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Home / Yoga International / Health Articles / Treating ADHD Naturally

Treating ADHD Naturally

Holistic health expert Carrie Demers, MD, answers your questions about attention deficit

hyperactivity disorder.

By Carrie Demers, MD

My eight-year-old son was just diagnosed with ADHD. My husband and I cant decide if we should

give him medication or pursue alternative treatments. What do you recommend?

This is a tough dilemma for many parents. On one hand, studies show that commonly prescribed

medications like Ritalin and Adderall are helpful for 60 to 75 percent of children who are properly

diagnosed with ADHD: their ability to focus increases, their grades improve, and they feel better about

themselves. On the other hand, these medications are psychostimulants with many potential side effects:

insomnia, headaches, abdominal pain, weight loss, and depression. Research on the long-term effects of

these drugs is insufficient, but in 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued warnings about sideeffects such as stunted growth and psychiatric problems.

From a holistic point of view, chemical overstimulation of the nervous system isnt healthy. Fortunately,

there are many natural treatments that are effective both alone and in conjunction with drug therapy.

Although my answers here are framed by the case of a child, they are applicable to teens and adults as well.

Ayurvedas Answer


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In ayurveda, ADHD is classified as a vata imbalance. Vata is wind energy: its light, changeable, dry,

cool, and mobile. It governs the movement of our bodies and our thoughts. Everyone has some vata in their

prakriti (constitution), but those who have a predominance of this light, expansive energy (i.e., a vata

constitution) tend to have sensitive nervous systems, so they experience the world with a heightened

intensity. As a result, theyre prone to anxiety, inattention, restlessness, and sleep problems. Ironically, these

children will often seek out sensory-stimulating activities (such as action movies or sugar-laden foods),

creating a vicious cycle that agitates their already overactive nervous systems.

Commonly prescribed ADHD drugs stimulate the brain cells to release more of the neurotransmitters called

dopamine and norepinephrine, which generally enhance a childs ability to control impulsive behaviors and

concentratebut they also cause increased activity in the central nervous system (CNS). I would venture to

say that these drugs perpetuate the underlying cause of ADHDoverstimulation of a sensitive

CNSthrowing your childs vata energy further out of balance. According to ayurveda, adopting a

vata-pacifying lifestyle is the best natural option for your son.

Create a Routine

Children with ADHD are drawn to new activities, adventure, and change. Yet theyre balanced by the

opposite: activities that are calming, relaxing, and nurturing. Your son needs regularity and structure to

counter his natural tendency toward chaos: a regular time to do his homework, exercise, relax, eat, go tobed, and wake up to begin a new day. Heres some advice about how to create a vata-calming environment

for him at home.

Relaxation

Do a 5- to 10-minute relaxation with your son at least once a day. Lie down on the floor or in bed in

shavasana (corpse pose), supporting your heads with a pillow and covering up with a blanket to stay warm.

Then ask your child to feel his body from head to toe. Turn the practice into a game; together, pretend you

are a scoop of ice cream melting in the sun, or that youre sinking into a huge feather pillow. Imagine your

breath is like the waves of the oceanor ask your child to instruct you. The idea is to get your child to relax

and deepen his breath, which helps his CNS switch from a sympathetic mode, which is a fight-or-flight

state, to a parasympathetic mode, which is a nourishing and restorative state. Try this when your child

comes home from school, or before supper or bedtime; these are times when our kids can be mostoverstimulated.

Bedtime Massage

Oil is the quintessential vata balancer, so a bedtime massage is particularly calming for children with

ADHD. To begin, wet your hands and pour a teaspoon of organic unrefined oil in your palm. (Olive,

almond, and sesame oils are especially grounding.) Then rub your hands together and massage the mixture

into your childs skin. Let the oil soak in for a few minutes, then towel off any remaining residue. Try to do

this at least once a week. If you dont have time to give your child a head-to-toe treatment, just massage his

feet (covering them with socks to protect the sheets). If your child has trouble falling asleep, this bedtime

activity will help.

Diet and Nutrition

Despite multiple studies in the last 20 years suggesting that diet and food additives can exacerbate

hyperactivity, the current medical stance is that there is no causal link between food and ADHD. In my own

practice, parents who have reduced their childs intake of sugar, refined foods, and foods with chemical

additives (food dyes, preservatives, MSG, etc.) report significant improvement in their childs behavior over

four to eight weeks. These children are also less disruptive and more focused when they eat plenty of

cooked vegetables and whole grains, along with moderate amounts of protein and organic unrefined oils.


