Herbs for ADD, Natural treatment for ADD and ADHD

Herbs and Natural Treatment for ADD/ADHD



"Despite intensive research, the exact origins of ADD and ADHD have yet to be determined."     http://www.thehealthcenter.info/adult-add-adhd/cause-of-add-adhd.htm

There are many 'theories' but there is no diagnosis available, by diagnosis I mean brain scan, blood tests, urine tests etc..... because it is not a disease.

I am not suggesting that individuals do not experience difficulty with attention span or hyperactivity, I am merely suggesting that there is no source of 'organic' disease in ADD or ADHD. 

ADD/ADHD both do have a cause, but because there is no financial incentive to expose the real cause of ADD, researchers continue to look at genetic markers and brain function to try to justify the use of very potent drugs to 'treat' the condition.

ADD/ADHD personality- These individuals are active by their very nature, they love hands on work, they like to take things apart, see how things work, they enjoy working with their hands and become wrestles when they must sit still for long periods of time.

Is this really a disease?  certainly not!

However, a child who learns by active learning does not fit in our public school system, and therefore they are considered a problem.  This learning style is not acceptable and so these children are drugged into submission.

This personality type does not function well working at a desk job, studying textbooks or sitting still for  very long.  There is nothing wrong with this, it is not a disease.  These individuals need to work in an active profession and enjoy the benefits of their traits rather than see it as a disease.

Dietary and Environmental hyperactivity

Doctors are eager to 'prove' that diet has nothing to do with ADD because it would be a significant financial blow to the system.  It is difficult to pinpoint just one dietary factor because there are many chemicals in our food supply that affect the brain and health of children.  It is critical to remove ALL unnatural food additives or highly allergenic foods:

Dairy products

Sugar

MSG

FD&C colorings

yeast

preservatives

artificial sweeteners

wheat gluten

nitrates in processed meats

eggs- are a common food allergen as well.

Many children with severe problems actually have food allergies, nutritional deficiencies and sensitivity to chemicals in food.

Dr. Hafer has found a link between phosphate consumption and ADD symptoms:  http://phosadd.com/diet/diet.htm

The key is not merely removal of sugar or any other single food, but ALL processed foods!

The key is a whole food diet!

• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Whole grains  [quinoa, millet, oats, buckwheat, brown rice etc...}
• Legumes
• Nuts & Seeds [unsalted, unflavored]

These children should be consuming whole foods, without sugars or any food additives.

Food allergies should be identified so that all those foods can be removed from the child's diet as well.

Children should not be consuming any processed food:  white flour, soda pop, candy, sugar, white rice, cereals, cheetos, donuts, chips, or any other processed food.

High protein diets are not appropriate or healthy for children

Some websites promote high protein diets, and while some benefit may be derived from the lack of refined carbohydrates and sugar they are not appropriate for children, or adults.  High protein diets for ADD have had mixed success, however these diets are NOT appropriate for children.

The high amount of nitrogenous waste is injurious to the kidney and liver

Ketosis produces a lot of metabolic waste and ketones that are also injurious to the body.

The brain needs carbohydrates for fuel, it is the body's number one source of fuel!

The symptoms of ketosis include:

•  general tiredness
•  abrupt or gradually increasing weakness
•  dizziness
•  headaches
• confusion
•  abdominal pain
•  irritability
• nausea and vomiting
•  sleep problems and bad breath.

One study found that all those subjected to carb-free diets complained of fatigue after just two days. "[T]his complaint was characterized by a feeling of physical lack of energy... The subjects all felt that they did not have sufficient energy to continue normal activity after the third day. This fatigue promptly disappeared after the addition of carbohydrates to the diet."

http://www.atkinsexposed.org/atkins/27/More_to_Lose_Than_Weight.htm

ADD/ADHD not a ritalin deficiency, but a parental involvement deficiency

This may be a controversial subject and may upset parents who deep down really do love their children, but truth is truth.

Many children who appear to exhibit hyperactive and destructive behavior feel unloved and lack enough attention from their parents.

I realize that parents may be busy and may not understand the various needs of their children.  Children need active involvement from their parents, time when they  have their parents undivided attention. 

