Has anyone ever treated their child effectively for adhd w/o using the prescription drugs that r harmful?

Question

Has anyone had good results using natural herbs or vitamins. I've been reading a lot about different things, would just like some different view points. Don't like the idea of my 6 yr old being on the adhd drugs so young....if ever, really.

Answer 1

Yes! It's called "Ritalin is Not the Answer" by David Stein, PhD. Finally, a professional that refuses to jump on the harmful medical cash cow.

Answer 2

I wrote a 22 page research paper on alternative methods for treating ADHD. First off, I would NEVER EVER give my child an ADHD drug. They induce the same effects as cocaine, for cryin' out loud! Adderall was originally marketed as a diet pill under a different name, when it didn't sell, they called it adderall and marketed it as an ADHD drug and Voila! Sells went up. that is true, you can look it up if you don't beleive me. I honestly think that there are so many factors that go into both why a child 'gets' ADHD and why the only solution offered is drugs. In doing my research, I came across something called neurofeedback. It's pretty sweet! Basically, a child with ADHD gets hooked up to an EEG machine (an electoencephalogram... it monitors brainwaves). The EEG machine is then connected to a computer. The child then plays a game... using brainwaves! For example, the child might need to move a fish through a maze. Beta waves are the type of brainwave that is associated with wakefulness and concentration. Childen who truly have ADHD do not have efficient or sufficient beta waves. They tend to have more alpha waves, which is associated with a 'resting state' and daydreaming. So, when a child is hooked up to a neurofeedback system, he or she can feel what it feels like to concentrate. The computer picks up on the beta waves, and the fish in the maze will move! It basically rewires their brain so that they learn how to use their beta waves. It's a really fascinating topic. It can be somewhat pricey... ($10,000 to $40,000) for a course of treatment... but after that, no more treatment.... the effects are permanent! They found that like 85% of kids who had SEVERE ADHD and were taking high doses of meds were able to stop their meds completely. The remaining 15 percent were able to drastically reduce their dosage. Also, I personally think ADHD is WAAAAAAAAY overdiagnosed... I mean have you actually seen some of the criteria they use? I actually did a little experiment of my own. I followed the checklist of "characteristics of ADHD" and asked them to about 30 friends and family memebers. According to the checklist, which is used as an initial diagnoses, all but 1 had ADHD.... pretty crazy, huh? I think a lot of 'ADHD' could be cleared up if parents knew how to parent their children.

Answer 3

My eldest son has been diagnosed with ADHD and I did not use any type of medication, though his may have been a mild case. The reason is most children will grow out of it when they are older if medication was not used, I am not sure why that is, it just is. I actually created a "crazy" room for him. A place where he could go, that was his own space, there were many things to keep him occupied. It depends on the likes of the child. For example, my son wanted to punch things so I hung a kick boxers bag in the room, he could kick and punch all he wanted. He liked the Hooked on Phonics games so alot of those were in there. The room was completely baby proofed (because he liked to bang his head on the corners of walls when he was frustrated.) Now the only rule he had in the house was, he could only run, jump, and kick in that room only the rest of the house he must walk. Having his own space helped a bunch, and with all his favorites things in there he would spend most of his time in the room he would only come out when it was time to eat or go to bed. He also had a big yard to run around in that also had many activities he could mess with (I just has to keep him away from any sharp object, this includes rocks.) Then when he was about 8 he started calming down. If medication is needed though, refuse the Ritalin, it actually does more harm than good. I never used it, but I know parents who did.

Answer 4

I am a nutritionist, and I do help with allergy elimination diet for add and adhd children. I have seen it be very effective, but it depends on the motivation of the parent.

I have also seen excellent results from giving caffine to adhd children throughout the day (it calms children with adhd just like other stimulents).

meditation has been helpful in many cases, for younger children I recommend guided meditation

Answer 5

Everyone did before the drugs were available. I think a better question is has anyone ever effectively treated their children by giving them drugs to impede the development of a personality.

I know more depressed people on depression drugs than I care to. You should kick the person in the shins that told you to give your kid emotional drugs at 6! 6 years old. For Gods sake!!!

Answer 6

Yes, our family is a "Drug-Free" environment, we try everything
organic, natural and even alternative medicine to deal with any
sickness. Kudos for not letting your son get into some heavy
drugs. I wish all parents would think like you!.

