Natural remedies for ADHD

ADHD has, as time passed, become more and more common among children. Perhaps not because the disorder is getting more common, but parents, teachers and doctors know more about the disorder nowadays, and tend to diagnose children more rapidly. The CDC recently conducted telephone interviews with parents and subsequently published a report which shows that almost 4.4 million young children in the US, at one time have been diagnosed with ADHD. Almost 2.5 million of these children were being medicated. Possible side effects of ADHD medication such as Ritalin are well known. Pharmaceutical treatment of ADHD may have side effects which are quite troubling, and this is why more and more parents are turning to natural remedies for ADHD instead of possibly dangerous ADHD medication.

ADHD is commonly treated with the two drugs methylphenidate or amphetamine, which are both central stimulant drugs. They have been proven to be effective when it comes to ADHD symptoms, but they also carry a high risk of substance abuse and carry lots of side effects, such as changes in weight, damaging appetite loss or gain, severe insomnia, as well as nervous tics. Most of us know this already; it is not healthy to give children the drugs which are abused by drug addicts on the streets. The amount of children who take these drugs is alarming – the production of methylphenidate and amphetamine has increased by 500% and 2000%, respectively, since the beginning of the 1990′s. Over 50% of prescriptions for these drugs come from pediatricians.

Since these medications share these troubling side effects, lots of parents are beginning to look into alternative options when it comes to treatments of ADHD. The research done on herbal treatments have indeed shown some promising results, and most treatments come without side-effects at all.

Studies have been conducted where caffeine has been identified as being a potential so-called “herbal remedy”, because of its properties of the stimulant nature. Several studies have shown how caffeine can be beneficial to children suffering from ADHD when given to them in quite high doses. However, the benefits from caffeine could not prove to be shown to reach the level of those seen with the traditional pharmaceutical treatments. It is also important to remember that several side effects from ingesting caffeine exist, including addiction and sleep disorders.

Other herbal remedies that have shown great promise without side effects are Brahmi, Ginkgo Biloba, Gotu Kola, Siberian ginseng, as well as green oats. All of these natural herbs enhance the alertness of a person without having to rely on caffeine.

Ginkgo leaves can increase the amount of blood which flows to the brain, and can also act as an antioxidant to nervous tissue. In addition to this, it can also improve the metabolism of glucose in the brain. Apart from this, Brahmi acts as an antioxidant, in the same way Ginkgo does, and has in fact been shown to increase learning abilities and cognition. Ginseng from Siberia increases brain activity and work performance. Gotu kola has been found to reduce chemicals in the blood which are released during stressful moments. Green oats have been known to function as a nerve tonic, and displays other stimulating effects over time.

Some Chinese herbs also show positive effects the symptoms of ADHD. A study conducted, comparing a Chinese herbal formula to Ritalin, showed these same benefits, but with fewer of the side effects which actually hurt the behavior and well being of children.

One particular product which has shown to support concentration and attention, while promoting normal energy levels in children and adults, is Focus ADHD Formula. This is a completely natural remedy for ADHD, which is absolutely free from side effects.

Using herbal remedies to treat and manage ADHD has shown great results without taking the risk of landing in abuse, as commonly found in pharmaceutical medication such as Ritalin and Adderall. Natural remedies for ADHD usually comes with a significantly smaller amount of side effects. It should be noted that herbalists may want to recommend additional supplements and changes in diet, in addition to using herbs to treat ADHD.