our school is recommending meds for hyperactivity, any alternative to diet or meds?

Question

2/3rds of an elementary school has kids on meds already

we are concerned that by starting this process, we can't stop it thanks to laws that put docs and schools in charge once on a program and mandate taking pills

does anyone know of anything like alternative schooling, homeschooling, private tutoring, change of diet, etc?

thanks so much, I want to avoid the stigma of kids on drugs

Cent. Texas close to Scott and White... no teachers and faculty are not doc's they said on average thier suspicions resulted with correct diagnosis as they were the ones to refer to the doc's. Can you imagine this money pile if most kids (66% and rising) are on some form of pill or another, and that's the ones that can afford it or state paid? Big Pharma wins here, clearly. Last doc visit for kid all kinds of stuff was done once they learned our deductible covered it, I saw the bill, none we had to pay but wow for a simple check up and attempt to remove a planor wart they charged 366 dollars, at least 300 over what I thought it would cost.

I wanted to know if there was herbal remedies or foods to avoid (obviously with sugars or red dye)

it almost seemed as if ADD was coined and then marketed and bang suddenly stocks went up and pharmacies were pumping it out. I just want alternatives not just medicate and worry about long term side effects of something we don't know about yet

Answer 1

That has been going on for years!
Try limiting the sugar and caffeine intake. give mild with meals instead of kool-aid, tea. And stay away from foods that contain red dye.
My nephew has ADA. They had him on cylert, but wanted him on Ritalin. He was bouncing off the walls he was so hyper and had insomnia.
He stayed with me part of one summer, I tried the diet change with him and without his meds. I let him have a small glass of kool-aid about 3 p.m. with a piece of candy. He had milk with his meals, no red food dye, and limited sugar intake.
I noticed a difference almost immediately! When bedtime rolled around, he would fall asleep in just minutes.
Also, if your child is bouncing off the walls from too much sugar, a glass of milk and a raw carrot work really well for calming them down. I worked for with nephew!

Answer 2

there is much more than what i am pasting please read the hole page at the link below.

What about other alternatives?

Many "alternatives" are simply common sense strategies that parents can try out. An alternative is anything other than the standard approach (automatic medication and possibly "behavior modification" involving elaborate charts, stickers, a rigid structure, and that sort of thing). An alternative may be tried with or without medications. Some of the alternatives seem ridiculously obvious, like getting enough sleep, yet there are problem children out there who are struggling, and getting labeled ADD, simply because they aren't getting enough of sleep. Here are some alternatives not addressed by CHADD:

* Eliminate caffeine (hidden in many types of sodas and sports drinks).
* Check medication side effects (decongestants, antihistamines, etc.)
* Go to sleep earlier each night
* Are there stress factors in a child's life: Divorce, a recent move, bullying at school? Boys especially react with violence and poor grades. Consider a family counselor or child psychologist.
* Give the child with behavior problems extra positive attention each day.
* Exercise.
* Try alternative schools, especially homeschooling.
* Check for medical conditions, especially thyroid problems and sleep apnea.
* Is the child really gifted or creative? The "symptoms" are nearly identical.
* Try alternative discipline approaches like Abuse It - Lose It, and of course be sure parents are being consistent and fair when disciplining.
* Determine your child's MBTI temperament type - what is "normal" for that type?
* Are the parent's expectations too high with regard to sitting still and being neat? (An average child may seem ADHD to an obsessive-compulsive neat-freak)
* Is the behavior simply normal "boy" behavior (see the book "Raising Cain")?
* Does the teacher have unrealistic expectations that young kids, esp. boys, should be organized, calm and write neatly?
* Try a breakfast with more protein and fat, and fewer carbohydrates.
* The herbal medicines St. John's Wort, Pycnogenol (Pine Bark Extract) and Grape Seed Extract have a strong reputation for helping people with ADD. Caution should be used because they are not regulated, and should probably not be used on children.

Answer 3

Being an excessively "hyper" person myself i am highley opposed to meds for kids in school who are "hyper active". Most boys don't enjoy sitting around and staring at a board all day and will natraully excert the excess energy build up at any given opprotunity. That is why most of the guys look forward to gym class and other active classes. If the child can't focus on their work or have a learning disability that is another matter, but drugs for being energetic is just crazy.There comes a time when you have to realize that not everything can be solved with a pill.

Answer 4

I would recommend checking out several websites such as naturalcures.com and such and also going to some natural food stores or places health food places that specialize in natural remedies and talking to them. Most of them are very knowledgable and know from experience or from people that have come in and told them what has worked for them. I have found a lot of help for myself in this way. Trust me, there is natural ways of helping this. Dont revert to drugs, then you get side effects and future problems from the drugs. Just think of how many commercials you see right now on TV for lawsuits regarding drug problems. All these drugs were once APPROVED by the FDC for safe use, and then were found out years later to not be safe. Drugs are not the answer. Please do some research.

Answer 5

We were told back in the ninety's 1970 or so, to give our son a small cup of coffee for breakfast. We never had to do anything else. Try it, there are a lot of non-drug remedies the more you find and use natural foods the better we all are.
(You know, I don't even remember if it worked), we have a fine son who says breakfast just isn't without it with milk of course. He likes it the same way as part of the desert process when we eat out. (no sugar)

Answer 6

Where do you live that a school mandates children be on meds? I have never heard of such a thing. A school is not qualified to make such a diagnosis. My recommendation would be to take your child to a child psychiatrist. They are much more qualified to treat your child. With a diagnosis of ADD or ADHD, medication is sometimes recommended, along with behavioral techniques. For example: reward charts for specific behaviors, training in organization skills, etc. Sometimes these things are enough without the medication. Either way, don't let the school tell you what to do, and don't stop fighting for your child. Good luck!

Answer 7

See: Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, and Prescription For Natural Cures for alternative approaches to ADD and ADHD. Also see Miracle Cures by Jean Carper for the use of pycnogenol; and Magnet Therapy by Dr Lawrence and Dr Rosch for a discussion of how magnets have been useful in the tx of this condtions. Monavie juice has helped calm some children down.
Good luck!

Answer 8

trying taking your child to a chiropractor. sometimes problems with the nervous system can cause behavior disorders. there are documented cases of children recovering from adhd through chiropractic.
i feel your concern about the drugs. i saw a quote..."we give are children drugs for everything and we wonder what causes drug addictions" not worded exactly like that but it made a good point. i know alot of kids who grew up taking ridalin who are now addicted to heavy drugs. its good you are looking for alternatives.
good luck and god bless

Answer 9

Check out private and catholic schools also charter.

I do have an alternative to these drugs for children that works.

Answer 10

I'm not sure as to the actual specifics, but I do know that behavioral therapy and diet changes can help some kids.