How to Control ADHD With Natural Medicine

For those who don't want to give their children amphetamines and other stimulants for ADHD, some have found success with natural medicine such as from Chinese medicinal practice.

Many parents who don't want their children to take amphetamines or other stimulant drugs for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder may find success with techniques and practices associated with natural medicine. Natural medicine consists of both preventive measures, diet, as well as the use of herbs and vitamins.

Things You'll Need

• Compound herbal preparation (CHP)

Instructions

1. 

   Refined sugar, such as found in most sodas and soft drinks, can affect the mood and behavior of a child. Consider removing refined sugar from the diet of your child.

   Remove refined sugar from the diet of your child. This dietary change is the first step that many who practice natural medicine recommend. Sugar can affect a child's mood. For some children, it can contribute to depression, for others it can contribute to symptoms of inattention. Dr. Allen Buresz of the Natural Health and Longevity Resource Center encourages parents to remove refined sugar, such as found in sodas, ice cream, candy and cookies, from the diet of their child who displays ADHD symptoms.

   Some educators, including Jackie McNuff, a reading specialist who has worked with hundreds of children with ADHD, agree. She states that the first change she tells parents to make is to remove sugar from their diet.

2. Test for lead poisoning. Dr. Joel Nigg of the Michigan State University and author of "What Causes ADHD?" believes that research indicates that lead poisoning, mercury poisoning and other environmental contaminants can contribute to symptoms of ADHD in between two and ten percent of children diagnosed with the disorder.

   A simple test derived from a hair sample of the child, at a state, city or county agency can determine if a child has lead or mercury poisoning. Parents who should be especially concerned are those who live in older homes or apartments that have peeling paint, or who live in close proximity to factories or waste dumps where chemical runoff is possible.

   If a parent suspects lead poisoning, the home or apartment should be freshly sealed and painted. The child should have no access to chips of paint, or toy products that are made with lead paint.

3. Take a compound herbal preparation (CHP), such as those used in Chinese medicine. One clinical study determined that there was significant improvement in the symptom profiles of the children when they were taking this type of herbal/vitamin blend. The study included 120 children between the ages of 6 and 12 who were newly diagnosed with ADHD. The children were evaluated at the Sheba Medical Center, which is one of the largest university-affiliated care centers in Israel. Children who took the CHP blend did significantly better than those who took a placebo.

   David Rabiner, Ph.D, a leading authority on ADHD, states that "preparations of these herbs supply essential nutrients, fatty acids, phospholipids, amino acids, B vitamins, minerals, and other micronutrients that are important for optimal brain growth and development."

Tips & Warnings

• Research preventive measures and lifestyle changes that can positively affect a child's mental health. Cutting back on television time and violent video games can help some children.

• Additionally, practitioners of natural medicine encourage parents to cut food additives out of the child's diet. As with everything, parents need to be balanced when making changes in a child's diet. Food additives might affect some children with attentional difficulties to a certain extent, but it is rarely the sole factor that causes ADHD symptoms.

• If you decide to give your child a supplement, such as a compound herbal preparation (CHP), administer sparingly. These supplements can be toxic to the body if they are not taken as directed, or if the body is overloaded with supplemental vitamins.

References

• Michigan State University: Joel Nigg - Professor and Director of Clinical Training
• David Rabiner, PhD - Help for ADHD: A Controlled Trial of Herbal Treatment for ADHD Yields Promising Findings; 2010
• Pharma Guri: A compound herbal preparation (CHP) in the treatment of children with ADHD: a randomized controlled trial; M. Katz, et al;
• Overcoming ADHD Without Medication: A Parent and Educator's Guidebook; 2009
• Natural Health and Longevity Resource Center: Attention Deficit Disorder & Hyperactivity Success; Dr. Allen Buresz

Resources

• Controlled Trials: Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial- CHP, children w/ADHD
• Tree of Healing: Nurture and Clarity - The Natural Treatment for LD/ADHD