Are There Any Natural Ways to Treat ADHD?
There are two families of these compounds, Omega-3 fatty acids and Omega-6. The only source of Omega-3 is fish, flax seed oil, and some greens.
From the research on this topic, it has been determined that:
· giving long chain fatty acids and adding it to your food doesn't work any better than a placebo
· giving a certain long chain fatty acids called DHA derived from algae doesn't work better than placebo
· giving two long chain fatty acids called Omega-3 and Omega-6 worked better than a placebo in children who had behavior problems, attention problems, and academic problems
Two of the most popular natural treatments for ADHD are Synaptol and Focus ADHD. But they are very costly ($69 for a one-month supply). If you can find it, there is a herring product called Omega Gold. It is cheap and has plenty of the right fatty acids in it.
To determine whether or not fish oils are actually helping your ADHD child, you need to be able to measure how much change there is over time, because these substances do not work overnight. Assuming your child would go along with this attempt at natural treatment, try giving fish oils for one whole year. If there is no significant improvement in his or her behavior or academic performance after the recommended time has elapsed, then stop the fish oil treatment.
The good news is there are few side effects -- usually just indigestion and burping (although in rare cases, an ADHD kid may become agitated on fish oil).
Overall, fish oils are worth trying, not because they work better than standard medications, but because:
· they have so few side effects
· they are cheap
· some parents refuse to administer standard medications (e.g., Ritalin)
· some kids refuse to take the "hard stuff"
Just so you'll know my bias, I don't believe children should be on non-natural forms of ADHD medication except in those worst-case scenarios where the child simply cannot function (in the social sense) without the drug. Here's why:
· some children will actually become more hyper, not less
· some children will become irritable and easily upset
· occasionally a child who has a problem with speaking will actually worsen on one of these drugs and speak even less than usual
· these drugs may make the child have nervous tics as in Tourette's (e.g., nail biting, licking the hand, having to touch certain things)
· sudden death while taking stimulants (3 deaths per 10 million)
· serious heart problems while taking stimulants (5 per 10 million)
Overall, ADHD is (in my opinion) an overly diagnosed mental disorder. Often times it is much easier to medicate a child rather than spend the time and energy with behavioral strategies.
Related Tags: adhd, attention deficit disorder, add, adhd child, adhd teen
Mark Hutten, M.A., is a family therapist who works with teens and pre-teens experiencing emotional/behavioral problems associated with Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorder. He works with these children and their parents - in their homes. You may visit his website here: http://www.MyOutOfControlTeen.com
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Dental Insurance For Individual Can Be Of Help At Time
Dental problem may cost one a lot of money and pain. But, practicing a reasonable care could decreas - Personal Trainer For Perfect Health
There is a general misconception that need for a fitness trainer comes for novice or from those who - Varicose Veins - Causes, Symptoms, Treatment
The majority of people after thirty notice the changes that appear with the maturing. In this case t - Scenar Therapy - Self-treatment Or Healing Partnership
Do you want to learn about a device which will help you to ease your pain? If you get this kind of a - Scenar - 5 "no, Nos" Of Scenar
Are you fed up with the pain in your body? Various parts of our body seem to ache due to different r - Scenar Device - 5 Tips On Travelling With Your Scenar (skenar) Device
You might be aware of scenar which has become quite popular these days. This is actually the acronym - Scenar Therapy - How To Treat Your Pet With Scenar
There are many alternative methods of treatment that are being invented these days. Lots of people a - Your Options For The Treatment For Appendicitis
Appendicitis is considered to be a surgical illness. Due to its severe character, the treatment for - How To Choose The Right Copd Medication
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD does not have any cure. But with the help of medicines - Septic Arthritis: Infectious Agents Penetrate Joints' Spaces
Another major type of arthritis is septic arthritis, which is also known in various terms like: pyog
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Drugs - the Last Alternative for Adhd in Kids
Anyone over the age of thirty who has grown up with ADHD understands that there was not much help av - Foods To Eat To Gain Weight
Malnutrition has the same degree of problem as obesity. There are people who are too skinny, they fi - Understanding Postpartum Clothing
The same way most pregnant women dream of the day when they will begin showing for wearing maternity - Kegel Exercising for Bladder Control and Enhanced Sexual Pleasure
Kegel exercises strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor, thereby improving the urethra and/or rec - The Use Of Weight Loss Herbs
Nothing has garnered more attention in today's world than the success or failures of weight loss pro - A Simple Acid Relux Cure
Many people today are afflicted with heartburn. If they eat food that is too spicy, they get heartbu - Five Effective Household Back Pain Treatments
Back pain treatment comes in lots of forms, from exercise to pain mediction. Standard and most wides - Herbal Remedies - Can They Cure What Ails You?
You've probably heard about herbal remedies before and how they can treat a variety of health proble - Natural Relief for Tinnitus - What are your Choices
Natural Relief For Tinnitus - Alternative Options Did you know that there are an estimated 50 t - Birthing Around the World
Since ancestral times, different cultures showed off different customs and beliefs around the miracl