Homeopathic/Natural Remedies for ADHD?

A really fabulous book: The Indigo Children, by Lee Carroll and Jan Tober. It recognizes that our children might actually be evolving, and are much smarter than their parents at the same age. This book gives you tools, instead of drowning the intelligence with medication. I do understand, by my own personal research, that medication might be necessary. Yet this is not always the case. Please always follow your instincts. You are, after all, his mother. Everything about that makes you the best deciding factor. Always do your own research too, snd make sure they are reliable. An instinct followed by an educated understanding of an original diagnosis is absolutely imperative.

Take Care.

V. Webber, CLEC

Hi J.,

I raised twin boys who had ADHD and other neurological issues. They were healed through natural medicine.
Please visit my website www.victoryoveradhd.com
If you like email me at ____@____.com and we can talk further.

Regards,
D. Merlin
mother/author

Dear J. S,

Good for you for taking you child off of these drugs. There is effective help available.

Here are stories from parents who have handled similar problems. I copied these from Dr. Anita Pepi's web site and you can contact her at www.DrPepi.com.

Child Study Problems

“My son was hyperactive and the worst one in his first grade class. The kindergarten teacher almost kept him over because of his uncontrolled behavior. He has seen Dr. Pepi only once, and has become so manageable in class that the teacher was able to move him up to the top reading group. He also is one of the first children to turn in his math papers and when he does, they are all correct. I recommend this wonderful Doctor to ANYONE who has a child with this problem.” P.K.

My son was having trouble in school. I was desperate to try anything to help him. I read in Dr. Pepi’s “Healthy Children” brochure about another child who was having similar problems. I knew I had to take him to see her.

Within a week of being treated by Dr Pepi and getting a special supplement program from her, his whole attitude changed. He’s always been the one who makes us laugh, but now it’s in a whole new level. He used to cry a lot when I’d try to teach him. Now he doesn’t cry anymore! And his skin color is better. He used to be pale and now he looks rosy. M.P.

My son was having difficulty paying attention in his 2nd grade class at school. He had been “unofficially” labeled “ADD” by his teacher.

One visit with Dr. Pepi uncovered three separate ailments, which were all contributing to his inability to concentrate. After just one treatment and getting him on the proper supplements, two weeks later his teacher told me he had made remarkable improvements. Thank you Dr. Pepi. R.P.

My son Kei started going to Dr. Pepi after he had been kicked out of two different schools. He started going to Dr. Pepi when he started his third school. After only approximately five months of treatment he has changed considerably. His teachers started noticing change and I have had several mothers of children in special education ask me what I had done. Since his current treatment with Core Level Adrenal in the morning and Core Level B1 at night my son has become manageable and is able to do things he couldn’t do before, like sleep through the night and stay focused in school. Thank you! B.S.

I brought my five year old son expecting some change/improvement on his health. Jordan had been losing weight and he has always been on the pale side. One visit with Dr. Pepi and a change in his diet made a big difference. His teacher no longer complains of him wriggling so much that it distracts the other students. He has a nice rosy color and he eats the foods that he used to hate. He has so much energy and actually enjoys going to the park to play. A.D.

Do get in touch with her. She practices in Glendale, CA.

Regards,

J. C

J.:

I don't have homeopathic remedies. However, I have two children with ADHD. One inattentive type w/ anxiety and the other impulsive type with auditory process and working memory issues. The child with the inattentive type and anxiety is on a baseline of Strattera taken in the AM because of the anxiety and the Daytrana Patch (ritalin). He tried Ritalin pills and these did not work very well. The Daytrana Patch is worn on the hip and provides an even distribution of Ritalin throughout the day for up to 12 hours. Because his anxiety is so high and he has had a couple of stressful academic situations at school (the first was January of 8th Grade and the second was this year as a Freshman in high school); he now takes Zoloft, which is an anti-anxiety / depression medication. Many times ADHD, Anxiety and/or Depression go hand-in-hand. Anxiety and Depression certainly go hand-in-hand, one produces the other and visa versa.

