Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is a mental health disorder characterized by hyperactivity, impulsiveness or inattention. Classic treatments for ADHD generally include the combined use of psychotherapy and medication. Although these treatments have demonstrated their effectiveness, some people choose to use alternative forms of treatment. Alternative treatments must be used with caution and under the supervision of a doctor.
Basics
Alternative treatments can vary from lifestyle changes to herbal remedies. It is recommended that people with ADHD do not use alternative treatments as their sole form of treatment, but if they choose to use them they should be used in conjunction with classic forms of treatment.
Considerations
Alternative herbal treatments such as St. John's wort, ginkgo and ginseng have not been tested by the Food and Drug Administration or FDA. These herbal remedies have been reported to be effective at reducing ADHD by some people, but there is little corroborating research. The FDA has not tested these herbs for safety or to determine if they do what their labels claim they can do.
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry of AACAP suggests that all supplements and over-the-counter medications used be brought to the attention of the person's doctor. These alternative treatments can have unknown side effects and may negatively interact with other medications the person is taking, notes the AACAP.
Significance
Lifestyle changes often play a significant role in alternative forms of treatment that are recommended by doctors and mental health professionals in the treatment of ADHD. Specific lifestyle changes include getting 45 to 60 minutes of physical activity on a daily basis, maintaining regular sleep patterns and getting eight hours of sleep every night, getting regular exposure to the outdoors and sunlight and eating a healthy and balanced diet.
All of these lifestyle changes have demonstrated their effectiveness at helping people with ADHD manage and reduce the symptoms, especially when used in conjunction with classic forms of treatment.
Specific to Inattention
Controlling the brain waves of people with ADHD is the basis for a current form of alternative treatment known as EEG neurofeedback, or EMG biofeedback. Yoga Journal reports that people with ADHD have been found to have lower rates of beta waves, and the EMG biofeedback helps to increase these waves by teaching the person to recognize beta waves and reproduce them at will. The use of EMG biofeedback process has minimal risks because it requires the person to play a computer game over a number of sessions. These sessions can be costly. The EMG biofeedback treatment appears to be most effective at treating the specific symptoms of ADHD related to inattention, notes Yoga Journal.
Medications
Alternative medications are prescribed off-label to treat ADHD. When a medication is used off-label, it means that it is being prescribed to treat a condition that it has not been approved to treat by the FDA. For instance, blood pressure medications such as clonidine and guanfacine have been shown to be effective at reducing the symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsiveness and aggression, reports HelpGuide.org.
