Acupuncture for babies

Babies as young as three days old are receiving acupuncture to treat complaints such as fever and colic and even disabilities such as cerebral palsy.

Parents are turning to the ancient Chinese therapy when traditional western treatments do not meet their expectations.

Auckland mother of five Klajaque Esapour has been sending her toddler Max to an acupuncturist for the past three months.

Max was born two months premature and soon after showed signs of hypotonic cerebral palsy. His body was floppy and he could not hold his head up.

Mrs Esapour took her son to a specialist but decided to try acupuncture as well after a family member recommended it.

Max has been attending 15-minute acupuncture sessions twice a week for the past three months, and Mrs Esapour has been delighted with her son's progress.

"It's just been miraculous ... " she said. "He wasn't sitting or anything, but now he can sit independently."

An Auckland paediatrician, who did not want to be named, said there was no good scientific evidence to support the use of acupuncture on children. "It's junk science from start to finish."

The paediatrician said he thought parents with young babies were exploited by all sorts of alternative health practitioners, including acupuncturists, because they were so concerned for their children's health.

Karuna Olatunaji, co-director of the New Zealand School of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, said acupuncture was particularly effective in young children because their "yang" (active) energy was strong. She said acupuncture was commonly used to treat a range of problems in babies and young children, including colic, fever, eczema and phlegm disorders.

It was also useful in older children for bed-wetting, migraines, emotional problems, and muscle and skeletal disorders, she said.

Auckland acupuncturist David Craddock, who specialises in treating children with genetic disorders, said he saw up to 20 babies and children a week, some as young as three days old.

He said their parents were mainly westerners disenchanted with traditional medicine.

"Most have tried traditional medicine first but have come away with unanswered questions."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY