Adhd Natural Remedies

My 7 year old son shows the classic ADHD symptoms and I started him on Sea Buddies Concentrate yesterday (minimum dosage). He is a big boy, so I am sure we will need to give him more that the recommended starting dosage (you may give up to 10). We have also started him on DHA. How long should it be before I start to notice a change? And is there something better than Concentrate? What about Focus Factor?

I would first recommend sticking with the recommended dose unless a doctor says otherwise... too much of a good thing isn't always a better thing and may actually hurt him in the long run to take too much.
In general, supplements may take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to get into the system enough to notice a difference. Supplements literally give your body nutrition it's otherwise lacking, so it takes time for your body to use that nutrition to repair any damage it can and to nourish those specific areas of the body.

For something as severe as ADHD, it may take a few weeks to notice a positive change, but I have read a lot of research that shows how much Fish Oil (like is in the Sea Buddies Concentrate) can help kids with ADHD. You should see good benefits soon enough, but they will be pretty gradual, so you may just realize "hey, he hasn't done ___ for a while" one day... that's how I noticed that Fish Oil was helping me (and Ginkgo, but that's not generally safe for a child). Good luck to you both!

2008-11-03 06:25:39 by Little Ms Sunshine

6000000 school children are being administered Ritalin and other psychiatric drugs. ADHD is a catch all label and creativity should not be ...

If so, what did you use and was it effective for your child?

There have actually been a lot of studies that have shown that Fish Oil can help with ADD/ADHD. It seems too simple, and that may be one reason it wasn't really looked at closely for this, but I wasn't surprised it would help when I thought about it. The EPA and DHA in Fish Oil help with all sorts of things including heart health, skin health, and brain health.
Give it a try... it's economical, safe, and easy. Just make sure that the company you get it from uses Molecular Distillation because that's currently the only safe way to remove any trace contaminants of any heavy metals. Of course, if you aren't sure about the dosage or the benefits, you may want to consult with a holistic doctor, as they may have other additional options available to them.

2009-05-11 10:23:50 by GUIDO

Price: $12.95

I have pretty severe ADHD. I cannot be on a stimulant for a while at least, because of a heart something that the cardiologist wants to look at.
Anyway, I NEED to focus. Strattera doesn't work any longer. So tomorrow I'll be going into town to look for natural remedies for ADHD at the vitamin supplement store.
Any suggestions as to what to look for?
My focus is nill. I can't. I can go online and do this, but even this is a strain. I can't read even books that are interesting. I love to read. I have implulse control issues. I am tired all of the time. I have anxiety disorder, and am on a benzo and remeron for it. Is that enough info?
I can drink caffeine, but it gives me anxiety. So I can have low-powered stimulants. They just want me to not take any Dexedrine or Focalin or whathaveyou until they look closer at my heart. It's something to do with increased ventricular conduction, or something...
So natural remedies, even stimulating ones are fine.
Valerian doesn't work. I have tried. But I will try the one you suggested, second person who posted.
I take 2000mg omega-3 daily.

Hi Cavin G -

This is a really good question. I'm not sure I'll be able to answer it to the degree you might like without knowing a little bit more about your situation. Saying you have "pretty severe ADHD" does suggest something, but it just doesn't tell me enough specifics about what your challenges are and what suggestions I might be able to make.

Unlike medications, I can't just make a recommendation on "natural remedies" without knowing more about you and your situation.

When it comes to natural remedies, I'd almost suggest you go back to your physician and ask what he or she might recommend. If you've done that and are not getting the information you are looking for, I'd try to speak with a nutritionist.

I just don't know enough about the "alternative" remedies to suggest what does and does not work - or what will actually manage your situation best.

I do however know that it is recommended to increase the Omega 3 fatty acids in your diet, along with protein. You'll want to cut back on sugar and excess carbohydrates (which turn into sugars).

Outside of that, you might want to increase your exercise...

I'd love to be able to provide you with more specifics, but I'm just afraid I can't without greater detail.

Rory

Rory F. Stern, PsyD
ADHD Coach & "Former" Therapist
http://www.ADHDSuccessAudio.com

2009-01-14 16:09:33 by Cavin G

Price: $2.99

I posted yesterday about my bf having ADHD but with a bit more research I found that he has both innatentive and hyperactive symptoms.

It took a lot of convincing but he's willing to try. I don't believe in drugs that give you double the side-effects you're already dealing with so I've been researching natural remedies.

what products have worked for you?

here are some ingredients that I found... and I think should be looking for...

