Having a child with Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder can be difficult, especially if you don’t wish to use medications to help treat their ADHD and lessen the severity of their symptoms. Fortunately, there are a number of natural approaches to ADHD that can help reduce symptoms and therefore reduce the level of challenges that your child or other loved one with ADHD might face.
Below are some ideas to help you get started with the most successful methods for helping to treat ADHD naturally.
1. Monitoring their Diet
While we all need to eat a well-rounded and healthy diet, this is especially important for individuals with ADHD. Below are a few key tips to follow when maintaining the ADHD diet.
*Reduce Gluten
Gluten has been shown to increase and promote the symptoms of ADHD. Therefore, it is best to reduce or eliminate gluten from your child’s diet whenever possible. This used to be much more difficult, but now there are whole ranges of products, including even name-brand cake mixes, that are gluten-free and more widely available at reasonable prices.
Gluten comes in many disguises however, such as ‘modified vegetable starch’ or starch, so whenever possible, cook at home without using pre-packaged or pre-prepared foods.
*Watch Additives and Preservatives
Many food additives such as preservatives, flavorings and food colorings have been found to aggravate ADHD. One specific additive is tartrazine, or FD&C Yellow #5. Again, cooking yourself at home and using additive free products such as pure fruit juice watered down with bottled water or seltzer can help your kids enjoy a range of tasty treats without breaking the bank or consuming a lot of unknown substances or sugar.
*Limit Sugars in the Diet
White sugar has been proven to enhance or aggravate the symptoms of ADHD, and it is therefore strongly advised against for children (or adults) with ADHD. High fructose corn syrup, and other items which are similar to sugar in the body once they are ingested, should also be restricted. Whenever possible, bake items yourself and use natural sweeteners only in small quantities, such as fruit juice, honey and stevia.
*Include More Whole and Organic Foods
Whole and organic foods are believed to help reduce the symptoms of ADHD as they are fresh, full of nutrients and free of pesticides. Pesticides used to spray crops before harvest have been linked to ADHD, therefore it is best to stay away from any foods that are not organic.
Also be sure to wash your produce really well and do not eat the skins, even if they are edible. Peel the fruit instead. Beware of soft fruits like berries, since they tend to absorb the most pollutants from the environment. Local produce farmed using natural methods and pesticides are good choices. So are hothouse grown fruits that are then flash frozen on site, though they do tend to be more expensive.
*Get Plenty of Essential Fatty Acids
One of the key components of a healthy ADHD diet is getting plenty of Omega-3s and Omega-6s. If you don’t eat a lot of fish or other foods with these essential fatty acids, consider using fish oil supplements. Choosing ones that come from the Southern Hemisphere will help lower the risk of mercury build-up in the body.
Good choices of fresh fish rich in omega-threes that you can eat once a week safely without mercury build up include canned albacore tuna and Atlantic salmon, farmed or wild. Other good choices include clams, cod, crab, lobster, and halibut.
*Reduce Common Food Allergens
Food allergies and ADHD are believed by some to be connected. Therefore, you may find it helpful to eliminate the most common forms of food allergens. These include products such as wheat (and wheat gluten), pork, chocolate, eggs, peanuts and dairy products.
2. Relaxation
There are many forms of meditation that have been shown to help relieve ADHD symptoms while relaxing the “patient.” A few ways to incorporate meditation into you or your child’s daily routine is by taking up Pilates, Yoga or Tai Chi.
3. Daily Exercise
While relaxing through meditative moves is a great way to naturally reduce the symptoms of ADHD, incorporating a daily form of exercise is another great way to minimize ADHD symptoms.
For those with ADHD, daily exercise allows them to burn off the extra energy they have in a constructive way. When exercise is done through a sport, particularly a team sport, it can also boost self-esteem and help them interact with others in a constructive way.
However, if your child does not play well with others, try swimming or track and field events they can do alone, and help keep track of their goals and progress. A chart or milestone and rewards system can help boost their confidence by recognizing and rewarding their achievements.
4. Herbal Techniques
Many have found various herbs and herbal teas to be effective in reducing ADHD symptoms. In fact, there are special herbal blends that are specifically formulated for children with ADHD. Visit your natural food store or with a natural health practitioner or herbalist/Chinese herbalist to find out more about using herbs to treat ADHD naturally. Just remember that even herbs can have side effects.
These are just a few of the natural methods you can use to treat ADHD and minimize its symptoms. They can be used alone, or in conjunction with each other. They are easy and relatively inexpensive to implement as well, making them simple to try. If you want to avoid ADHD medications for you or your child, they are certainly worth checking out.
They can also be used in conjunction with medication, in most cases, with little to no risk of coming into conflict with the medicines. As always, consult with your doctor or your child’s doctor before undertaking any new treatment for ADHD, and let them know about any herbs or other vitamins and supplements you might also be taking (such as fish oil).
Work as a team with your doctor in order to come up with a treatment plan for ADHD that minimizes the symptoms and maximizes the successes.
For more information on ADHD in children, you might be interested in:
Homeschooling Your Child with ADHD: Steps to Success (Life Matters Book 5)
School Success Strategies for Children With ADHD: A Resource Book for Parents (Life Matters 4)
The Dangers of Artificial Coloring in Food (Health Matters)
