July 30, 2011
Herbal Treatment For Adhd Questions Answered

Jenny asks…
ADHD diagnosis?
My son has recently been diagnosed with ADHD. He was prescribed Ritalin at the drop of a hat, but after reading about the medication, and seeing the look of horror on people’s faces when I told them, I have decided he wont take it. I have ordered something called Synaptol, which is some herbal treatment for ADHD, it sounds good, but I have no idea. My son is also going to visit a complementary health centre tomorrow, but I just wondered if anyone has any views or can recommend anything I can try. I dont want to go down the Ritalin road, it sounds like a really gruesome drug.
Chloe Adisson answers:
Very long answer.. And I promise it is not a cut and paste quickie.. (I hate those)
First of all… Awesome
good for you!
Finally a parent on this planet with some common sense.
Drugs are drugs and more parents should be encouraging their kids to stay away from them..
I am certainly not a doctor, but I can’t understand the logic of giving a brain stimulant to a person with hyperactivity issues.
A child has a brain that is naturally growing and developing.. Adding a bunch of synthetic chemcals seems to only complicate matters. The behavior may change for the better.. But does the improvement justify the potential damage? Personally, I don’t think it does. I am sure there are a small percentage of kids out there that need some kind of drastic treatment… Little things like not cleaning up your room when asked to, or not doing well on schoolwork should not be interpretated as an indicaton that medical treatment options are mandatory and risky steps should be taken immediately.
Most behavioral issues fall under the responsibility of the parent or teacher, but it seems that psychiatrists are far too willing to offer everyone the easy way out of this responsibility by dropping a label on these kids and drugging them up so they will conform. And that is just sick.
I was doing some research for my sister and found another option for alternative treatment online while I was looking through alternative medicines for my nephew last year.. It is probably very similar to what you have found.
Http://www.vaxa.com/ADD_alternative_treatment_remedy.cfm
He is 13 now.. Seems to be doing better. A lot of his issues are stress related.. His father has been in the service and away from home for the last 3 years.. It is rough on him. He also has some kind of odd dietary abnormality.. Naturally sensitive to certain foods. He is a very healthy kid with a great personality
I will also throw you a link to read up on some of the prescriptions that are being offered to children for a variety of afflictions. It is somewhat jaded and loaded with propaganda from the opposite perspective of the drug manufacturers. Really is a fascinating debate. And the questions left unanswered is the reason I am so against the idea that medication is solution.
Http://www.whale.to/drugs/whitaker.html
The reality is that nothing can be done to cure the problem until the true cause for the problem can be determined. And right now everybody is guessing.. The drug companines are rushing to convince the public that they have the answer to it without a shred of conclusive evidence as proof of their statements. The FDA that approves the medications is majorly sponsored by the drug companies for their funding. (blatent conflict of interest). The psychaitrists are stuck in a position where if they don’t prescribe something, they are taking the risk that the parents will lose confidence in that entire section of the medical field. Everyone involved with the debate is horribly tainted by money.. And the kids are typically left with the negative consequences for the decisions made by the adults with the moral obligation to protect them. Alternative medicine may or may not be as effective.. But at least it is natural. That makes more sense to me as a first option.
I encourage you to get a couple opinions before you choose any course of action for your child.. The treatment options out there right now are very shady for these types of things. Not enough is known about it.
Research all you can on it.. There is a lot of good information out there from the perspective of the parents that are in a similar situation. Both sides of the debate have valid points.
A lot of it is a shift in society .. 20 years ago, the general perception would have been.. ‘ahh.. It’s ok.. He’s just a kid being a kid’ .. And today it is more like ‘wow.. Your kid is a spoiled brat.. You should really do something about it’
Same child.. Different decade.
Experimental drugs may always be an option, but try everything else first.. If an adult wants to be irresponsible and ruin their lives by being a drug addict.. So be it.. I am also a parent.. And my daughter would have to be VERY out of control for me to even consider it. Dangerous and destructive, yes.. I would consider it.. Anything less, no way.
In the interest of fairness, I will also give you the medical side of things and leave you to make your own informed decision..
Http://www.nimh.nih.gov/healthinformation/adhdmenu.cfm
This website will give you the clinical perspective on the affliction .. And symptom/treatment/prognosis information
http://www.drugs.com/condition/attention-deficit-disorder.html
This website will give you all of the prescription information for every drug that is FDA approved to treat ADD/ADHD.
Yes, there are a lot of things that anybody can say against what I have written.. But, you don’t have to be a doctor to understand that when the negative side effects of a drug show a 400-600% increased chance of occurence over placebo, you are taking an unnecessary risk. When that statistic comes down to reasonable levels and can be independently proven.. My opinion will change dramatically.