When my son was first tested for ADHD the summer before 6th Grade, the results came back depression. He was not treated with medication at this point. Instead, I hired an educational therapist to work with him on homework; organizal and study skills; to learn how he learns. By the end of 6th Grade, the depression lifted, but the evidence of ADHD was still there as well as bad habits/behavior he had developed going undiagnosed for so long. Testing the summer before 7th Grade revealed the ADHD inattentive type and anxiety. The anxiety did not become pronounced until January of 8th Grade as I stated earlier.

I am not the type of person to "pop pills". However, I have come to realize the quality of one's life superceeds the length of one's life. What's the point of living a long and miserable life; watching others around you do the things you want to do? Beginning in the 3rd Grade, my son would come home for school chatting about so and so who can do thus and such and or gets good grades, etc. Telling me about other's successes was his way of telling me he wanted to be able to do these things too. With the advent of modern medicine and the educational therapist, he is able to compete in certain areas of life where he could not before. It is wonderful to see him reach his goals.

About me: I'm 47 (almost 48) with three children: 15.5 son, 13.5 (step-daughter) and 12 son. Remarried five years ago. Boys see their father, however, father is not very understanding about the ADHD learning related issues. So my 15.5 yr old son spends most of his time with me.

Hope this helps.

L. C.

Aloha J.,

My son has ADD/ADHD Also. He is now 22 and has accepted this is a fact and part of his life.....
Now what did we do from 4th grade til now????

Just like you we had to try out different meds....
We did blood test with each meds to see what reaction to hisother organs were affected.

We finally settled on Methylphenidate SR20. We stayed on this one meds. we increased the amount he took each day.

Some doctors said that was bad...they add differnt meds....
For my son he didnt have meds to put him to sleep and meds to help him function...

We just added alittle more mligrams after 3 days watched and added more or reduced amout at 3day intervals....then removed it as he grew older to lessen the amount.
We really watched his ablity to complete tasks and function normally.
When his hormones went goofy with puberty!!! we had to up his meds to accomadate the change in his body.

Our doctor felt once we found what worked then increase and decreese would be best for him and we could watch his body functions through blood tests...
I must say I have seen more success this way with other families rather than the less amount of mlgrams and adding another type of meds to change fuction!

With his meds we also changed his diet!
Besides going for more Organic foods and more vegtables and fruits and no dyes and perserviatives the main culprit was CORN!

NO CORN SYURP NO CORN PRODUCT AT ALL.

When he ate anything with corn it would override even his meds.... We found out that sugar actually put him to sleep and that if he had sugar during the day he would have to fight his body to sleep and he would become very unruly.

Dr. Samson in Long Beach Calif. is ADD/ADHD himself and
worked with my son to go shoping with mom and checlk out all the lables etc. He also taught me and My son learn to watch his body reactions and his ablity to take on tasks and complete them and hold on to how good it feels to complete..to help him understand how his body and mind works with and with out meds. this to daily and yearly training and follow up!

Unfortunely we found that just change in diet and training of the mind did not stimulte the portion of his brain to function
efficently in school as well as any sports program and at home.

My son in the 1st. & 2nd.grade was almost to much for the teachers to handle he was in the principals office all the time.
Grandparents were trying to teach and train and found themselves so tired and baffled as to what to to .
At home spanking would not help he was still doing things even after being repermanded over &over again.

By his 3rd and 4th grade he had no friends in school, Teachers loved him because they would say he wants to please but does not stay on track...His 4th grade teacher cried during a parent teacher confrence as she begged me to have him tested. His School work and tests were all D/F
He was never able to sit still in class, not able to read a book or listen to a story...etc He could not multitask or follow directions and more.....

WITH THE COMBINATION DIET PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND MED'S.

We were able to help him change his grades to A's and B's.
He made captin of his basketball team.
He Made Most valuble player in Hockey tournaments, and was made captin of the teams. HeLoves to listen to stories and read,became a theater actor and got lead rolls...Loves to sing and he graduated with 3.9 grade point,
Today He works as a children's gymnastic speaclist and attends Nouveau Riche University for Real Estae Investors.

He did go through a time of rebellion and not wanting to take meds and watch diet etc..I mean even catsup would send him bouncing off the walls and overriding his meds. So we had to search for noncornsyurp catsup...It was all worth it!

