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.