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ADHD – A Lifestyle Approach
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (known as ADD or ADHD) today labels a substantial number of children and adults. Symptoms include poor attention to detail, fidgeting, difficulty sustaining attention and following instructions, poor listening skills and organization, and being easily distracted and impatient. These behaviors can lead to lifelong difficulties in our academic, business or personal relationships. What is the solution? Prescription drugs offer one form of treatment and 4.9% of all US children were prescribed an ADHD drug in 2008. Yet many parents are leery of prescription treatment. Manufacturer’s drug inserts and the Physicians Drug Reference note side effects of ADHD drugs: behavior disturbances, psychotic episodes, anxiety, restlessness, agitation, amnesia, confusion, lack of emotion and hostility. The US DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) website states “Ritalin is …structurally and pharmacologically similar to amphetamines and cocaine and has the same dependency profile of cocaine and other stimulants”. Yet when we look around the globe, other countries have not gravitated so quickly to medication. In England, the British Psychological Society urges caution in using medications, stating: “It must not be the first, and definitely not the only, line of treatment.” Fortunately, there are effective ADHD management options, based upon lifestyle changes and a common sense approach: PLAY OUTDOORS Being outdoors in a natural, green environment reduces attention deficit symptoms according to a 2004 study of over 2000 children published in the American Journal of Public Health. Yet being outdoors has become so alien to many children that this once normal activity has now been named Green Therapy. Researchers at the University of Illinois found Green Therapy helped reduce ADHD symptoms for their study group of 400 boys and girls. Being outdoors is a normal human activity, being in front of a TV or computer is not. LIMIT VIDEO GAMES AND TV Video games and TV alter brain waves, creating a lack of focus and concentration, so think about setting limits for all family members. (Yes, this includes games on cell phones.) The journal Pediatrics reports the more time a young child spends in front of the TV, the greater the chance they will develop attention problems by age 7. SLEEP A study published this March in the journal Pediatrics suggests a link between inadequate sleep and ADHD symptoms. Researchers followed 11,000 children for six years, beginning at six months of age. Children whose sleep was impacted by breathing problems (ie: mouth breathing, apnea or snoring) were 40 -100% more likely to develop behavioral problems resembling ADHD. Some Pediatric neurologists now believe sleep issues should be ruled out before diagnosing ADHD. Even without special sleep problems, we all get cranky and irritable when we are tired. Create a sleep schedule for yourself and your children. EAT REAL FOODS Magnesium plays a key role in over 300 bodily functions. Deficiencies can create poor sleep and muscular tension, making us feel twitchy and on edge. One study found that 95% of all children diagnosed with ADHD were deficient in this mineral. Moreover, drinking soda leaches the magnesium from the body. So, eliminate sodas! The food we consume also makes a huge difference: refined white sugar contains 99% less magnesium than unrefined, while refined white flower contains 80 - 96% less magnesium than its unrefined counterpart. Research also supports diets similar to the Feingold diet, so eliminate additives and preservatives. Select whole foods, grains and natural sweeteners for your family. TAKE NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS Researchers have found that use of Ritalin in children compared to a mixture of supplements yields identical improvement in the children’s behavior. Nutrients utilized included vitamins B, C, E, minerals (magnesium, calcium, and zinc), phytonutrients, amino acids, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, phospholipids (needed for brain development), and acidophilus (for healthy intestinal bacteria). BE HAPPY Recognize you and your child’s emotional needs. Seek counseling, revise your parenting and communication skills, and try homeopathy and/or flower remedies to help manage your emotions. Research in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry notes Bach Flower Remedies as effective in managing ADHD symptoms. These simple remedies can also assist the entire family in coping with disruptive ADHD behavior. As the school year approaches, it’s reassuring to know that these simple and common sense solutions are actually backed by research and can serve our families so well. Lifestyle, dietary, and behavioral interventions can offer relief from many ADHD symptoms. Keep it simple: get to bed on time, eat well, take your vitamins, turn off the TV, and go play outside!
Nancy Buono, BFRP, is the Director of Bach Flower Education, Living Enrichment LLC and an international expert on the Bach Flower Remedies. A lifelong student of healthy living, she is the mother of five amazing children. www.bachflowereducation.com. |
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As we prepare for the
back to school season,
it is likely that a child
you know will be diagnosed
with ADHD. 11.2% of all boys
and 5.5% of all girls in the
US, ages 3-17, have been diagnosed
with ADHD according
to The National Institute of
Mental Health.