You are doing a great job searching out for help! We must do it for our kids so they will be come responsibe young men and women in their future!
Great Job mom!

Aloha Ke Akua,
C.

Hope this helps and encourages you to keep moving forward! Never Give Up! You're Doing It!

This works with ADHD, Diabetics, Austism & hyperactive people.
My son at 5 years old was very hyperative not only at home but at school. His kindergarden clued me in to try what I am about to tell you.
No red meats, luncheon meats (hot dogs are the worse), red food dye & sugar free foods & chocolate (white chololate is okay). Many sugar substitutes do not mix well with other meds. You can find foods in your markets - not specialty stores. Watch out for other preservatives - MSG for example.
I wish you well.
L.

J.:
In the past I have read health articles on the benefits of fish oils for children with ADD and ADHD. Here's a link to a natural children's gummy with DHA which might be of help to your son it comes in 2 flavors. DHA helps with concentration, memory and learning. Good luck. Hope this helps!
http://bterk.qhealthbeauty.com/search/default.aspx?Ntt=br...

my husband had adhd as a child and the pediatrician actually reccamended giving him coffe, i know it seems strange cosidering coffee is supposed to give energy but with adhd it actually mellows them out.. i also have a 6 year old cousin with the same thing and when he gets too out of hand they give him sugar free soda with caffiene and it also mellows him right out..for some reason caffiene helps a child with adhd to calm down which also allows them to focus.. ive seen this method to actually work and its affective and much more natural than all that god aweful medication that they perscribe, and oh yah i almost forgot i had my 5 year old nephew for the night and he has severe adhd and i couldnt get him to calm down so my husband told me about the coffee so i sweetened it with sweet in low so held drink it, he didnt much like the taste but did drink a little bit and was then perfectly calm for hours after that so basically i know 1st hand that it works because i tried it myself... hope this helps,
T.

Definitely listen to your instincts. I am a mom of 2 children, my son being the older one. He has been diagnosed with a syndrome since age 2, with several "behavioral" side effects: ADD, obsessive compulsive, etc. Although never been formally "diagnosed" as ADD, we took it upon ourselves to look into other ways to help him focus. Being in the medical field too, I feel I am pretty savvy at negotiating this stuff. We found a product that we order online (although I have seen it in Whole Foods and Henry's) called Attentive Child. We order it from VitaCost, which has great information on their website as well about all kinds of symptoms and ailments. Since starting this, my son has improved considerably in many ways. We aren't up to 2 tablets a day yet, mainly because he is so small for his age. This is an all natural product and is designed to increase DMAE, a naturally occurring chemical in the brain that focuses one's ability to concentrate. My problem with all these other traditional meds is there is not enough research out there about long term side effects. We are medicated our children to get them through school, without knowing what will happen to them as adults. AND, maybe its the learning environment that needs to change vs. the kid. Montessori schools are incredible and really designed to let children be their own teachers. May be worth looking into. Good luck!

congratulations first of allon taking radical self-responsibility for your son's health and taking him off those medications, which i agree cause way more harm than the "good" they supposedly do.

the dietary changes you've done already are great, but you may have to take it further. not just no sugar, but NO PRESERGVATIVES, additives, natural or unnatural flavorings... no chemicals. i would definitely cut out dairy and glutens (common food allergies that affect mood), and maybe do some research on a raw vegan diet. many people are experiencing amazing successes with this.

read about halfway down on this page, under "a teenager has life again" http://www.wewant2live.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PufWoT8pceo

http://www.rawcuisine.co.uk/consciousness-and-our-changin...

http://rawfoodsuccess.blogspot.com/2008/01/vaccinations-a...

Guarana, Valerian, and Hawthorn are herbs that provide natural support to the adrenals, and there are various herbal extracts available that have been used with success. Check out: http://www.cherylsherbs.com/adhd.htm

your statement "i want my son to be able to live up to his potential but most importantly i want him to be healthy and happy" shows me what kind of mom you are. a great one. you will find the answer that works best for your son, just keep trying, keep hoping, and keep learning.

