I recently wrote a guest blog post for Sabine Wilms. Sabine is an academic, translator, writer, publisher and educator extraordinaire. She has translated several ancient Chinese texts, including Sun Simiao's writings on paediatrics, from Chapter 5 of the Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang 備急千金要方 (Essential Formulas Worth a Thousand in Gold to Prepare for Emergencies). [...]
Author: Rebecca Avern
I have been practising acupuncture for 15 years. As well as practising in Oxford, I am both a senior lecturer and clinical supervisor at the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine (www.cicm.org.uk) which is the biggest acupuncture training centre in Europe.
I have treated both adults and children and whilst the benefits of acupuncture for adults are well-known and well-documented, fewer people are aware of how it can benefit children.
I decided that I wanted more children to experience the benefits of acupuncture, and so decided to set up The Panda Clinic. I have to admit to having another motivation - I love being around children and derive great satisfaction when I see children recover from ill health.
I am mother to 2 primary school age children. As well as being an experienced acupuncturist, as a parent I have a good understanding of the stress and anxiety that an ill child can induce. I will always do my best to communicate with the parent(s) of a child I am treating as thoroughly and clearly as I can.
A chat with Kevin Durjin on UKHealthRadio
I was recently interviewed for Kevin Durjin’s show on the wonderful radio station UKHealthRadio.com. The station is devoted to informing listeners about an enormous variety of health-related topics. I strongly urge you to check out their website. Kevin and I talked about using acupuncture in the treatment of children. Click on the link below and have [...]
Acupuncture for Babies, Children and Teenagers has been published!
I am thrilled to let you know that my book was launched last week, almost exactly three years from the day I received an email from the publishers asking if I'd be interested in writing it! It has been the most remarkable experience from start to finish - at times extremely challenging but ultimately exceedingly [...]
‘Tweenagers’ and the new school year
As always, the long summer holidays seemed to disappear in a flash and before we know it the kids are heading back to school for another year. My eldest daughter started secondary school this morning. Here she is cycling off for her first day with her friends, looking so grown up and independent! It’s easy [...]
My transatlantic interview experience!
A couple of weeks ago, with the help of technology that is way too deep for me to understand, I was interviewed by Jenny Dubrowsky in Chicago, about treating children and about my upcoming book. Jenny is a successful and prolific acupuncturist/blogger/author. Please check out her website www.tcm007.com. Jenny has edited the interview, which (amazingly) [...]
School is out: but why do some children struggle to adapt to a holiday routine?
For most kids in the UK, the academic year has just finished. It's certainly unusual for the summer holidays to start with such amazing weather and most of us will be hoping it continues. While many kids will be relishing the end of the school routine, and the idea of some fun and downtime, for [...]
Are our children all exhausted?
Someone asked me the other day what the most common piece of advice is that I give to the parents of children I treat. Without doubt, it is to suggest that they reduce their child's commitments and create more downtime in their schedule. It has become the accepted norm for many school children to have [...]
Snotty noses: illness or a necessary part of childhood?
I have seen several babies and toddlers in the clinic this week who have all been in the middle of what can only be described as ‘outpourings of snot’! They are not ‘ill’, as such, and their parents report that they are happy and energetic. However, they have an almost permanent stream of mucus [...]
Is social media really all that bad?
Almost every week there is a disturbing news item about the detrimental effects too much time on social media is having on our teenagers. In my clinic, I often perceive that a young person's symptoms are, at least in part, related to their social media use. But why is this so and what can we [...]
Babies and emotions
A friend of mine sent me this gorgeous clip of his baby daughter laughing. As well as making me smile, it made me think about babies and emotions. The relationship that babies have with their emotions is so different to that which we have as adults. The first thing that struck me is how wonderfully [...]