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In addition, give your son 50 mg of B-complex vitamins and 100 to 200 mg of fish oils geared for children.

These supplements nourish and stabilize the CNS while improving mood stability, mental focus, and brain

function.

Natural Rx

Herbs that calm, soothe, and nourish the nervous system include lemon balm, chamomile, hops, passion

flower, skullcap, brahmi, valerian, and St. Johns Wort. They can be taken safely as teas or tincturesjust

follow the instructions on the bottle or box. (Dosing for children is one-fourth to one-half the adult dosebased on their weight.)

Technology Time-Out

Most of our kids are perpetually plugged intexting on their cell phones, playing computer games,

watching TV for hours on end. This constant electronic stimulation not only fragments their attention but

also exposes them to electromagnetic radiation (EMR) at potentially harmful levels. When a child is

sensitive, this exposure agitates his nervous system. Sleep disturbances, chronic fatigue, headaches,

dizziness, memory and attention problems, and distorted vision are all possible side effects of EMR. Try to

limit how much electromagnetic exposure your child is getting by reducing his screen time to an hour or

less a day.

Minimal Medication

If you decide to give your child medication, find a doctor who is willing to work with you to find the

minimal dose that is effective. Ask your doctor to allow your child to take holidays from the medication

when intense concentration and focus arent necessary (on the weekends, during summer break, etc.). By

carefully monitoring your childs behavior, you can help your doctor find the dosage and schedule that allow

him to succeed in school, while decreasing his chances of experiencing side effects.

Last, But Not Least

Remember, the purpose of these alternative treatments is to make your child feel loved, grounded, and

nourished. Tell him that his new routine is an experiment to improve his mental focusand let him play a

role in how the changes are implemented. That means that you might compromise on a few things, but it

also means more cooperation. Find alternatives that he will enjoy (for example, substituting a wholesomenatural treat for a sugary one, or playing with a remote-control car rather than a video game), so that you

dont make his life miserable in your attempt to quell his ADHD symptoms. Together, youll find creative

ways to gradually move in a positive direction. Your child will be happierand so will you.

Board-certified in internal medicine, Carrie Demers, MD, is the director of the Himalayan Institute Total

Health Center.


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4 comments

Leave a message...

Best Community #Share

Reply

Tiyh 4 months ago

I am new here, My son and grandson have not received a diagnosis,but I know they are

overly stimulated. Regardless of giving it a name such as ADHD, they are simply over charged. I

too am overly energetic. I have my own theories as to what causes such stimulation. I believe

anxiousness is the root mostly. I also believe the lack of proper care and love contributes to such

behavior.

I know many will abhor this point, but it's my point and experience. I do believe too much outside

stimuli is detrimental for a child at any age. It just seems like common sense to consider basic

energy centering, or calm practice, along with dietary adherence, with necessary supplements

when needed.

Practice of quality living and peace structure should be emphasized no matter what. Some of us

needed more readily available than others obviously. I'm not sure what works for the most severe

situations, but life changes should be incorporated at at all cost First.

Miss Tiyh from Cleveland, Ohio

2

Reply

Kackarat24 4 months ago

I like the idea of a healthy diet and quelling the amount of electronic stimulation. I will

certainly try this with my six year old. Anything is worth a try rather than drugging kids up and

changing their mental state.

2

Reply

Anthony 12 days ago

I am 47 years old and a Technology Expert. I believe I am one of the top 5 in the world in

Technology. Recently I was 'diagnosed' with ADHD symptoms - apparently I had it all my life. I

have a family, fair business, been there done that - not bad overall. I am not recommending

anything but I am just saying what 'apparently' I am and I wonder what I would have been if I was

diagnosed early... would I like things to have been different... NO!!!

0

kathleen garrett 21 days ago

my grandson is 7 i am his guardian we have tried riddlin and adderal both make his face

muscles sore so dr. takes him off them he gets good grades in school just has trouble being good

listening to teacher we are trying to find a councelor phys. for him I don't believe he is add adhd

his mother and father are both bi-polar HELP

5

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