ADHD
My child has a mild case of ADHD. I want to treat her with
all naturl meds.what can I give her.
One of the most well researched natural products for ADHD is
fish oil. DHA is one of the active components of fish oil and comprises
40% of the fat contained in the brain. It is extremely supportive to the neurological
system and brain in general. Pleasant tasting liquids and capsules are
available on the market for easy administration.
In addition to fish oil there are some other key nutrients to consider.
B-vitamins play a crucial role in helping to supply the body with the energy
needed to focus. It helps to stimulate proper brain function and aids the
body in handling stress. B-complex is an important part of almost every protocol
geared at supporting brain function.
There are two key amino acids to consider and these are tyrosine and
taurine. Tyrosine is a precursor to several important neurotransmitters
such as Norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine all of which are thought to
play a significant role in focus and concentration. By taking
supplemental tyrosine you can help to naturally support optimal brain levels of
this important brain chemical. Taurine is an amino acid that can help to
activate receptors in the brain that support a calm alert mental state.
Both amino acids are very safe and very well tolerated in oral supplementation.
Theanine is a caffeine free, specific extract from green tea and has an
excellent ability to calm the mind without sedating effects. This can be very
useful for over-stimulated people suffering from ADHD and can also be very
useful for both children and adults with anxiety.
DMAE is a unique compound that is used in several different applications in the
natural health market. Topically it is used to reduce the appearance of
fine lines and wrinkles and is often found in high end face creams. However,
when taken internally it has a very specific action related to improving focus
and concentration in those who suffer from ADD and ADHD. This is a very
valuable nutrient to consider when addressing ADHD from a natural perspective.
Two other compounds that are closely related called phosphatidyl choline and
phosphatidyl serine play a key role in optimizing the health of the cell
membrane. By optimizing the health of cell membranes, cell to cell
communication is enhanced allowing brain neurons to stimulate each other more effectively.
They have various applications for a variety of different health concerns but
usually rise to the top of the list when considering any type of therapy for
the support of the brain and mental function. Remarkable results in the
realm of brain related disorders have been seen with the use of these
nutrients.
Minerals are also very important to supplement. Zinc is a key nutrient
for optimal health and seems to have some role in ADHD. Chromium is a micronutrient
that is best known for its ability to stabilize blood glucose levels.
This can be particularly useful in children because an elevated blood sugar
(say from drinking juice or soda or eating candy or sweets) and low blood sugar
(the after effects of an elevated blood sugar) can both impair the ability of
the brain to focus. This is why diet plays such an important role in
working with children and adults with ADHD. It is a must to have your
child eat good quality protein (chicken, fish, turkey, nuts or nut butter) with
every meal to ensure blood sugar levels stay stable. Avoid as much as
possible all foods high in sugar and carbohydrates. You can also consider
the wheat-free, casein-free diet. These are the protein structures found
in wheat and diary products. It has been documented that up to 80% of
children with ADD/ADHD can have significant improvements in symptoms if the
only thing they did was eliminate wheat and diary products from the diet.
Check out www.gfcfdiet.com This is an entire website
devoted to helping figure out how to easily make this dietary change. It
may seem like a big task at first, but once you get the hang of it you will
realize how easy it can be.
Lastly, many of these children have a very difficult time falling asleep at
night. If a child is not rested, good focus and concentration will be
almost impossible. Often times I will suggest the use of a small amount
of melatonin to help a child wind down at night and fall asleep easier.
Once better sleep routines are established and the child is getting more
restful sleep often times daytime alertness will improve. In children
only very low doses are needed (800mcg to 1mg) given 5-30minutes before
bedtime. Melatonin is non addictive, non sedating and has an excellent
safety record in both children and adults. It is truly a wonderful tool
for those children that have moderate to severe difficulty falling asleep at
night.
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