Natural Remedies for ADHD

First off it is ADHD stay away from RED DYE #40. It is one of the fastest triggers for ADHD. Now that said, I know of several people who had food allergies to Milk and Wheat who exhibited the same behaviors, once those were cut from the diet they were a bit better. Now with that being said, my nephew was diagnosed several years ago with TERETS. The schools were trying to convince my sister he had ADHD and she refused to accept it. She finally went to a doctor who was imediatly going to put him on ADHD meds, but she said absolutely not test him, test him, test him. FInally they did, he has Terets, not ADHD and some of the syptoms mimic each other. AT one point he was in a special program for kids wiht Terets to help them fit in and to help them deal with the behaviors and the reactions. One of the kids had issues, his mother put him on the ADHD meds and she was extremly upset, they made the Whoops and Ticks 3x's worse and there was no fixing that.

SO please please please have him tested and checked. Make sure his diet isn't affecting him and then learn and ask lots of questions.

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There is a great book out there called "Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Allergies, and Asthma" by Dr. Kenneth Bock. Dr. Bock has put together a comprehensive healing program for kids with all of these "4-A disorders". Many of them are intertwined and usually most kids diagnosed with one of the disorders has complications similar to the others. Looking at your child's diet, etc is a huge step in the right direction. I can't recommend this book enough. It's healinng program has helped to recover my nephew from Autism with amazing results. While a lot of experts may say that 3 is too young to diagnose ADHD, I strongly believve your son could easily be displaying symptoms similar and can be helped by early, more natural intervention (which will hopefully help to avoid medication). Best of luck!

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I fhe can sit and watch his favorite show for more than 30 seconds, then most likely he is just an active little boy. Do not fret about this at this age, he is too young! You can try and cut out sugar, caffine, and red dye. Also if he is not already put him on a daily schedule so that he knows what is going to happen next in his day, uncertainty in a child's day can cause so many behavior problems.

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There is hope! Pycnogenol is a natural substance that is in OPC-3. It has been proven to impact ADHD and in some cases eliminate the problem at the University of California Berkley. I have accesss to the science behind this product and all of the information that you could want and need. Let me know if you are interested. Send me your e-mail address and I can send you the link to a web site where you can get it.

It will be OK.

S.
____@____.com

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Please PLEASE know that ADHD symptoms are very common at that age and that a reliable diagnosis cannot be made until children are at least 4 years old. The best thing you can do now, if you are noticing signs in your child, is start working on ways to help your child compensate for his difficulties with concentration and focus. My son has similar issues and we play lots of games - Chutes and Ladders, Candy Land, Memory... things that make him take turns, sit calmly and pay attention.

Please also know that, much like those in medical school, those of us who have taken psychology classes tend to over diagnosis problems we see in our those who we are closest to. I test children for ADHD for a living, so I know that you cannot diagnosis children that young. Please feel free to message me if you have questions - and good luck.

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Hi R.,
I am going to agree with Char. My son was diagnosed with ADHD when it was brought to my attention by the school where he attended pre-school. He was my first child so I just thought he was very active. Things that realy helped me were diet restrictions. No fruit snacks, juice, kool aid, gatoraide and limited sweets.I found when he ate or drank them it would trigger his ADHD. He is now 13 and is doing well. i have read a million books on the subject. It got to the point where I felt as though I knew more than his doctor. It will be a life long battle but it can be kept in check. We now both takethe fish oil supplement. It is good for the brain and thought it would be great for both of us. It really seems to be helping:) Hang in there!

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I hope that in all of your research you found that 3 is too young to diagnose ADHD. They even state that 5 is too young. We have ADHD in our family extensively and not one of us was diagnosed until 7 (my father at 56, myself at 21, my nephew at 9 and my other nephew at 7 but he also had a rare form of epilepsy) SO please sheck with your doctor prior to adding this "diagnosis" on to your child. And really talk to your doctor listen to your child. I knew something was wrong when I was about 8 but my parents thought that I was seeking attention... later they regretted that decision!

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Have you had his iron checked? The symptoms for low iron in small children can mimic those of ADHD. It is worth checking into.

