Q My child is in sixth grade — is it already too late? Would a growth tonic still be meaningful?
A Even in the upper elementary grades, treatment is meaningful as long as the growth plates are still open. Girls typically have growth potential for about two years after their first period, and boys until around the second or third year of middle school. An X-ray bone age test is recommended to assess growth plate status.
Detailed Answer
Growth plates are the cartilaginous zones at the ends of bones; once they fully harden, height growth stops. For girls, the growth plates are often still open for about two years after the first period; for boys, until age 15 to 17. Even in sixth grade, the growth plates may still be sufficiently open, so we recommend first confirming remaining growth potential through a bone age assessment.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
Herbal growth tonics are prescribed to maximize remaining growth plate activity by replenishing Kidney Qi and nourishing the bone marrow. Rather than giving up because it seems late, it is wiser to make the most of the remaining growth opportunity. We set realistic goals together after confirming bone age.
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