Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD is a common mental disorder, particularly in children. It affects 3 to 5 percent of all children, perhaps as many as 2 million children and can persist into adolescence and adulthood. The disease, once called hyper kinesis, is most often treated with drugs such as Ritalin; however, there is a strong movement to look for natural ADHD treatments.
The traditional drug treatments for ADHD consist of stimulants such as Ritalin or amphetamines such as Dexedrine or Adderall. These drugs, however, can produce side effects. The side effects can be psychological in nature, ranging from depression to psychotic symptoms or even hallucinations. Other side effects may be physical such as loss of appetite, insomnia and stomachaches. These drugs also have the risk of addiction. Rather than taking these drugs, many parents and physicians are taking a more holistic approach to the problem, taking into consideration diet, lifestyle, and personality.
Natural ADHD treatments are used to gently and effectively treat the symptoms of ADHD while at the same time helping the child live a balanced life. The natural approach is less harmful and has a better chance of curing the problem altogether than traditional drugs. The key to natural ADHD treatments is finding the combination that works best for your child. Often this involves some trial and error at first. Once a natural treatment is found to work, however, the results can be amazing.
Diet Diet is the first thing that should be examined when looking for natural ADHD cures. Often there is a particular food or combination of foods that is contributing to the ADHD symptoms. Start by eliminating or cutting down on the consumption of certain foods from the diet for a two-week period. These foods are dairy products, junk food, chocolate, processed meats, fried foods, food colorings, fruit juices and NutraSweet. This may seem extreme, however, after the initial period you may start introducing these foods back into the diet. Add one food every other day to see what, if anything, results. Keep a food and behavior diary during this test period so you can study the results.
On an ongoing basis, keep the diet high in whole foods emphasizing vegetables and whole grains. Eat a diet that is balanced in carbohydrates and proteins. Limit the amount of junk food, especially sugar. Drink juices that are diluted to decrease the intake of sugar.
Supplements Vitamin and mineral supplements are often quite helpful as a natural ADHD treatment. There are certain vitamins that may be lacking in the body which are causing or adding to the ADHD. Vitamin C and Niacinamide together form a combination that may help ADHD patients. Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3. These two vitamins may help reduce hyperactivity and restlessness and allow children to improve their concentration.
Colloidal minerals also called fully chelated minerals offer the best form of mineral supplement and are available through many health food stores. They can provide the missing minerals from the diet and can help to calm overactive minds.
Herbs There are many herbs known to be helpful in the natural treatment of ADHD. They can reduce mood swings and increase alertness. The reduction of prescription drugs along with herbal treatments often helps the patient improve memory and concentration while not in a haze. Some of the more popular herbs for treating ADHD are Chamomile, Evening Primrose Oil, Fresh Lemon balm, and Gotu Kola, among others.
There are many natural ADHD treatments available. Discuss these options with your doctor before you begin a new treatment. You doctor can help you make a plan for reducing or eliminating the prescription drugs and trying homeopathic or natural methods.
ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and it is a chronic condition that can have a great impact on a child if a child does not get help, or if the right ADHD treatment is not prescribed. Some of the most common symptoms of ADHD are impulsivity, inappropriate behavior, and hyperactivity. These children have difficulty staying on task and completing projects, which if not identified and treated early can be a huge barrier throughout the school years and eventually on the job. Before there was a diagnosis, these children were just seen as having lots of energy, or were just wild and always getting into trouble. Now that ADHD treatments are available, parents have the option of getting their child help so that they can be more productive in school and have fewer disruptions at home.
Not all parents and professionals agree on what type of ADHD treatment is the best, or if it should be used at all. Some parents feel that it is unnatural to treat a child with prescription medication that could have significant side effects, or otherwise harm the child. Side effects are dose dependent and can be lessened by reducing the dosage or switching to a different medication. Many times behavior modification therapy is not effective on its own, which is why ADHD treatment usually requires use of a stimulant drug. Stimulants have a paradoxical effect on children; these drugs do not increase hyperactivity, which is a normal response in adults, but help the child focus, control behaviors, and improve self-esteem. Stimulants used in ADHD treatment help children to complete tasks, learn more efficiently, and interact more positively with their peers.
Physicians and psychiatrists develop individualized ADHD treatments for each child, because not all experience the same symptoms or have the same level of severity. There can also be other conditions that are present as well, such as mental or physical disorders that need to be addressed in addition to ADHD treatment. Such conditions may have a great impact on how the child responds to therapy, and if not treated simultaneously will tend to slow down progress. There are a number of sites on the internet that discuss ADHD, the symptoms, and how to go about getting help for your child. ADHD treatments and the controversies surrounding them are also discussed in depth. If you suspect your child has ADHD have him or her evaluated by a professional as soon as possible, so that your child can get the treatment he or she needs.
Both Sherman Cheong & Dave W Jones are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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