One of the most heinous acts we can impose on our children, other than immunization, is allowing them to be drugged for ADHD treatments. ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is the diagnosis for a child considered overactive, having a short attention span, angry, irritable, and mentally confused. Incidentally, hypoglycemia with subsequent low blood sugar levels, carries these same symptoms- but with a child whose diagnosed with ADHD the more expensive drug treatment, Ritalin, can be administered.

Ritalin closely resembles an amphetamine. It is a cocaine-like drug that induces zombie-like behavior in children. The public school system’s idea of ADHD treatments is prescribing Ritalin which, like all toxins, come with a long list of side effects including nervousness, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, insomnia, joint pains, headaches, increased blood pressure, fever, rapid heartbeat, abdominal pain, and psychosis. Ritalin as an ADHD treatment is prescribed to 6 million children every year! An overwhelming majority of those diagnoses are children from middle to low income families. No other country in the world prescribes stimulants for its children in such large numbers as the U.S.

What’s even more ridiculous is what the American Psychiatric Association describes as a hyperactive child: “One who exhibits behavior such as fidgeting, squirming, answering questions before being called on, difficulty playing quietly, engaging in physically dangerous activities such as running into the street without looking, or one who has difficulty following instructions."

What?! I don’t know a single child who doesn’t exhibit at least one of these behaviors! That’s called being a child. In fact, I’m thankful that they were not passing out Ritalin shots when I was a kid. My Dad’s leather belt was the only ADHD treatment I needed. I can imagine, everytime I was caught being disrespectful to my teachers or other students and acting up in school- time for a good, old-fashioned ADHD treatment! In our house, ADHD would have meant Asses Don’t Have Discipline, and the proper, effective ADHD treatment would be promptly administered. With that discipline came a lot of love and guidance. My parents, no matter how long or rough their days were at work, made sure to give us the proper love and attention we needed to develop into the healthy young adults we are today. Thanks, Mom and Dad!

Dr. Lorraine Day, M.D. offers some alternative ADHD treatments that help prevent ADHD and reverse the factors that cause it.

*Change the child’s diet to all natural whole foods. This means fruit, grains and vegetables full of natural vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.

*Eliminate dairy products and other animal products because these contain hormones, pesticides, antibiotics, and the animals’ own diseases.

*Eliminate caffeine, sugar and other sweets, processed food, MSG, aspartame (Nutrasweet) and other sugar substitutes, and any foods that contain preservatives, food dyes or other chemicals.

*Eliminate eating at fast food restaurants as most of these apparently use MSG and preservatives, plus the food in many restaurants often contains less nutrition, more harmful chemicals.

*Encourage the child to eat a lot of raw fruits and vegetables because they are full of health-producing enzymes, vitamins, and minerals.

*Drink water, fresh home-made vegetable and fruit juices. Eliminate sodas, caffeinated beverages, or milk from cows or any other animal. Rice milk from your local health food store is a reasonable substitute.

*No white bread. Only whole grain bread, either home baked or from a health food store.

*No white rice. Only whole grain brown rice and other whole grains.

*No peanut butter: It contains aflatoxin, a fungus that causes cancer. Instead use almond butter from your health food store.

*Get proper rest. Children need a lot of rest and should go to bed early.

*Get proper exercise daily- outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine.

*Eliminate TV watching. It is reported that children watch an average of 43 hours of TV per week, that’s longer than the average adult work week. While watching, they rapidly become almost hypnotized. It has been shown scientifically that within minutes of beginning to watch TV, the brain changes from the alert brain waves (beta waves) to the hypnotic waves (alpha waves) where the judgement center of the brain is bypassed. What goes into a child’s mind is just as important as what goes into his or her mouth!

*Trust in God. Pray and meditate with your child. This has a calming influence on them.

We shouldn’t be so quick to succumb to the pressures of the public school system and drug our children. They depend on us, as parents, to nurture them, protect them, and teach them to be loving, respectful human beings- not drug them and put them in a corner. You want a good ADHD treatment? The best ADHD treatment is love, attention, and discipline.