Young boys need the care and attention from their fathers, and more often than not in our busy world, Dad's do not have time, or make time to spend one on one with their sons.

Before you become defensive and offended, try and spend 1 hour per day of quality time with your ADD or ADHD child and see if their behavior begins to improve over the coming months.

Give the child a creative outlet 

 We buy our son broken radios, CD players etc... from a second hand store and let him take them apart and try to 'fix' them. 

·         Art classes

·          dance class

·          gymnastics

·         yoga is AMAZING for ADD children, my son really enjoyed it and it teaches them to quiet their mind while being active.

·         wood working community education classes

·         photography classes

·         Find anything your child is interested in and encourage them to pursue it.

Ritalin

Warning from the Physicians Desk Reference:

"In children, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, weight loss during prolonged therapy, insomnia, and tachycardia [rapid heart rate] may occur more frequently; however, any of the other adverse reactions listed above may also occur. "

• Toxic psychosis has been reported

• There have been rare reports of Tourette's syndrome

"Other reactions include:

•  hypersensitivity (including skin rash, urticaria [hives]
•  fever
•  arthralgia [intense burning or stabbing pain caused by irritation of or damage to a nerve]
•  exfoliative dermatitis [peeling skin]
•  erythema multiforme [red blotches or blisters all over the skin] with histopathological [microscopic]
• findings of necrotizing vasculitis [death of blood vessels]
•  thrombocytopenic purpura [purplish spots or patches])
•  anorexia [loss of appetite]
•  nausea
•  dizziness
•  palpitations [irregular, hard or rapid heartbeat]
•  headache
•  dyskinesia [muscle spasms]
•  drowsiness
•  blood pressure and pulse changes, both up and down
•  tachycardia [rapid heart rate]
•  angina [caused by an insufficient supply of blood to the heart muscle]
• cardiac arrhythmia [irregularity of the heartbeat]
•  abdominal pain
•  weight loss during prolonged therapy."

"Did you know that schools receive additional money from state and federal government for every child labeled and drugged? This clearly demonstrates a possible "financial incentive" for schools to label and drug children. It also backs up the alarming rise/increase in the labeling and drugging that has taken place in the last decade within our schools."

http://www.ritalindeath.com/

Herbs for ADD

Chamomile Tea-  Serve a child 4 oz. of chamomile tea morning and evening.

Chamomile has a relaxing effect, it relaxes muscle spasms, relaxes the nervous system, and improves liver function.

Dr.  Christophers Kid-e-trac

The formula is known for the following properties:
• It improves cerebral and peripheral circulation
• Helps to strengthen the cardiovascular system
• Reduces the permeability of the vascular wall and improves blood vessel elasticity
• Helps to reduce the risk of blood clots in the veins and arteries
• Improves memory and the ability to concentrate
• Stimulates mental activity
• Helps to improve the function of vision
• Is a powerful antioxidant

For Adults use Dr. Christophers Mind Trac

Functional Foods for ADD

Providing optimal nutrition is extremely critical for ADD.

Green Smoothie

This green smoothie provides an excellent source of calcium, 20% daily value of protein, omega 3's, vitamin A, antioxidants and many other important nutrients.

8 oz. water

1 banana

1 tsp. flaxseed

1 tsp. chia seed

1 c. frozen mango

2 c. spinach

1 Tb. sesame seeds

3 dates

Flax and Chia seeds

Excellent sources of omega 3 fatty acids for children.

Berries

Excellent sources of vitamin C and other antioxidants

Rejuvenative foods raw sauerkraut- Poor digestion is another aspect of ADD children.  Due to our overly sterlized environments with chlorinated water, antibiotics, antibacterial hand soaps the friendly flora in the intestinal tract is destroyed.

Undigested proteins are allowed to cross the intestinal wall into the bloodstream and cause immune reactions.  This is one of the hallmarks of ADD, these children are having immune reactions to foods they are consuming and this affects them more strongly than most other children.

Probiotics- Do not give children yogurt, it only contains one out of DOZENS of probiotic strains and it also contains sugar!  Find a very high quality probiotic and make sure they take this supplement everyday.