Ginko Biloba, German Chamommile, Gotu Kola, Rooibos, Brahmi, Siberian & Panax Ginseng, Skullcap, Green Oats, Hawthorne, Lobelia, Lemon Balm, Velarian, EPA, DHA, Omega 3, Zinc, Copper, Magnesium, Iron, Glycine, GABA Powder, Huperzine A Extract

pls share any success stories/ what I should be buying vs not buying.
thanks foor all your answers, it can get quite a bit confusing but I do believe ADHD can be helped with natural remedies to a certain point (the rest needs to be learned on a day to day basis).

Why would removing all sugars and starch from a diet cure it but adding iron and megnesium (which they apparently have a deficiency of) be useless? I'm not ruling it out - it's possible that they might have an allergy to sugar but he's already eating very healthy, excercises regularly, not a fan of sugar either but shows clears symptoms of ADHD - some days worse than others.

Cutting everything out of a diet will make you very unhealthy, nothing should be drastic to that point...

I'm just looking for what's best as far as supplements so thanks for the heads up on the drowsiness!
it's been a great help and I've taken everything in consideration.

It's hard to convince a guy that he has to watch what he eats, well mine anyway so I asked him to get an allergy test done and a blood test done at the same time (to also see if he has any deficiencies that seem to be popular amongst people with adhd).

I believe in natural remedies before anything but everyone's needs are different so if it is allergies this will tell.

thanks for all your help!!!

According to Dr. Natasha Campbell MD, Neurologist, Nutritionist {Cert}, in her book 'Gut And Psychology Syndrome' there is a link between the health of the gut of patients suffering from ADD/ADHD, Learning disabilities Pdyspraxia/dyslexia}, Bipolar disorder, Depression, ect. This is a very interesting read, i have not read the whole book yet, but i would reccommend you look into this, i personally suffer from bouts of hyperactivity/depression and in between i'm normal, so the cause being 'genetic' as doctors repeat {repeat what they learned at med school} did not make any sense.

I once read a case of hyperactivity caused by a milk allergy, you should eliminate all milk products, like cheese, butter, ice-cream, ect. for 5 days to see if there is any improvement, some allergic symptoms occur upto 72hours after they were allergen food was eaten. Its best to get the allergy test done, rather than follow mere speculation of people, bu if you can't afford the test, then an elimination diet would be useful, like first elimination gluten products, then milk, then ect. to see what he is allergic too.

Anyhow back to the book, it describes how the gut is colonised by pathogenic microbes which secrete many many different chemicals, similar to drugs, which wreak havoc on the brain, this cause loss of short term memory, poor concentration, hyperactivity, and even hallucinations. Depending on each persons individual chemical cocktail made by fermenting bacteria/yeasts in the gut, the symptoms vary, and the label, e.g. a person with bipolar disorder has the same underlying cause as someone with ADD/ADHD or Schizophrenia. This is pioneering research, in fact a Japanese study showed a pathogenic yeast called Candida Albicans secrets 70 known toxins/neurotoxins which enter the brain, and off course cause psychological problems, like OCD, Depression, ADD, ADHD, Bipolar disorder, Hallucinations, insomnia ect.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gut-Psychology-S yndrome-Depression-Schizophrenia/dp/0954 852001/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&am p;qid=1214360869&sr=8-1

Read this book, if it is the only thing you take away from reading this, i highly reccommend you look into this, and read this book.

To heal the gut, i reccommend you try out the guidelines/ 3 fast, i reccommend here:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index; _ylt=ArI0FoFyAbUALPygezD7Cp7ty6IX;_ylv=3 ?qid=20080621211914AAYvaoS&show=7#pr ofile-info-Dv72wM7Saa

See a good naturopath, nutritionist, and a orthomolecular doctor {some good nutritionists are learned in orthomolecular psychiatry} The Brain Bio Centre in London, and in Princeton have such experienced and educated nutritionists. Although, it is expensive, but they have a high success rate in 'curing' mental illness without drugs.

Yorktests, http://www.yorktest.com/, do a good allergy test kit, which you do at home, and send off to the lab, it tests allergies to 113 foods. Allergies can cause hyperactivity and manifest as psychological problems, this is not accepted by doctors who treat the mind and body seperately, which is idiotic as they are bound together forming a whole, and are inseperable. Alternative medicine treats the body as a whole, and in the case of mental illness, is far superior them conventional therapies, drugs, and psycho-therapy.

