Pediatric Acupuncture

Side effects are very rare and typically mild when acupuncture is performed by a licensed professional. Some children may experience slight bruising, temporary tiredness, or mild soreness at the needle site, which usually resolves quickly. Serious side effects are extremely uncommon.

Acupuncture can help calm the nervous system, reduce stress hormones, and promote relaxation, making it a valuable tool for children who experience anxiety, trouble sleeping, or emotional sensitivity. Regular sessions can support emotional balance and resilience over time.

Not usually. Acupuncture needles are extremely thin — about the width of a human hair — and most children feel little to no pain. They may experience a brief tingling, warmth, or heaviness at the needle site, which usually fades within seconds. Many kids even fall asleep during treatment.

When performed by a licensed practitioner, acupuncture is very safe for children. Pediatric acupuncture uses gentle techniques and sterile, single-use needles. Most children find the sessions relaxing and enjoyable once they become familiar with the process.

Yes, acupuncture may help children with ADHD by calming the nervous system, improving focus, and supporting emotional regulation. It’s often used alongside behavioral therapy and other treatments to reduce hyperactivity, restlessness, and anxiety while promoting overall balance and well-being.

Acupuncture can be safely performed on people of all ages — including infants, children, and teens — when provided by a licensed practitioner. The treatment approach and technique are always adjusted for the child’s age and comfort level, often using fewer and smaller needles or even non-needle methods such as gentle acupressure or laser stimulation.

Cancellation policies are as follows:

• If you cancel with 24+ hours’ notice, you won’t be charged anything.

• Cancel with 12–24 hours’ notice, and you’ll be charged 50% of the missed service.

• Less than 12 hours’ notice—or a no-show—means we’ll need to charge you the full amount, whether you’re using insurance or paying privately.

Should you need to reschedule, you can easily do so via or app - or if your prefer to talk to a person, by calling either of our locations:

🌐 moonrabbitacupuncture.janeapp.com
📞 Lincoln Park – (312) 414–0058
📞 West Loop – (773) 234–1042

We're always here if you need help making changes!

Yes, eating something before your appointment, even a small snack, is always recommended.

Acupuncture involves the insertion of very thin needles (30 times thinner than the traditional needle you experience at your physician’s office) at strategic points on the body.  Most people believe that acupuncture only treats pain; however, it has a myriad of other uses, including overall wellness, stress management, and fertility support.

From an Eastern perspective, acupuncture is a technique for balancing the flow of qi (pronounced chee), or energy, which flows through meridians in your body.  By inserting needles into specific points along these meridians, acupuncture re-establishes balance for overall health and wellbeing.

Alternatively, the Western perspective is that acupuncture stimulates nerves, muscles, and fascia (connective tissue) to reduce pain and treat tension.  Acupuncture treatment can help the body release a spasmed muscle or interrupt the signal of pain. From a biochemical perspective, findings from research have demonstrated that acupuncture stimulation causes a release of endorphins, serotonin, enkephalins, and γ-amino-butyric acid (GABA; a major inhibitory neurotransmitter of the brain), norepinephrine, and dopamine, other studies have also demonstrated that acupuncture can treat insomnia, as well as support conception through Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), such as IVF.   Acupuncture has also been demonstrated to increase blood flow, aid in circulation, improve sleep and ease mental health concerns.