Natural Supplements and Vitamins and ADHD
It's often difficult for parents to have the child they love diagnosed with ADHD. Our natural instinct is to protect them from problems. It's harder still to consider a trial of medication for ADHD, and many parents wonder whether natural supplements are an alternative to medications. Almost anything that is 'good for someone's brain' is good for ADHD, including adequate nutrition, sleep, exercise, and methods of reducing stress (relaxations techniques, yoga, meditation, prayer. Although natural products are helpful for many medical conditions, there is little scientific evidence supporting the use of any natural product for the treatment of ADHD.
I am not an expert in natural medicines. I know physicians who have also completed their degree in natural medicine who are far more knowledgeable than I am. However, I do read the scientific research from studies on the use of natural products for various psychiatric conditions, including ADHD, depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders.
I am frequently asked about the effectiveness of caffeine for ADHD. A small amount of research reports mild improvement in symptoms of ADHD in a minority of children. However, most children primarily experience side effects and achieve little benefit from doses high enough for an effect.
Antidepressants have been used as second-line medications for the treatment of ADHD (e.g. Wellbutrin, imipramine), as they increase neurotransmitters involved with ADHD. Likewise, 'natural' antidepressants have been tried. St. John's wort has not been found effective for ADHD. Although some studies have found SAMe effective for ADHD symptoms in some adults, there has been no evidence for its effectiveness in children, and additional research is needed before SAMe can be recommended for the treatment of ADHD.
Ginkgo is thought to increase blood flow to the brain and is used for dementia. There is little evidence for the effectiveness of ginkgo when used alone in the treatment of ADHD, although one study indicated that the combination of ginkgo and American ginseng might treat symptoms of ADHD in some children. However, additional research is needed.
Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) was a prescription drug for ADHD-like symptoms until the 1980s when it was withdrawn because of lack of proof of effectiveness and safety, and it is now available as a dietary supplement. As was true in the 1980s, there still isn't enough evidence about effectiveness or safety to recommend it.
Many children with ADHD have difficulties falling asleep, either because they are restless and can't settle into sleep, or secondary to their stimulant medication. Some studies of melatonin have found it to be effective for treatment of insomnia in children with ADHD. However, risks vs. benefits must be weighed as there is some worry that melatonin might have an effect on gonadal (sex organ) development in children.
Antioxidants are felt to prevent oxidative damage in the brain and nervous system. Antioxidants from pine bark extract (pycnogenol) and grape seed extract are often recommended for ADHD. Although a small number of parents and adults with ADHD report effectiveness, no current research studies have found them to be effective.
Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are called 'essential' because our body cannot make them, and they must be ingested in our diet. About 25% of children with ADHD seem to have lower serum levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. It would seem logical that giving supplements of omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids would be beneficial for ADHD. However, most studies have not found EFA supplements to be of benefit. A recent study did find that a combination of flaxseed oil and vitamin C improved restlessness, impulsivity, and behavior in a significant percentage of children studied, but additional research is needed.
There is no evidence that taking very large doses of vitamins or minerals is effective for treatment of ADHD. However, some children with ADHD have lower levels of zinc and magnesium. Low zinc levels might be related to a poor response to traditional treatment with stimulant medications, and one study suggested that the addition of zinc to traditional treatments might improve that response. There is little research on the supplemental use of magnesium. A recent study suggested that iron supplements might improve hyperactive symptoms in boys with ADHD, but more research is needed, and too much iron can be toxic. Vitamin B6 was reported to be of some benefit in older studies, but those studies need to be duplicated using current diagnostic criteria for ADHD.
Blue-green algae is often recommended for ADHD, although there is little research to support its effectiveness, and there is concern about its purity from product to product and the possibility of contamination with heavy metals or toxins.
I wish that I could recommend an effective, safe, side effect-free natural supplement for the treatment of ADHD. Not everyone responds to or tolerates treatment with traditional medications, and many parents and adults with ADHD would prefer a 'natural' alternative. Although additional scientific studies are needed, two ADHD experts have reviewed their recommendations for use of natural supplements. I would recommend reading, "Healing ADD" by Daniel Amen (or read information on his website: www.amenclinics.com), and/or "Delivered from Distraction" by Edward Hallowell, M.D. and John Ratey, M.D.
Related Links: Are Herbal Supplements OK for Kids?, Choosing the Right ADHD Medication for Your Child
Technorati Tags: adhd, herbal remedies, ADHD treatment
I am not an expert in natural medicines. I know physicians who have also completed their degree in natural medicine who are far more knowledgeable than I am. However, I do read the scientific research from studies on the use of natural products for various psychiatric conditions, including ADHD, depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders.
I am frequently asked about the effectiveness of caffeine for ADHD. A small amount of research reports mild improvement in symptoms of ADHD in a minority of children. However, most children primarily experience side effects and achieve little benefit from doses high enough for an effect.
