Can The Symptoms Of ADHD Be Controlled With A Naturalistic Treatment Plan? - By: Stephen Daniels

An old Disney cartoon illustrated how the human brain functions featuring a plant foreman in someone's brain efficiently routing all his messages and organizing all his assembly line processes. A good way to illustrate Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD would be to see that same plant foreman unable to keep all the messages synchronized properly because in the brain of a person with ADHD, the "executive functioning," or foreman, just can't keep everything straight. Medication happens to be the common ADHD treatment, though recently, many physicians and psychiatrists are trying out naturopathic treatment options to help minimize, hopefully eventually eliminate the reliance on drugs in both children and adults.

ADHD is the label we give to a neurobiological disorder. A final and definitive answer as to its actual cause or causes is yet to be agreed upon, but it is often inherited; is more common in boys than girls and affected individuals present some or all of these actions:

• Poor attention span

• Extreme distractibility

• Hyper-activity

• Procrastination

• Poor organizational skills

• Forgetfulness

• Inability to complete tasks

• Poor social skills (thought to be due to a lack of awareness of how others are reacting)

It is estimated that 7% - 9% of our school kids have this disorder, and 4.7% of adults. Adolescents who go untreated have a propensity to indulge in substance abuse as a form of self-medication. Adult ADHD sufferers have higher rates of drug use as well, and very likely were not diagnosed or treated earlier. By adulthood, the habit of self-medicating with drugs is well established.

Although boys are twice as likely to have ADHD, girls are more inclined to become substance abusers. Somewhat surprisingly, their substance usually chosen is carbohydrates, which briefly elevates their Serotonin levels. This results in a calming effect and is more socially acceptable than street drugs. However, excessive carb consumption can lead to excessive weight.

It is not unusual for those diagnosed with ADHD to have poor self-esteem and suffer with clinical depression. As well, low blood sugar and allergies affects as many as 75% of all afflicted children. When put on food elimination diets (eliminating trigger foods, such as processed foods, soy, milk products, chocolate, wheat, oranges and eggs and then adding them back one at a time to help evaluate which helps or hinders symptoms), 62% of the research subjects showed a reduction of symptoms.

Treating those with substance abuse or eating disorders who also have ADHD is hard for the very same reason classes or work is challenging - poor concentration. Getting to an AA meeting or counseling session presents challenges, as does attempting to sit still for long intervals.

Because the long term effects of the powerful stimulants and anti-depressants used in ADHD treatment are as yet not known, holistic treatment solutions are being put into practice. In addition to elimination diets, vegetable-based dietary supplements are being used to help controll neurotransmitters important to executive functioning, such as dopamine and norepinephrene, which also boost circulation to the brain. More protein in the diet is believed to energize alertness inducing neurotransmitters. Physical exercise appears to have a calming influence on youngsters with ADHD particularly. This should not be completely surprising, since bottled up energy does create hyperactivity, fidgeting, inability to concentrate, etc, even in full grown adults with no other symptoms of ADHD. There's nothing like a few laps around a track to relax hyper-fidgety children and adults.

It is hoped that more naturopathic remedies are going to be found to be helpful to decrease the symptoms. Ensuring that these children and adults get the proper nourishment, avoiding foods that prove to be allergens, and proper exercise seems to be working out with some positive results. It seems naturopathic trends in ADHD therapy really do provide food for thought!

About the Author

For adult ADHD treatment in NYC author Stephen Daniels recommends psychiatrist Vatsal Thakkar, MD. He is devoted to helping all his ADHD patients, children and adults alike, lead as normal a life as possible. His methods include holistic treatment methods for all manner of psychiatric illnesses, as well as combined medicinal and naturopathic treatments, to offer the best of all approaches to his patients.

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