Anyone know any non medicinal solutions for ADHD?

Question

My kid is 8 so weed isn't an option for him.

Answer 1

"Simply making the correct diagnosis and explaining it to the person with ADHD and the family can be very therapeutic. Especially with adults, it’s not uncommon at all to have the person cry during the interpretation session and feel relieved. Sometimes, just knowing that they aren’t "dumb" or "bad" is therapeutic. And not everyone with ADHD needs to be treated.

"Focusing on "targeted" symptoms, there are many practical ways to treat ADHD. People who tend to get "overloaded" with too much happening at the same time, do better in an environment with less stimulation by reducing visual, auditory, and sometimes olfactory (smell) stimuli. That's why it might be best to take tests in a quiet room without other students, and to study with a clean desktop, facing a wall. For people who get bored easily, frequent, brief breaks can help along with a reduction of repetitious tasks. (Sometimes just standing for a few moments is sufficient.) Paradoxically, background music can be both calming (by masking extraneous sounds) and provide toward-task stimulation.

"Of course, there are many helpful interventions that professionals can provide by helping increase self-esteem, improve study skills, improve parenting skills, and so on. These and many more practical and non-medical interventions (like behavior modification techniques and Biofeedback) are available. Certainly any related or additional problems (like a co-existing learning disability) need to be addressed as well as securing an optimal educational or work environment.

"For more information about non-medical interventions, we suggest that you browse through the many ADHD books in your local book store or library or consult with one of the growing numbers of ADHD coaches."

Answer 2

I'm with ilse72 on this one. My boys both have ADHD ~ they are 10 and 7, inattentive and hyperactive, respectively. Both take Ritalin, and it has saved our family.

The hyperactive type is obviously easier to recognize, so our younger son was diagnosed first. We saw symptoms when he was about 3 years old, but decided to try "natural" options and see how he did at kindergarten. It was horrible. We tried limiting his milk intake, eliminated artificial flavors, colors, and caffiene, all the nutritional remedies we read about. Didn't work. We tried harsh discipline and taking away privileges. Actually made things worse. Finally, we took him to a pediatric behavior specialist who tested him, "officially" diagnosed him and prescribed his medication. He has been a different child. He has grown normally, has almost the same appetite as before, and has had absolutely ZERO negative side effects from the meds. He is happy and healthy and hates the way he feels when he doesn't take his meds.

Our inattentive son was just recently diagnosed, and I never realized what a disservice we had done to him until after he started his meds. He's always been a little shy and "spacey", but this last school year his grades started falling because he simply could not focus long enough in class to get his work done. We tried every form of encouragement you can think of, and nothing motivated him to get his work done. His grades would fluctuate between A's and F's or zeroes for incomplete assignments. He just started taking his meds about 3 months ago, but already he is more confident and motivated about school. I am so glad we made the decisions we did. And I would do it again.

Answer 3

I did not read any of the other answers so I apologize for any repeats that I may have you read.
Who ever said weed: SHAME ON YOU!!
I have a son that is 11 and has ADHD. I have searched many websites that offer natural remedies. I know that the best thing is to cut down on sugar intake, foods that have red food dye in them, drinks with sugar (kool-aid, soda, naturally sweetened juice), and also use an over the counter all natural pill call melatonin. Melatonin will help your child sleep at night. It is vegitarian and does not put your child to sleep but will help them to establish regular sleep patterns and make it so your child can have a better rest time. Good luck!!
If you can find a nutritionalist to ask for other food alternatives.

Answer 4

Many times ADHD is overdiagnosed. If this is one of the cases then cultivating skills where the child can focus and sit still are best. Spend time encouraging their interests.

Example:
Let's say you have a kid who really loves skateboarding.
Buy them a skateboard and encourage them to practice. While they are getting energy out it takes a lot of attention to work on tricks and practice until you are good at something. Then encourage them to read books about skateboarding, how to do various tricks, how to get involved with competitions, stories of famous skateboarders.

This is only one example but it can be generalized:
1. Find an interest the child has.
2. Encourage practicing that interest in order to get better at it
3. Encourage learning about that interest through reading.

