The physiological and psychological dangers of widely used prescription medications such as Ritalin and Adderall, as well as the lesser known, and lesser used, newer prescription medications such Intuniv has prompted many parents and adults alike to consider ADHD natural remedies. And quite honestly who can blame them for seeking an alternative method for treating this very common condition (8% of children, 5% of adults) with the latest revelation about the possibility of long term drug addiction along with the long accepted realization that stimulant medications can cause aggression, loss of appetite, headaches, nausea, insomnia, and maybe even increased hyperactivity.
The message from many in the medical community when side effects are noticed is to say that the benefits outweigh the risks, change or add medications, or dramatically reduce the dosage. These solutions may prove to be somewhat unappealing for the parent of a child who has been plagued by side effects, or the parent of the ADHD child who has yet to see any tangible benefit (30% of the time).
Nevertheless, no matter which side of the fence you come down on few would argue that some type of treatment is needed before childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder becomes a way of life and starts to spiral out of control.
But where to turn? What ADHD natural remedies really work? Or is the whole idea of ADHD natural remedies nothing more than a figment of a bunch of well meaning naturopaths hoping against hope?
Can over the counter herbs help?
I guess it depends on who you ask and which type of ADHD you are dealing with; inattention, impulsive/hyperactive, or combined. The five herbs that most naturopathic doctors point to for help with ADHD symptoms are St. John's wort, gotu kola, ginko biloba, skullcap, and brahmi.
Each work in a slightly different way and are often combined in herbal remedies for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in varying ways. For the most part herbs for ADHD are considered to be relatively safe. That said, you should talk with your child's doctor or pediatrician before considering any herb, or herbal formula, for treating ADHD symptoms.
What about vitamins?
Vitamin supplementation is a tricky business especially when it comes to young children and should be discussed with your child's doctor.
The two vitamin's seem to help children with the inattentive type of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are B12 and zinc.
B12 is considered to be the safest of the two and recent studies suggest it is very safe as well. The advantage seems to be that it helps ADHD children concentrate better for a little bit longer. Additionally, it can be used seamlessly in conjunction with other treatments.
Zinc was featured in a 2005 study in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology. The study showed a correlation between zinc levels and parent-rated inattention in children. It is unclear why more research has not be conducted in this area.
Other ADHD natural remedies
A diet low in simple carbohydrates combined with one of a handful of all natural homeopathic medicines has proven to be a powerful one two punch in the battle against attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. A recent British study found homeopathy to be 70 percent effective in treating some of the most problematic ADHD symptoms. Even more impressive was that over half of the children in the study showed improvement long after the ADHD natural remedies had been discontinued.
In conclusion, if you are the parent of an ADHD child, or an adult who has struggled with this condition for as long as you can remember, you can take comfort in knowing there are solutions out there that are both safe and effective.
Nevertheless, it is important to recognize that different remedies work differently for different people. Perhaps this is why recent research seems to prove that a combination of treatment options is the best way to go about treating this complicated and only moderately understood mental health concern.
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