Hyperactivity, most often diagnosed in tandem with attention deficit disorder and labeled ADHD, affects up to 7.5 percent of American schoolchildren, based on findings from a study by the Mayo Clinic. If you're a parent who is looking for a way to calm your child's hyperactive behavior without resorting to harsh prescription medications, there are some safe herbal alternatives to consider. However, consult with your pediatrician before beginning a regimen of treatment with any herbal remedy.
Chamomile
Herbalist Anne McIntyre, author of "Herbal Treatment of Children" and director of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists, singles out chamomile as a safe and effective relaxant for babies and children. Of the two most widely available chamomiles -- German, known scientifically as Chamomilla recutita, and Roman, or Chamaemalum nobile -- she recommends the German for children because it is milder and has a less bitter taste. McIntyre says that the herb is particularly helpful for children who are both hyperactive and "highly sensitive, prone to digestive problems and allergies."
Gotu Kola
Gotu kola, known scientifically as Centella asiatica, grows naturally in Asia, South Africa and South Pacific, where folk medicine practitioners have long used it for its medicinal properties. Paul Barney, M.D., author of "Doctor's Guide to Natural Medicine," says that the herb's anti-anxiety properties make it useful for the treatment of ADHD, particularly the hyperactivity component of the disorder. Barney cites a study in which 30 children largely debilitated by ADHD were successfully treated with gotu kola. After treatment, the children demonstrated improved concentration and were able to stay focused on the tasks assigned them.
Nervine Herbs
Children with hyperactive behavior traits seem to react positively to treatment with nervine herbs, according to herbalist Mary Bove, author of "An Encyclopedia of Natural Healing for Children." Herbs in this category include wild oat, known scientifically as Avena sativa; lemon balm, or Melissa officinalis; passionflower, or Passiflora incarnata; and skullcap, which includes several varieties of the Scutellaria plant. Wild oat is calming and relaxing and helps strengthen the nervous system, while lemon balm calms excitability, nervous irritability and sensitivity, according to Bove. Passionflower enhances mood and is mildly calming, and skullcap acts as a tonic on the nervous system, relaxing muscle and nerve agitation.
Valerian
Naturopath Janet Zand and Robert Rountree, M.D., authors of "Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child," give high marks to valerian as a herbal remedy for hyperactivity in children. German doctors have been treating pediatric hyperactivity with the herb, known scientifically as Valeriana officinalis, since the late 1970s. Zand and Rountree cite a German study in which a group of more than 100 children diagnosed with ADHD were treated with valerian. After only a few weeks of treatment, the children displayed less restlessness and aggressive behavior and a consequent improvement in learning skills. The authors note that valerian tea is rather unpleasant tasting and recommend instead that children be given 2,000 to 3,000 mg daily in capsule form or 20 to 45 drops of a glycerin- or alcohol-based tincture.
References
- ScienceDaily: Science News: Mayo Clinic Study Examines Frequency of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD)
- "Herbal Treatment of Children: Western and Ayurvedic Perspectives"; Anne McIntyre; 2005
- "Doctor's Guide to Natural Medicine"; Paul Barney; 1998
- "An Encyclopedia of Natural Healing for Children"; Mary Bove; 2001
- "Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child"; Janet Zand, Robert Rountree and Rachel Walton; 2003
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