Common Side Effects

The body is an extremely complex biochemical machine, with chemical reactions and flows that occur in harmony and rhythmically one with another. They happen in specific sequences, in certain quantities, and at exact rates of speed. When a foreign substance such as a psychotropic drug is introduced into the body these flows and inner workings are disrupted. The drugs may speed up, slow down, dam up, overwhelm or deny critical metabolic substances.

This is why psychiatric drugs produce side effects. This is, in fact, why they produce any effect at all. They do not heal anything. The human body, however, is unmatched in its ability to withstand and respond to such disruptions. The various systems fight back, trying to process the foreign chemical, and work diligently to counterbalance its effects on the body.

But the body can only take so much. Quickly or slowly, the systems break down. Like a car run on rocket fuel, you may be able to get it to run a thousand miles an hour, but the tires, the engine and the internal parts were never meant for this; the machine flies apart.

Side Effects include the following:

Stimulants for “ADHD” should not be used in children under six years of age. Adverse reactions include: nervousness and insomnia, hypersensitivity, anorexia, nausea, dizziness, headaches, drowsiness, blood pressure and pulse changes, tachycardia, angina, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, weight loss and toxic psychosis. Some children have developed the involuntary tics and twitching called Tourette’s disorder.

Major tranquilizers also known as anti-psychotics, frequently cause difficulty in thinking, poor concentration, nightmares, emotional dullness, depression, despair and sexual dysfunction. Physically, they can cause Tardive Dyskinesia—sudden, uncontrollable, painful muscle cramps and spasms, writhing, squirming, twisting and grimacing movements, especially of the legs, face, mouth and tongue, drawing the face into a hideous scowl. They also induce Akathisia, a severe restlessness that studies show can cause agitation and psychosis. A potentially fatal effect is “Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome,” which includes muscle rigidity, altered mental states, irregular pulse or blood pressure and cardiac problems.

Minor tranquilizers or benzodiazepines can cause lethargy, lightheadedness, confusion, nervousness, sexual problems, hallucinations, nightmares, severe depression, extreme restlessness, insomnia, nausea and muscle tremors. Epileptic seizures and death have resulted from suddenly stopping the use of minor tranquilizers. Thus, it is important never to stop suddenly or without proper medical supervision, even if the drugs have only been taken for a couple of weeks.

Sedative-Hypnotics frequently cause the above side effects as well as a hangover effect, apparent drunken state, lack of coordination (ataxia) and skin rash.

Antidepressants (tricyclics) can cause sedation, drowsiness, lethargy, difficulty thinking, confusion, poor concentration, memory problems, nightmares, panic feelings, and extreme restlessness; also delusions, manic reactions, delirium, seizures, fever, lowered white blood cell count (with risks of infection), liver damage, and heart attacks and strokes.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) can cause headaches, nausea, anxiety and agitation, insomnia and bizarre dreams, loss of appetite, impotence, confusion and akathisia. It is estimated that between 10% and 25% of SSRI users experience akathisia, often in conjunction with suicidal thoughts, hostility and violent behavior.

Conclusion

If you are worried about something—a problem in life such as relationships with your friends, parents or teachers, or how your child’s school grades are going—taking any drug, illegal or psychiatric, isn’t going to solve the problem. If a drug is used to feel better when you are depressed, sad or anxious, the relief is only for a short while. If the problem is not fixed or helped you will often feel worse than before. As a drug wears off, whatever pain, discomfort or upset that was there before taking the drug can become stronger. It can make you want to keep taking the drug.

Answer 7

You are the parent, tell him to snap out of it! That's all my parents did, cuffed me upside the head when I didn't listen once in a while, and I am a perfectly well adjusted adult. Don't let creativity and intellegence be mislabled as ADHD. Get him playing musical instruments, or artwork or something creative, you have a genius on your hands.

Answer 8

Often food intolerence can have the same behaviour traits as ADD/ADHD children.

Take a look at www.fedup.com.au

Even healthy vegetables can have natural food chemicals in them that can change kids behaviour.

Answer 9

1

Answer 10

yes, using Tunguska Blast from Cyberwize.com. Great results. Email me if you want more info.