Talking about teenagers on the Qiological podcast

Do you remember those early years of puberty when everything felt heightened, and a new world began to unfold before you? It’s a time when we start to question our place in this ever-evolving landscape.

Adolescence is a beautiful yet often tumultuous journey. Unfortunately, in today’s world, it’s frequently viewed through a medical lens, labeled as a pathology rather than recognized as a series of essential dress rehearsals for the challenges that lie ahead.

From my perspective, acupuncture can be incredibly beneficial for teens navigating this complex phase of life, as well as for their families. It’s important to remember that medicine doesn’t separate children from the families they belong to.

In this conversation, I share my insights on using acupuncture to support adolescents and discuss the following topics:

• The extraordinary nature of teens
• How adolescence is a constructive process
• The distinction between transformation and transition
• The importance of involving the whole family
• The pressure that can accompany love
• The necessity of nurturing the Zhi for growth
• How the Shaoyin Heart/Kidney connection fosters both Will and interpersonal connections
• Viewing teens through the lens of the five phases
• Asking kids “who” they are and “what matters” instead of “what’s the matter?”
• The significance of emotions as not just normal, but crucial
• The pros and cons of social media

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In my initial consultations, establishing trust with the child or teenager is my top priority. Without that trust, treatment is unlikely to succeed. As Confucius wisely noted, ‘If [man] asks for something without having first established relations, it will not be given to him.’

When I discovered acupuncture nearly 25 years ago, it felt like coming home. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of learning from inspiring teachers and treating patients in clinic settings, where each day brought deeper insights and unexpected surprises. I’ve been honored to witness people share their inner worlds with me and to see their transformations. I truly felt like the luckiest person alive to have found this calling.

Gradually, I shifted my focus to working with babies, children, and teenagers, ultimately deciding to dedicate my clinical practice solely to young people. My days now involve treating infants with severe eczema, toddlers on multiple courses of antibiotics for persistent infections, school-age children labeled as ‘difficult’ for their restlessness, and teenagers experiencing daily panic attacks. Each day is dynamic, challenging, sometimes heart-wrenching, but always uplifting. Witnessing a young person and their family transform as the weight of illness is lifted is nothing short of magical. I genuinely feel like the luckiest person alive to be engaged in this work.

I am now on a two-fold mission: first, to empower more practitioners to feel confident and capable in treating babies, children, and teenagers; and second, to raise awareness among parents about the potential of our medicine for their children, delivered in a way that is not only acceptable but also enjoyable for them.