Attention deficit disorder, or ADD, is an older designation used to describe the newer diagnostic term attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Conventional treatments for ADHD that involve the use of medication have demonstrated their effectiveness in most people, but for some people these medications may not be an option. Patients should never self-medicate, however, and should consult a doctor prior to trying any alternative approaches.
Blood Pressure
Medications to treat high blood pressure have been used on occasion to treat the symptoms of ADHD, though they are not approved by the FDA for this purpose. These medications include Catapres and Tenex.
High blood pressure medications are often most effective in people who display tics along with their ADHD or have the hyperactive-impulsive type of ADHD, rather than the inattentive type; because a person's attention level does not seem to be affected by these medications, according to HelpGuide.org.
Omega-3
Including foods and supplements that contain high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids has been shown to improve the mental focus of people with ADHD, according to HelpGuide.org. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fish such as salmon and tuna, but can also be found in flaxseed. There are also omega-3 fish oil and flaxseed supplements that can be taken daily.
Herbs
People have reported that herbal supplements such as hypericum, ginseng and ginkgo help reduce the symptoms of ADHD, reports MayoClinic.com, adding that as of September 2010, it is unknown whether these supplements are truly affective at treating ADHD. Further research needs to be conducted to determine their effectiveness.
Biofeedback
According to MayoClinic.com, neurofeedback training or electroencephalographic biofeedback may help a person with ADHD train the brain waves active in the front part of the brain to remain active, which can reduce ADHD symptoms. Further research needs to be conducted to determine the effectiveness of this form of treatment.
Glyconutritional Supplement
According to the National Resource Center for ADHD, the use of glyconutritional supplements to reduce the symptoms of ADHD has shown effectiveness in two small studies and no effect in a third study. The idea is that the glyconutritional supplement, which contains saccharides that aid in the communication between cells, will reduce the symptoms of ADHD, especially inattention and hyperactivity. Further research needs to be conducted to determine the effectiveness of this supplement.