Answer 5

Caffiene. It has a backwards effect on people with ADHD. Another solution is to deal with it. I have a 7 year old with ADHD and his teacher and I make lots of modifications to help him learn. Talk to the office at his school. They can evaluate him and then put him on an IEP (Individual Education Plan). If it's a good school, they will also try and help you find resources that can help you. And they will give you lots of information on different modifications you can use to help your child. I'm so glad my son goes to the school that he does. It's the best!

Answer 6

Weed is not the answer... I have ADD and smoke weed so I know it's not gonna help.. only make it worse..
It's all about forming good habits... doing things the same way all the time to remember them.
Don't even take Adderall.. "you might as well drink coffee" and get the same affect.
If being hyper is an issue then you really should do more with your time and just work hard at concentrating.
Take some Brain Health vitamins too... that will help.

Answer 7

Sorry, as a mother who raised two severe adhd boys to adulthood and has tried every non-medical solution there is with no success, medication was the only thing that helped them do their best in school and maintained my sanity at the same time.

After this experience, I have absolutely no faith in anything "natural". If a child needs medication to succeed, it does them a great disservice to deny it to them. My boys went from failing, without medication, to graduating at the top of their classes with medication...one was 1st and the other was 2nd in his class. Prior to medication, neither could focus or remain on task long enough to even do their homework! Medication changed their lives....for the better.

Answer 8

LISTEN TO ME !!! I was just like u ,I did not want anything to change my son even though he was driving everyone crazy.Take him to see a phycologist ,get him evaluated.that's the easy part.This is the hard part-give the report to his pediatrician and she will start him at a low dose of what she thinks he needs.My 7 yr.old started ritalin and the 2nd day he was so calm he still acted the same but just more focused and less impulsive. His mind was not running wild. That when he started the medicine he" found himself "(sounds weird)but he found that he really loved to learn and loved to watch the discovery channel and doctor shows and he even started to read books w/out pictures.His teacher saw a drastic change,his classmates talked to him more,cause before he was the kid who was always in trouble.IN 1 Month on the medicine he was AWARDED student of the month! I coudnt believe it. the kid who knew the office staff on a first name basis?!!!!!-It was wonderful! As his family we went to the ceromony and supported him. After 2 mon. the Dr. changed his meds cause it was lasting all day and he had a hard time sleeping,so she put him on concerta 18mg. it lasts 8 hrs. and that was enough.I stopped giving it to him on the weekends and only gave it to him during the week. the medicine changed his bad habits and he learned good habits. THIS IS THE GOOD PART - He was on medication for a total of 5 months! I wanted to see if the good habits stuck ,and to see if he could control himself of the meds.and it worked! He has not been back on and its been a yr. and for a whole school year I never recieved a bad phone call from school and he even got student of the month again. plus he is a whole grade ahead in his reading. so please consider the meds for your childs education---U will be congratulated in the end for your involvment in your childs future.

Answer 9

This is a good question.
Luckily I have had a few class on dealing with students in this situation. My 4yr also has this problem. In anger redirect them. Think bubble wrap, let them pop as many as you like. In frustration, calm them by letting them swing, set an obsitcal course, or play chase.
All kids are different...none are going to enjoy all the activities as well as others, and some may be way more interested in one and not the others.

Below is a really good book to help you walk through the way they look at things, maybe it will help. Good luck, and best wishes.

Answer 10

An option that you can consider is taking your son to a really good licensed naturopathic doctor.

I know someone who use to work in a naturopathic medical office and she has seen children, even adults, who are/were diagnosed with ADHD by other doctors. The patients were given herbal supplements, homeopathic remedies, and also changing the patients' diets according to their blood type. According to her, this really seemed to help the patients and worked a lot better than taking meds that were given by other doctors.

Answer 11

Carefully watch what your feed your child. I have personally seen children diagnosed with ADHD treated w/o medicine just by watching what they ate and drank.
No sugar, over processed food, junk, caffine
Lots of fruit, veggies, whole grains, water, lean protein.
Look in to hylands calms forte as well, its homeopathic to call a stressed child.