Antidepressants have been used as second-line medications for the treatment of ADHD (e.g. Wellbutrin, imipramine), as they increase neurotransmitters involved with ADHD. Likewise, 'natural' antidepressants have been tried. St. John's wort has not been found effective for ADHD. Although some studies have found SAMe effective for ADHD symptoms in some adults, there has been no evidence for its effectiveness in children, and additional research is needed before SAMe can be recommended for the treatment of ADHD.
Ginkgo is thought to increase blood flow to the brain and is used for dementia. There is little evidence for the effectiveness of ginkgo when used alone in the treatment of ADHD, although one study indicated that the combination of ginkgo and American ginseng might treat symptoms of ADHD in some children. However, additional research is needed.
Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) was a prescription drug for ADHD-like symptoms until the 1980s when it was withdrawn because of lack of proof of effectiveness and safety, and it is now available as a dietary supplement. As was true in the 1980s, there still isn't enough evidence about effectiveness or safety to recommend it.
Many children with ADHD have difficulties falling asleep, either because they are restless and can't settle into sleep, or secondary to their stimulant medication. Some studies of melatonin have found it to be effective for treatment of insomnia in children with ADHD. However, risks vs. benefits must be weighed as there is some worry that melatonin might have an effect on gonadal (sex organ) development in children.
Antioxidants are felt to prevent oxidative damage in the brain and nervous system. Antioxidants from pine bark extract (pycnogenol) and grape seed extract are often recommended for ADHD. Although a small number of parents and adults with ADHD report effectiveness, no current research studies have found them to be effective.
Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are called 'essential' because our body cannot make them, and they must be ingested in our diet. About 25% of children with ADHD seem to have lower serum levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. It would seem logical that giving supplements of omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids would be beneficial for ADHD. However, most studies have not found EFA supplements to be of benefit. A recent study did find that a combination of flaxseed oil and vitamin C improved restlessness, impulsivity, and behavior in a significant percentage of children studied, but additional research is needed.
There is no evidence that taking very large doses of vitamins or minerals is effective for treatment of ADHD. However, some children with ADHD have lower levels of zinc and magnesium. Low zinc levels might be related to a poor response to traditional treatment with stimulant medications, and one study suggested that the addition of zinc to traditional treatments might improve that response. There is little research on the supplemental use of magnesium. A recent study suggested that iron supplements might improve hyperactive symptoms in boys with ADHD, but more research is needed, and too much iron can be toxic. Vitamin B6 was reported to be of some benefit in older studies, but those studies need to be duplicated using current diagnostic criteria for ADHD.
Blue-green algae is often recommended for ADHD, although there is little research to support its effectiveness, and there is concern about its purity from product to product and the possibility of contamination with heavy metals or toxins.
I wish that I could recommend an effective, safe, side effect-free natural supplement for the treatment of ADHD. Not everyone responds to or tolerates treatment with traditional medications, and many parents and adults with ADHD would prefer a 'natural' alternative. Although additional scientific studies are needed, two ADHD experts have reviewed their recommendations for use of natural supplements. I would recommend reading, "Healing ADD" by Daniel Amen (or read information on his website: www.amenclinics.com), and/or "Delivered from Distraction" by Edward Hallowell, M.D. and John Ratey, M.D.
Related Links: Are Herbal Supplements OK for Kids?, Choosing the Right ADHD Medication for Your Child
Technorati Tags: adhd, herbal remedies, ADHD treatment
20 Comments:
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Congratulations for your blog and thanks for taking a minute to review
Thanks - that was an interesting read. I'm not much for "alternative types" of medicine, but I also notice that fish oil comes up often in discussions about ADHD. I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on that.
my diagnosis was delayed. Sad but true.This led to depression and non-flourishing (not keeping up)This was in part to being 7 months a premmie and during the 50's & 60's being exposed to smoke and subsequent toxins.Finally- A psychiatrist intervened,& the outcome was remarkable!Tye L. CPhT
My son was diagnosed with symptoms of ADHD when he was a preschooler. We tried everything imaginable to not put him on medication. We used natural supplements like synaptol but they didn't seem to work. When he finally went into grade school we decided that perhaps it would be best to start him on a medication. We are now on the third type and it seems to be working. Along with constant communication with the doctor and the school we have asked for an increase twice in the dosage level. He seems to respond well, although it makes him more sensetive than he normally is and it does affect his eating and sleeping patterns. I for one, along with my wife, would love to see a natural alternative to ADHD medication that works as well as the psychotropic kinds.
Medications for ADHD are very wrong as they need to be increased every few months. The side affects are not worth it especially for children. I have had my son on several medications and finally took him off due to the side affects. Remember all kids are hyper, that was the word they called it when I was growing up. The problem lies in the teachers now a days. I believe they are just to bothered to deal with a "hyper child" It is just easier to medicate them so they do not have to be bothered.
