner or later.
• Their self esteem improves.
• Those that had difficulty with letters being interchanged  no longer have that difficulty.
• In other words these children after acupuncture sessions are slowly beginning to adjust to life in normal schools.

For more information, please email Sr.Blanche at blanche.fernandes.mms@gmail.com