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Hi R.,
There are so many options for you to explore naturally. Look into the Feingold diet. It focuses on removal of preservatives and artificial dyes, but also eliminates a specific food group that has salicilytes and has been linked with ADD/ADHD (Feingold.com). I also agree with Kelly, food allergies are attributed to a great degree to behavior, hyperactivity and attention. However, i have found this is not widely accepted by the medical community. Some good books on the subject
Healing Childhood Epidemics by Dr. Ken Bock
Is this my child by Dr. Rapp
I am a Psychologist with a practice in Rochester. We focus on holistic and natural approaches to mental health and wellness and work extensively with children experiencing behavior challenges from a natural perspective. You are welcome to check out our website for additional resources or to see the services we offer. www.mentalfitnesscenter.org
Good luck to you and your family

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I know it takes a lot of patience. Not too many understand the children.

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yes!!!!!!!!!! I have found a ton of research that points to the benefits of Mangosteen xanthones for ADHD.
they can be found in XANGO juice....
want more info?

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If your son has been diagnosed with ADHD, try a dose of caffeine. I can't remember the exact explanation but it's supposed to calm them.

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Kudos to you for exploring a natural approach. I agree that avoiding processed foods is very important. Also, supplementing with cod liver oil can have a dramatic positive impact too.

I've posted several articles about ADHD on my blog:
http://blog.corganic.com/search/label/ADHD

Also, you might want to pick up a DVD and/or book titled "Gut and Psychology Syndrome":
http://www.gutandpsychologysyndrome.com/

Good luck!

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I have read that very high quality fish oil supplements are fairly effective for ADHD symptoms. Of course, you would need to dicuss this type of treatment with your doctor before giving your child fish oil treatment, I do believe the first 6 or 12 weeks of the treatment calls for large doses of fish oil.

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Hi R.,
I highly recommend fish oil..in liquid or capsules. My grand kids take it, the youngest is 4 years old. My daughter gets it from www.mercola.com or you can probably get it from the health food store. The mercola website has a link for asking questions also and is so helpful. The brain is 60% fat and needs this essential oil to keep it healthy. You are also right in eliminating preservatives, etc. Sugar is a hugh culprit with ADHD...My daughter has a very difficult time with concentration and when I took her off all sugar the teacher asked what I did different. Check out Mercola...will answer lots of questions...
C.

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coffee is the only natural remedy that I know of that has been proven to help ADHD. I'm sure it will be quite difficult to get a 3 yr old to drink a little coffee however. Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about ADHD until school years. If it does get really serious there is at least one medication that is considered a "non controlled substance" where the others are controlled substances. I cannot remember the name of this specific medication, but it is supposed to be great (as a last resort, of course). I understand completely about not wanting to put your child on medication.

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Hi R., You received a lot of great advice. I went thru this with our son. We did have a lot of success with natural alternatives and I would be happy to share with you. Let me know if you still want information.

warmly,
M.

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My nephew was diagnosed with ADHD and for him eliminating preservatives, dyes, processed foods and refined sugars helped a lot. They went a step further and eliminated the toxins from their home, they use all natural laundry soap, cleaners and shampoos now... he takes a multivitamin that is also a natural product and he does not show symptoms. He is still an energetic little boy but he is able to sit down and concentrate.

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I would suggest the Healthy for Life Clinic in the Cascade area. Mollie Tamminga is a Certified Naturopath, and works with kids with ADD and ADHD. Diet is a huge part of it, but with natural medicine everything is very individualized. They would never say that there is one remedy for ADD or ADHD. It all depends on the person and the root of the problem(s). If you are interested in calling the clinic, the number is ###-###-####. Good luck!

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I recommend this book to anyone who suspects things like ADHD, but also have intelligence "in the family". Its called Misdiagnosis and Dual Diagnosis of Gifted Children & Adults/Webb. Why I suggest the book is because it really outlines the subtleties of the symptoms of many learning disorders, and shows how similar they can be to the emotional effects of a brain that's advanced. ADHD seems to be one that's often misdiagnosed. At 3 years old he seems young to be able to be certain? I think you're on the right track with diet. My nephew who is clearly affected by both intelligence and ADHD, drinks coffee and it calms him down! Something about the counter balance of the caffeine? I trust you did good research, but it was my experience when my son began to have anxiety issues, that only 1 of 3 therapists, and no MDs, had any real knowledge of the intelligence factor. Once I found someone that got it, we were able to get it under his control. I see you're studying psychology. I hope they are teaching you about it! If you do suspect he's exceptionally bright, there is a website that is good: http://www.hoagiesgifted.org

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R., I can hear your heart breaking for your son but may I be so bold to ask a few questions. First of all, let me commend you for looking to help your son naturally. Getting rid of the dyes and refined sugar and especially the high fructose corn syrup may give you a whole new son. The statement, "You are what you eat" is very true.