Mary asks…
what is the best known nonmedicinal treatment for ADHD?
herbal or nonherbal treatments for ADHD
Chloe Adisson answers:
A great deal of benefit is gained by removing all additives and preservatives from the diet.
There have been studies done to show that 80% of children with ADHD make huge improvements just by changing diet.
It means cutting out all fizzy drinks, all colourants (they are in many foods and drinks) , especially sunshine yellow. All additives.
Just use natural fresh foods, meat, fish, fruit and vegetables.

Laura asks…
What is the best alternative treatment for ADHD?
Herbal only. Liver, gal bladder cleanse. No drugs. Specific products please. Hoping to shorten my research a little.
Stop arguing that cleanses are bad. They are great if you know what you are doing. The right ones do work, unlike drugs that cure symptoms only. Cure your illness, not hide it.
Yes there is such a thing. I agree that usually it is bad parenting, in which this is somewhat. As a Foster parent I know your feeling all too well
True ADHD is usually caused by the mother eating and drinking too much sugar and caffeine. Stop drink mountain dew and whatever while pregnant. Stop smoking/drinking, dying hair. Sacrifice a little for your baby.
Chloe Adisson answers:
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. There was a good article at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-391503/Fish-oil-calms-children-better-Ritalin.html that covers some of this as well.
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.
There are also a lot of people who have found some relief from limiting sugar, artificial colors/flavorings, and going with less (or no) processed food to take away those possible causes as well. From research I’ve done, Fish Oil tends to help more, but both work even better together. Good luck and I hope I helped!

Donald asks…
ADHD herb called “alphanie” (sp?)?
I heard a doctor on TV talking about an herbal treatment for ADD/ADHD. He pronounced it “alphanie” but I don’t know the proper spelling, so I can’t look up any information about it. Has anyone heard of this treatment? Do you know how it is properly spelled? Thanks!
Chloe Adisson answers:
Not sure, but I’ve found this:
“Herbs and Supplements. A number of parents resort to alternative remedies as an alternative to psychostimulants and other drugs. These products include- as St. John? ‘ s wort, ginkgo biloba, panax ginseng, melatonin, and pine bark extract. Based on existing evidence, however, none can be recommended, particularly for children.
Generally, manufacturers of herbal remedies and dietary supplements do not need FDA approval to sell their products. Just like a drug, herbs and supplements can affect the body’s chemistry, and therefore have the potential to produce side effects that may be harmful. There have been a number of reported cases of serious and even lethal side effects from herbal products. Always check with your doctor before using any herbal remedies or dietary supplements.”
There’s lots of sites on the net selling invented ‘cures’ to concerned parents. These are nothing more than modern snake oil, so be careful.

Daniel asks…
A miracle treatment?
My 5 yo son has been diagnosed with ADHD-combined type and ODD recently. Its been recommended to us to put him on medication. I have been doing some reading on the different types of available medications and I have to say, they ALL scare me! The side effects are atrocious with some of these medications. So, I have done some searching and came accross a herbal treatment called “Focus ADHD“. What caught my eye is the tons of testimonials posted on the site for this drug, and some of them (the testimonials) brought me to tears. Has anyone tried this herbal supplement/treatment? If so, did it work well? Did it have any side effects? Also, has anyone had TRUE success with any of the traditional meds prescribed for ADHD (such as Ritalin, Strattera, etc.)? Any advice or help is greatly appreciated, Thanks!
Some more info–This product comes with a “dietary strategy” for parents, and tons of parental advice. In addition to taking the supplement, it says to make the following diet changes-eliminate refined sugars, soft drinks, artificial preservatives, artificial colors and “bad fats” (like trans-fat). It also recommends plenty of exercise and claims to be 100% natural, and completely not addictive, its safe enough to take forever if need be. I also have made a doctor’s appointment for Monday morning to discuss this product. Judging by the great answers I have gotton so far, this supplement is definitely worth a try. Thank you so much!
Chloe Adisson answers:
Yes, diet is really important. Also, less time in front of the tv, computer, playing games etc.
Although it is disputed by some people now, I still believe white sugar, especially at the rate north americans consume it, is not a healthy thing. Many people are also reactive to food dyes, artificial chemicals, preservatives etc.
I’m so glad to hear you are not going the pharmaceutical route.
Please watch the eye opening video below, you may want to send it to your friends. As well as school officials, who have no business in making a medical diagnosis.
But to actually answer your question, I am not familiar with Focus ADHD.
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