A behavioral disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder affects as many as 7 percent of all children in the United States between the ages of 6 and 11. The "Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine" reports that as many as 4 percent of adults also suffer from this disorder that targets more males than females. Although traditional medicine and therapy are available to treat sufferers of ADHD, some prefer to alter their diet and use alternative medicine to reduce the symptoms of ADHD. Talk to your family doctor before discontinuing or supplementing traditional treatments.
Diet Benefits
The diet for ADHD focuses on eliminating possible food triggers rather than advocating any specific foods. The Mayo Clinic advises that scientific research is scanty but that cutting certain foods from the diets of some ADHD patients may reduce their symptoms. Foods to avoid include eggs, yeast, wheat and milk. In addition, eliminate sugar and processed foods from the diet.
Supplements and Herbs
"Gale" lists vitamins and supplements that may help control ADHD in some patients. Available from most grocery stores or from health food stores, these supplements include iron, magnesium, calcium, taurine, blue-green algae, trace minerals and amino acids. Fatty acids, including omega-3 and omega-6, may help control cognitive function. Herbs with potential benefits include chamomile, kava, Saint John's wort and Gingko biloba.
Alternative Methods
Some ADHD victims may benefit from behavioral modification techniques, such as biofeedback, that help the child reprogram his responses in certain situations to avoid acting out. Families may benefit from therapy to help build coping skills and to overcome frustration and anger toward the family member with ADHD.
Some patients may benefit from homeopathic medicine that treats the whole person, or auricular acupuncture, a form of acupuncture that targets nerve points in and around the ear. For the best results, only a certified professional in the field should perform auricular acupuncture.
Theories/Speculation
The exact cause of ADHD is unknown but viral infections, poor maternal health or maternal smoking are on the list of possible causes. Allergies and brain injuries may contribute to the condition and if one child in a family has ADHD, his siblings may be more likely to develop the condition as well. Promoting good health during pregnancy may result in fewer children with ADHD.
Considerations
Since alternative methods of controlling ADHD are not scientifically proven, parents may be wasting their money. In addition, some schools do not allow children to return to classes after a diagnosis of ADHD unless they can show that they are following a doctor's treatment plan.
References
- "Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine, Volume 1"; Jacqueline L. Longe; 2005
- Mayo Clinic: ADHD---Alternative Medicine
- Revolution Health: Complementary and Alternative Medicine for ADHD