Hello! First, I want to commend you on your decision to try and avoid medications. I know there is a lot of controversy, but my thinking is that IF you can find a natural solution that is always best. I am currently working toward a Bachelors degree in natural health, and have had my eyes opened in a big way where natural medicine vs. prescription drugs are concerned. I went through my text books and found lots of great information for you and I hope you can find some help in it. It sounds like you are aware of the diet connection having eliminated sugar, so here are some other possible triggers; carbonated drinks, red meat, aspirin, artificial colors, flavors and sweeteners, preservatives like BHA and BHT. Yellow food dye has been proven to be detrimental. Also, sulfites, casein, citric acid, chocolate, HF corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, MSG, smoke flavoring and yeast. You can try an elimination diet to see exactly which foods are a problem for your son. Massage therapy has shown positive results, as well as warm baths with sea salts. Hylands makes a homeopathic remedy called "Calms" or "Calms Forte" that may help. One thing about natural health care is that it has to be more individualized - unfortunately that means that it might take some hard work and patience on your part, but it sounds like you are willing to try anything to help him. Here is my email address if you would like to chat more; ____@____.com As I said, I am currently in school and not ready to start my own practice yet, but I do have access to information that might help. Good luck!! :)

Dear J.,
We have a 14 year old daughter who was diagnosed with ADHD when she was in 4th grade. She is now a freshman in HS. She is on the lowest possible dose Concerta for her weight. I share your concern with medication which is why we opted for the lowest dose and it is working. We eat fish on a regular basis and fortunately she likes it. We also drink 100% juices and always have lots of fresh fruit and vegetables around to satisfy the sweet tooth which she has. Water is encouraged on a daily basis and I carry a case in the back of my car.I serve fresh vegetables with our meals as much as possible. I try to cook homemade.She is an athlete and is active in sports year around which releases stress. She understands the importance of nutrition for her sports which translates in her academic performance.

I work 25 hours a week and also have a son who is a senior in HS. Good luck. I.

My son was greatly helped by taking 1/2 tsp of cod liver oil (not fish oil) twice a day. We also have him on a super strict diet which eliminates all carbs and sugar. He basically only eats meats, veggies, honey, nuts, and fruit. He has no symptoms at all any more. The diet is called the "caveman diet". It is a miracle.
Good luck
L. Mother to Alex 3 1/2

My daugher has ADHD too, she was diagnosed when she was 7. For a long time I didnt want to put her meds, she now takes strattera after the adderol made her loose too much weight, I tried meditation in the beginning but with little effect....I would love to have her off meds but am not sure what to do either....good luck with your search.

There are some wonderful yoga programs for children. I came to yoga in my adultlife but have found it wonderful for calming my spirit. Gaiam.com has resources and links or yogajournal.com.
good luck!
cindyr

Dear J., Having raised a couple of ADD/ADHD kids, I found that the Feingold Diet made a world of difference for them (google this one and explore for yourself). One son even took over his own food program because he felt so much better about himself and how he felt and acted. In the 70's, Dr. Goldstein was actually consulted by the Juvenile Court System because 95% of the kids sent to him became model A students. The alternative for these kids was reform school - that's how far off they had become. So, I put my kids on this diet and they were like "normal" kids - almost. I had to adjust some other things, for instance: got a trampoline so they could come home from school and immediately jump to their hearts content (to release as much stress from their bodies as they could). I let them scream as much and as loud as they wanted (emotional release therapy & told the neighbors why so they would at least not complain). I learned massage and gave them back rubs everyday (almost). Also, took them to a chiropractor who knew how to do more than crack bones - I hate that myself. There are gentle chiropractors. I also upped their Vitamin B and E supplements (quadrupled). These vitamins affect the nervous system and calms them down. As far as sweetners, I used Agave, honey and maple syrup for sweeteners (foundly in most health food stores) and Stevia. Agavia is the best, but tastes the less sweet. I eliminated all processed foods (which contain chemicals, preservatives and artificial food colorings) and switched to fresh, natural, raw and whole foods. Mostly, it was the Feingold system that worked. I would also read up on "Indigo Children". There is a movement to identify our children today as being genetically superior and need much different "guidance" than discipline. I had to ask my children a lot of questions and help them be in control of their own lives. There are several great books you can find on Amazon that will give you a lot of information, but a good starter would be "The Indigo Children: The New Kids have Arrived," by Lee Carroll and Jan Tober (can be purchased used starting at 99cents) and lots of other books - even an "Idiots Guide to Raising Indigo Children." These kids, of which your son may be one, aren't different, they're smarter and more evolved. Their bodies need different foods and their minds need different training. Our schools are not willing or able to adjust to these children. So, I got myself involved as homeroom mom and watched over each child's teacher (without being obvious). Aligning with each teacher was a very good thing as I was able to influence them as to how to handle my child. I even had a teacher who took an interest in the whole Indigo Child concept. Good Luck, C.

