Let's say for a moment that there was a new drug headed for the market intended to be used primary by children with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) that when taken regularly could lead to insomnia, excessive sweating, decreased appetite, nervousness, stunted growth, nausea, itching, dizziness, heart palpitations, and according to the National Institute of Mental Health may be play a role in sudden unexplained death in youth. Additionally, the longer it was taken the less effective it appeared to be and as an added bonus it increased the chances of long-term drug addiction.
Would you be burning rubber to be the first parent in line at your doctor's office to get this new prescription medication for your child! I think the answer is likely no.
But sadly, this seems to be what is happening with almost 10 million prescriptions written in the United States last year for ADHD stimulant medications and an annual increase of about 4.5 percent over the last ten years.
In this article we will touch on eight natural ways to combat ADHD shown to help with problematic symptoms such as inattention, impulsive or erratic behavior, and hyperactivity/restlessness.
Behavioral therapy. This type of therapy is only as good as the communication between therapist and patient but when open lines of communication are established behavioral therapy can be very effective. The basic premise is to identify problematic behaviors and replace them with more effective and positive behaviors.
Working memory training. The general idea is that if you work your child's brain on a regular basis it becomes stronger thus improving memory, focus, and attention. One important point here is that ADHD children tend to only embrace tasks which interest them so it important to find the right game or mental exercise in order to achieve the intended result.
Diet modification. Most medical professionals discount the value of diet when it comes to improving ADHD symptoms. Nevertheless, most parents of ADHD children have seen firsthand how a diet high in protein and low in sugar and fast burning carbohydrates improves concentration and focus while decreasing hyperactive behavior.
Sleep. Getting enough quality sleep is important to all of us and even more so for those struggling with ADHD primarily because it allows the brain to correct neurotransmitter chemical imbalances and start anew.
Omega 3 fatty acids. A study of nearly 100 boys found that those with lower levels of omega 3 fatty acids (found in abundance in cold water fatty fish) tended to have more learning and behavioral problems than their peers. The answer was to add cold water fish, such as salmon, to their diets twice a week.
B-12. Study after study shows that vitamin B-12 helps improve brain activity and improve concentration. It also is one of the safest vitamins or minerals a child can take.
Exercise combined with outdoor activity. Exercise when combined with outdoor activity seems to have a mind calming effect that improves concentration and focus in ADHD children according to one recent study.
Homeopathic remedies. According to a study published in the British Homeopathic Journal children receiving homeopathic medicines showed significantly less ADHD behavior than those given a placebo. But perhaps the most important finding was that 57 percent of the children showing improvement continued to improve even after the homeopathic medicines were discontinued.
In conclusion, when it comes to natural ways to combat ADHD parents have quite a few options, any one of which can produce excellent results without putting their child's health at risk. Additionally, most natural ways to combat ADHD can be used in conjunction with one another to improve results without magnifying the side effect risks.
Robert D. Hawkins is an enthusiastic consumer advocate for natural health and natural living with over 10 years experience in the field.
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