Acupuncture in practice: investigating acupuncturists' approach to treating infantile colic.
Author
Summary, in English
Infantile colic is common, but no safe and effective conventional treatment exists. The use of acupuncture has increased despite weak evidence. This practitioner survey explores and discusses how infantile colic is regarded and treated in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The study is based on personal communication with 24 acupuncturists from nine countries. These acupuncturists specialize in pediatric acupuncture and represent different styles of acupuncture. Their experiences are discussed and related to relevant books and articles. Informants claimed good results when treating infants with colic. The TCM patterns commonly described by informants matched the textbooks to a great extent. The most common syndromes were "stagnation of food" and "Spleen Qi Xu." Regarding treatment, some informants followed the teachers' and the textbook authors' advice on differentiated treatment according to syndrome. The points used most often were LI4, ST36, and Sifeng. Other informants treated all infants alike in one single point, LI4. The results demonstrate the diversity of TCM. The use of acupuncture for infantile colic presents an interesting option, but further research is needed in order to optimize the effects and protect infants from unnecessary or less effective treatment.
Department/s
Publishing year
2013
Language
English
Publication/Series
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Volume
2013
Issue
Nov 13
Full text
Links
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Hindawi Limited
Topic
- Other Medical Sciences not elsewhere specified
Status
Published
Project
- Promoting early childhood health; supporting parents, vulnerable children and challenged families
- LUC3 - Lund University Child Centered Care
Research group
- Child and Family Health
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1741-427X