Japanese Shonishin Pediatric Acupuncture
Many people around the world have come to understand and appreciate the benefits of
acupuncture and traditional oriental medicine as an essential part of their healthcare. As
more and more people are exposed to these complementary healthcare modalities, many
people are also realizing the benefits these modalities provide in addressing the medical
needs of children.
Shonishin pediatric acupuncture (sho = little, ni = children, shin = needle) is a highly
specialized form of treatment therapy for infants and children that originated in the
Kansai region of Japan about 400 years ago. Although Shonishin was usually practiced as
a family tradition that was kept within the family and passed down through the
generations, it was made public after World War II when Dr. Hidetaro Mori began openly
teaching this style of pediatric therapy.
Shonishin pediatric therapy is very different from the style of acupuncture typically used
on adults. In many cases a needle is not inserted at all but is instead lightly touched to the
skin. The treatment consists of pressing, rubbing, tapping, or light scraping of the skin to
provide a gentle stimulation that will improve the severity of the child’s current
symptoms as well as strengthen their overall constitution.
The treatment is in essence a form of bodywork that utilizes specialized techniques
within the framework of Traditional Oriental Medicine to balance the child’s energy and
stimulate or sedate the energetic pathways as needed. Since this is non-invasive and nonthreatening to the child, the children often enjoy their treatments and look forward to
continuing their therapy. In addition, some of these techniques can be taught to the
parents so that the treatment can be reinforced on a daily basis at home.
Some of the most common conditions treated include:
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coughs
allergies
fever
asthma
ADD and ADHD
bed wetting
digestive disorders
colic
sleep disorders
failure to thrive
pediatric pain
symptomatic treatment of Autistic Spectrum Disorder
The specifics of the treatment, including the frequency and length, will be dependent on
the child’s age, the length of time the child has experienced the symptoms, the child’s
current condition, and the severity of symptoms. The treatments are generally very brief
and will typically last less than 10 minutes. Treatment time will also depend on the age of
the child with treatment time increasing as the child gets older, and will also be
dependent on what the child is willing or able to tolerate.
With this in mind it is very important for any Shonishin practitioner to develop a
relationship of trust, comfort and safety with the child. Often times the first treatment
may consist of nothing more than the practitioner playing with the child, building rapport,
and gathering diagnostic information at the same time. With younger children such as
infants and toddlers, the practitioner will encourage the child’s parents to hold them while
they are receiving treatment to ensure the child feels safe. In this way, the treatment is
often completed before the child is even aware it has begun.
Another aspect of Shonishin therapy is the use of dietary recommendations to enhance
and prolong the benefits of the treatment. Dietary recommendations are based on the
established principles of Traditional Oriental Medicine and are customized to meet the
individual child’s and family’s needs. The strength and benefit of these recommendations
is that they are specific to the range of symptomology that the child is presenting as well
as the underlying condition from the Oriental Medicine perspective. For example, if three
children present with ADHD, they will not all receive the same dietary recommendations
or Shonishin therapy. Instead treatment will be based on the primary condition (ADHD)
plus all the other varying symptoms that the child has experienced such as
gastrointestinal problems, pulmonary disorders, sleep disorders, and chronic pain.
For more information on Pediatric Acupuncture, please see our Integrative Medicine
Research Library.