Children who do drugs will grow up and do drugs. If they get into a habit of taking them at a young age they will be addicted and continue as they get older. How can a child take a form of cocaine on a steady basis and not get addicted but an adult who should have more self control can easily become addicted? I strongly believe that we have to examine the foods we are giving our children. Food and nutrition is essential to one's life, drugs are not. The companies that make food and drugs are not looking out for you or your child they are trying to make money. Read the information on the packages and know what you are feeding your child. Dr.s promote drugs because it is their job medicine keeps them in business. I am a hairstylist and I promote the hair products at my job because I am required to do so. Alot of people don't even like the things that are offered by their profession but they do what they are expected or required to do. I think medication should be the very last option when it comes to prescription drugs. Before you even consider it you should take a good look at what your child is comsuming.
anonymous 11:42am:
That's the biggest crock of nonsense I've read in years, AND it's absolutely false. Studies prove over and over again that untreated ADHD children are far more likely to self-medicate and become addicted.
As a special educator,administrator and parent, I see children who respond to ADHD meds and some who do not. Schools should not be in the business of "pushing" medications on children. We need the natural, healthy child-ready to learn. A balanced, healthy diet, lots of fresh air excercise is the key for learning. Children have become consumed by indoor TV/computer games.
I am very concerned about long term side effects of psychotropics and children. I have witnessed signficant, negative changes in children on these drugs.However, quite often we are at the mercy of the child's environment and many parents want a "quick fix" to their child's high activity level and Doctors are often ready to comply.
Want I'm hearing is that there are no "sure cures". However, by assuring our children receive a loving/nurturing environment, a good and healthy diet and a school setting that supports individual needs, our ADHD children will have a strong chance at success.
I have had ADHD since I can remember, and only a few years ago self diagnosed. I have found that my success in understanding and changing my environment is a direct result of using pot to take myself out of a cycle. With the help of excersise, yoga and spiritual guidence the need for pot has significantly decreased over the last year.
Management is key, as well as being able to identify where on the cycle you are at any time. The latter a difficult and rewarding thing to work toward.
Thank you for those posting all this helpful information
6 weeks ago I got custody of my two nephews, 5 and 6. The 6 year old boy was diagnosed with ADHD a little over a year ago. Since I have had him I have cutt out almost all sugar(a few fruit snacks, fig bars and a little Ice Cream every now and again) and all red and yellow food dyes and even his teache and Doctor have noticed a difference. I am still desperatly serching for more natural ways to deal I would love to eventually take him off his meds. But for now even the little changes are working, slowly we will figure this out. Keep comments comming all the advice I can get I will take.
Thanks,
Angela
i have a boy thats teacher is trying to get me to medicate. she says he cant read at the level he needs to be at. he can do math problems in his head and colors for hours. he hates reading though and so she is telling me he need to be put on meds. please help i know he is hyper and talks alot but i think thats just him.
My grandson is 28 months and at 2 years of age we took him off high sugar items. We also give him nothing but milk or water to drink and there has been a tremendous difference. I suspect that he is alergic to many dies and we stay away from anything that has artificial die. Hard to do due to the fact even darker breads have some die. Has anyone else had similar experiences? We are still having issues at about 4:30 to 5:00 p.m. when he becomes extremely hyperactive and hard to calm down but he is still alot better than he was. Has anyone had experience with Omega 3 oils or Primrose oil for ADHD in children this young?
My son has ADHD. I have tried ALL the prescription meds only to find he suffered the worst of the side effects. I have used vitamins and have found some relief to his behaviors but am still working on the right combo. I found selenium very helpful but have heard it is toxic in high levels so gave it up for safety. Omega's and Magnesium, calcium, zinc combo has helped some. Hope this is helpful.
It is very clear when you need to medicate for ADHD and when you don't. Yes I do agree that there are some people out there who might be looking for a quick fix, but you as mothers or fathers know when you have tried EVERYTHING to help your child and nothing seems to work. I wish there was another fix for ADHD instead if medication. My son doesnt like taking meddication and I HATE giving it to him, I have dosed him off many times thinking that maybe it was me, maybe I couldnt tolerate my own child, i even went and got me medication thinking well if i medicate myself maybe i could handle him. NO that wasnt the case, my son has a disability and I want to be the person that made every efffort in his life to help make it possible to stop and think and listen. My son is in 3rd grade and although he has some bad days, they are very minamal compared to all the great days that he has thanks to his strattera.
my son tried the sadated medications and the side effects were anger, you might want to try strattera, he has been on it for five years and i love the fact that he still has his personality, I also love the fact that he doesnt look zoned out from his medication. He still gets a little hyper at times but i can handle that. Sorry i am a really bad speller.
