07/15/2025
Treating an “Insomnia” Baby
This was an interesting case. A 2-year-old boy was referred to me for treatment due to persistent sleep problems. Babies who don’t sleep well often cry at night, causing considerable stress for their parents. This is commonly caused by sudden fright or digestive issues such as overeating. However, this boy was different.
He appeared healthy and active, with no obvious signs of illness. When I asked about details of the history, his mother explained that their pediatrician had no positive findings and diagnosed him with “insomnia.” She added, however, that aside from being very energetic, he seemed perfectly normal and never cry at night. Upon pulse diagnosis, I found that he indeed had abnormally high qi, particularly at the upper level of the body, indicating a functional imbalance in metabolism or hyperactivity.
For children with this type of energetic imbalance, acupuncture can be an excellent treatment option, especially as it avoids the need for medication that may cause side effects. I chose to use a seven-star superficial needle, gently tapping along related meridians, combined with small cupping therapy over the treated areas. Amazingly, the boy was calm throughout the treatment. He didn’t cry or appear frightened at all. After just one session, his sleep improved significantly. Following three sessions, he was sleeping normally.
What We Learned: Parents should be cautious about accepting a label of a medical condition too quickly — especially when medications are involved. In many pediatric cases, the underlying condition is functional and can be resolved with gentle and natural approaches. Acupuncture can offer a safe, fast-acting, and effective solution for children with many pediatric conditions.