As a certified special education teacher with a minor in psychology and now a home schooling, work from home mom, I have seen so many boys especially, who have been mis-diagnosed with ADHD. Many of them needed a better diet, lots of outlets for their activity level and time to grow.

Research has shown that many boys are developmentally delayed and the expectations we put on them educationally are just inappropriate. They act out, they act crazy and they have an incredible level of energy. They are boys.

It is so easy to cast a label, so here begins my questions.
How will giving your son a label of ADHD help you? How will it help or hinder him? What type of boundaries and expectations are you putting on him for his behavior?

Forgive me for making an assumption as you have not mentioned his behavior but when labels are given, stereotypes are created.

Please re-consider the label at this time but instead change his diet just as you have mentioned. Have you considered having him tested for food allergies? This is another idea.
Give him lots of outlets for his energy level and love him up!

Please keep us updated and many blessings, R.!

K.

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It was very nice to see everyone being cautious about your diagnosis. Three is definitely very young to be diagnosed with ADHD. I have ADHD and our 2 yo daughter has a 50% chance of inheriting it. He was very clear, however, that it would be very hard to determine until she was close to her teens whether or not she had it-regardless of any behaviorial issues that may arise between now and then. It is very over diagnosed. Most kids eat horribly and carry a huge chemical burden. Many, many children on Ritalin, Concerta, etc. are not truly ADHD. They need a complete change in diet and to get outside and play. Good luck to you!!!

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Three is really, REALLY young for ADHD. I see you're a college student -- did you just take a class in psychopathology? When I did that, I "diagnosed" everyone, including myself, with *something*. (smile)

I have a child with autism + some other things, including attention and hyperactivity issues. DIET plays a HUGE role, and your child may have some problems digesting his food (that's the Feingold stuff, the dyes, preservatives etc you mention). He may also have some food ALLERGIES as well.

Omega 3's may help. Whole Foods sells gel caps that are ball-shaped (they're round) that can be chewed so that they squirt open in the mouth, or swallowed, and they're strawberry flavored. Check w/ your doc on dosages and make sure there's not a fish allergy first.

Grab a book from the library called, "Is This Your Child?" by Doris Rapp MD for starters.

And grab a book called "Ezzymes for Autism and other Neurological Conditions" by Karen DeFelice.

Do a google search on epsom salts baths, too. Susan Owens and Rosemary Waring are two names to google in the area of sulfation. The epsom salts baths can help with the Feingold type issues (they're related to one another).

He may also have some sensory issues (google sensory integration dysfunction). Carol Stock Kranowitz's "The Out of Sync Child" is a good first book. You *might* see your child in the pages and get some good ideas to try at home.

And have your school district screen your child for delays. It's free. If he's already three, you'll have to go through the special services (special education) dept and not Early On, but have them screen him to put your mind at ease.

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I would recomend a good Kinesiologist. Treatments are natural and herbal, and it may just be something specific that "triggers" the behaivor.
My daughter was diagnosed ADHD at an older age (12), and not wanting to medicate a child, I took her to the Kinesiologist. We found so many other things that were triggering her symptoms to look like ADHD. One for example was cows milk... caused her to sleepwalk... and hence lose good sleeping habits. Once the milk was removed from her diet, there was an instant change in her sleeping patterns, as well as her behavior in school.
We also found that she had issues with her nervous system that caused her to have to go to the bathroom frequently... well, a tired kid who constantly has to pee cannot keep her mind on anything much more than the fact that she had to go!
With the doctors help, and a specific "trigger" identified, we saved the most valuable of all things... her health!
So, I guess where I;m getting at, he may not be ADHD, but he may have other things going on that are being masked by the over-diagnosed ADHD...
For a great local Kinesiologist, check out Dr. Lanny Lipson in Warren at Chiropractors of Michigan.
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I know people that have had good results with this program:

http://www.braingym.org/about

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