My son is ADHD and I have resisted medication in favor of alternative treatment. One of the most helpful things has been dietary changes, specifically the Feingold diet. www.feingold.org Removing artificial colors, preservatives has made a real difference in his ability to focus and stay on task. The diet is not difficult or exotic, just healthy food without petroleum based junky stuff. I was skeptical, but it worked for us.
It doesn't surprise me WebMD doesn't see the benefits of alternative treatments for ADHD. WebMD is bought and paid for my big pharma. Good for informational puposes but DRUGS are always the solution. Of course the only thing that works for ADHD according to them are the heavy drugs! Do the research yourself. Funny how each alternative treatment mentioned by the doc was followed by the comment "further research is needed." Well further research is always helpful, but there's plenty of valid research on this topic. Your peditrician doesn't read the latest research. They are not inclined, they are too busy already, it's not their job. They are not researchers, they treat sick kids all day every day. Unfortunately they get their information from the drug reps that visit their office. Sad but true. There are plenty of studies on ADHD and alternative treatments. Do your kids eat fish? Most likely no. So they're not getting the necessary essential fatty acids (fat makes up 60% of the brain)? Hidden food allergies (dyes, milk?) Do they eat processed food loaded with chemicals? Have you tried "nature's calming vitamins" like B6 and magneisium? There's much more and it's a lot of work to research on your own. And, if you do you do choose to listen to the medical establishment, realize these are the same people that put drugs on the market that have caused death. How can you trust a medical establishment that puts drugs on the market saying they are safe and end up actually killing people?
I wanted to say that we have a ADHD Bipolar Six year old little girl and she is on very low dose of Risperdal.25 1/2 in the AM and the other 1/2 in the PM works some what :( an this is for her sevear b/p she is also on focalinXR 10mgs in the AM and 5mgs in the AM :( I spend every day on the internet Looking for all Nalural things Like fish oil and what ever will work so we can take her off all meds !! shes been on the meds for almost two years now seems to help shes home schooled as we tried the k once but she was so bad and out of control hitting talking back not lisning to teachers Chakori our little girl has been like this from about the Age of 15months she started putting holes in walls nothing worked and we are Christian my husband is a minister so its not that we are mean or not giving any disaplyn its that nothing worked !! and anyone out there with a ADHD Child/B/P well I can understand !! we did try other things but as Chakori started getting older her ADHD /B/P got worths:*( I want to take her off of the Meds and go all natural can anyone help or know what will help? I am a 56 year old mom and we did Adopt Chakori from Birth from our younger daughter then 16:was raped :*(
now 24 with three other Children!but Chakori has been a blessing in our life :) and if we had it to do over we sure would do it !But I'm here to say it has been hard at times and I'm still always looking for new ways to help Chakori!so if anyone out there has any good News please send me a email at milfam77@yahoo.com and Thanks Good Luck to all that have a child with ADHD or Both adhd/b/p its very hard God Bless you all,
my oldest son, now 23, was diagnosed severe ADHD before kindgarten, at the time there was retelin, then aderall. we tried all doses, then buspar and other anti-depressants. by 9th grade, he was on a total roller coaster- and the meds werent working. after the 3rd or 4th Dr., finally one advised that because of puberty, the meds were working in reverse! Had to take him off all meds, and ended up taking him out of public school after they put him in handcuffs on the floor of the vice-principals office and had the cops there! The "Special Ed" teachers whined he wouldnt do his work, etc. They are supposed to be trained in this disorder?? Not hardly. I tried home school- which I think is best, due to there are not enough schools with trained teachers for this disorder. The public school even special ed teachers really dont want to put out th extra effort needed for them. there is only 1 school especially for adhd children in this Metro area, with a wait list years long! my youngest son(21) also has ADD w.out hyperness.He was on retlin until 6th grade, then took him off it. He is in college now! so it can be done, but he still struggles with focus and studying. The oldest is in trouble with law, drugs.Middle class, single Mom, did all the pyscologists, and the meds constantly. Was there for everything, took off work, etc. I dont know for sure, but I think taking all the meds as a kid may have made it easier to him to take the street drugs for fun, or just to escape the problems he had everyday with ADHD. I was looking into "adult Focus" and Listol for youngest. FYI: there is a good article on adderall and college kids- so go look! I am not letting him take anphetamines in college! My oldest when he gets to come home, I will try some of the herbal supplements. He really has closer to bi-polar and the hyperness has calmed down, but just my opinion, if I had it to do over, I would have went with the diet and natural supplements first instead of blindly following Dr's. There are more products these days, and I only hope they will have more schools available in the future. after 24 years, there is still only 1 available here,and its a fair size city. Public school is just a nitemare for these kids, or home school is the best if you can do it. as a single mother at the time it was impossible for me to do it all right. just wanted to warn anyone about the puberty changing the effects of the meds!
and if anyone has tried the Focus or Listol natural supplements for adults, teens ??
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