Ignore the ramblings of ignorant men, critics, they would rather you follow conventional medicine, and stay on medication for a life-time, a put lots of $$$ in the pockets of pharmaceutical giants.

I would like to congratulate you for looking in the right direction, for finding the solution for your bf.

Also consider researching Gerson Therapy, watch 'Dying To Have Known', although for cancer, it has been shown to cure mental illness, and other diseases.

As for supplements, i reccommend:

A good high-strength multivitamin/mineral, like Higher Nature bran or 'Mineral', which are in a bioavailable form. organicpharmacy.org sells them cheap.

Omega 3, 1000-3000mg per day, EPA/DHA, strictly 'Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega' or Carlson's brand, as they are pure pharmaceutical grade, and need to be refrigerated, unlike cheap brands, which are not pure, and even oxidised.

Ginkgo Biloba 60mg, as you stated.

Kefir Making, joing the Yahoo Kefir Making Group, this will heal the gut, and kill the bad bacteria that may be causing the ADD/ADHD

1000mg of Vitamin C, as Magnesium Ascorbate Powder, and 1000mg of L-methionine amino acid, 500mg Calcium {taken in the morning}, this will reduce the symptoms of allergic reactions.

Hope this helps.

2008-06-24 14:00:05 by tdlhb

my 1o year old has recently been diagnosed with adhd,i am looking for alternative methods rather than medicating him with drugs.would there be any other mums or dads who have tried other things rather than the obvious drugs. maybe something that would made even the slightest difference especially in their school work.

My first degree is in psychology and I had the opportunity to do some specialized work with ADD and ADHD populations. I agree with you that drugs are not the answer. Especially in world where this one diagnosis is probably the most over misdiagnosed over medicated issue in our world today. Drugs are definitely not the answer. But with that said, if your son (I"m assuming) is legitimately dealing with this, drugs for a short time can help him work through it. The real issue comes down to behavior modification. This is something that he is going to have to deal with for the rest of his life and the earlier you start having him learn how to deal with it, the better off you are. This would seem fairly obvious, but you'd be surprised at how many parents just treat it as if it is something that is temporary and he'll grow out of it. That may have been true for the toddler years, but if your have a clinical diagnosis (which should be done with the help of a psychologist/psychiatrist not just a physician) then this obviously stems much further into his life than simply a phase. He has to learn new ways of dealing with his circumstances and life in general and it is going to take a lot of work to get that done. That being said, there has been quite a bit of information done on the benefits of supplementing the diet with foods and supplements high in Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. These are the fats that make up most of the brain and have been shown to be a key factor in being able to focus and follow through on tasks. I can recommend some great supplements if you are interested. Secondly, there are a number of household chemicals that could be contributing to behaviors that may be masked like ADHD. But even children with ADHD are affected by common daily household chemical that way too many people take for granted. Just because they make it to the market shelves, doesn't make them safe and healthy!!!! I would highly recommend converting your house to more non-toxic alternatives. Again, I can recommend some great products that I've found over the years that don't compromise your family's health. My wife and I have a healthy 22 month old son and while he doesn't display any distinct attention defecits at this point, we are taking all precautions possible to have a healthy non-toxic home for him. I hope this helps, feel free to contact me if you have more questions or want more info. I chose a career in the medical field rather than going into psychology, but I still work quite a bit with those special youngsters that deal with hyperactivity on a daily basis. And for you mum, a special prayer goes out to you. There's a special place in heaven for the parents of these children!!

As in the above answer, nature has been shown to help tremendously in helping these children learn to cope. Some studies have also shown that even a short period of time removed from the chemical laden environment of the indoors (which many times can by 5 to 10 times more toxic than outdoor air) has a tremendous effect of their overall wellbeing. But a word of caution: all children need to learn how to appreciate real life, not a created one. Children need time away from the television, video games, and other high input activities. The stimulation that a child receives being active outside and interacting with others is vital to their overall development. Unfortunately, in today's world much of that is being replaced by synthetic recreations of that. Much like "reality TV". Who's reality is it anyway? Too often people get stuck into living vicariously though a synthetic medium instead of living life itself. This is what "nature therapy" is all about. The more connected you can get a child to the world around him, not the one that happens in a box, the better able he will be to handle what life throws at him. Don't mean to sound like this is a soapbox for me, it's just something that seems to be a common current among families with ADHD children. Something to think about at least.

2007-08-13 04:09:51 by acer