Скачать или смотреть Acupuncture Used to Help Patients at Primary Children's Hospital

(KUTV) Traditional Chinese medicine is being integrated into the care of young patients at Primary Children's Hospital.

The roots of acupuncture date back to centuries. Even today, acupuncture is used to treat several ailments for adults and children.

"Acupuncture at the hospital, we do the needles from 8-to-older," said Alyssa Johnson, who provides acupuncture to young patients at Primary Children's Hospital.

Johnson says many kids love the use of traditional Chinese medicine as opposed to conventional Western methods.

"I love it because some of the kids will say 'you are my favorite' because we do things that are gentle and loving and they are so used to being poked and prodded," said Johnson.

Johnson also has some techniques for kids who may be a little scared of needles. She will start with a basic Chinese massage and then graduate to acupressure. Over time, she says the kids will have confidence to try the acupuncture needles.

In many cases, patients are referred to Johnson by the doctors and staff at the hospital.

"The teams here are very supportive of all the things we do in the integrated medicine department," she said.

Acupuncture is also offered to patients in the outpatient clinic. The clinic does accept self-referrals. For more information on integrated medicine at Primary Childrenas Hospital, click here.

(Copyright 2014 Sinclair Broadcast Group)