Hi J.,

I have a homeopathic practitioner to recommend to you. Her name is Gabrielle Traub. She is world class, only female homeopath in the world to receive honorary doctorate. My 10 year daughter was having trouble with anxiety and panic, my neighbor is a Dr. and recommended I see her.

She specializes in women and children. Has done studies on children with ADD and such.

I went to her as a last resort before putting my daughter on medication for her problem. I didn't think we would ever get to the point where things were normal again with her but we did exactly as Gabrielle told us and with time, things turned around.

Her number is ###-###-####, her website is www.discoveryhomeopathy.com

You are welcome to get in touch with me if you need any more info. ____@____.com

Best of luck to you.

There is a company called native remedies. Their website is http://www.nativeremedies.com They have homeopathic formulas for many things including ADD/ADHD. A psychologist worked in conjunction with homeopathic company to come up with formulas to help her clients.My 14 yr. old son has multiple things including ADD and we used their formulas and it made a huge difference for him as far as attention goes. He did better with his school work as a result. Also, I'd suggest looking up Dr. Daniel Amen. his website is: http://www.amenclinic.com He is an expert on this subject and is on cutting edge of treatments, including natural treatments/suppliments. Neuro biofeedback has also proven very effective in helping ADD/ADHD. You might want to look into that also. I knew one person that did that with their son and he got off meds and he never had to go back on and the last time we spoke his son was in his 20's. Of course, it goes without saying when it comes to these issues, what works for one doesn't neccesarily work for all, but these things are definitely worth looking into. good luck.

I chose not to use medication for my son, but didn't use homeopathic remedies either. I found that he had an easier time concentrating if we stimulated his deep pressure receptors (bear hugs, weight lifting, rolling him up in a blanket, squeeze toys, etc). I cut down my work hours and home-schooled him the first few years. He did his schoolwork bouncing on a ball, rolling on the floor, sitting on my lap, walking up and down the street. It just took too much of his mental energy to try to sit still at a desk. He got better at sitting as he got older, but still does better if he lifts weights on a regular basis (and he still gives me those bear hugs). He is now a junior in college and doing well.
I had a friend who used coffee for her son with good results. Personally, I find caffeine calming in small doses, which seems to be true of a lot of people with ADHD (yeah, my son got it from me, but his was a lot more severe). I also tried to avoid food colorings and BHA, BHT and TBHQ. This really helped me, but my husband didn't support me with keeping these things from my son, so wasn't able to eliminate them completely from his diet.

In the city of Riverside there is a natural food store named Clark's. I was there buying vitamins for my son and I can't remember which he recommended for ADHD. There is a man there named Joe and he knows alot about all their products. He explained in detail to me about why some children have ADHD and was explaining why that vitamin or oil that is good for kids rather than medications. I would try calling and also google for a homeopathic pediatrician.

I am sorry I can't give you more detail my son does not have it and I was the medication and was curious about it and he went into detail.

Hope this helps,

I think you are on the right track. My son too does not take meds for ADD. We focus on 20 minute activities then switch to something else. While doing home work we allow him sensory breaks; jumping jacks, play with a favorite toy for 5 minutes, or he runs around the house for a few laps. He is 8 going on 9 in a few weeks. These remedies help. You just need a little patience, home work does take a little longer. :) Also we practice giving one instruction at a time. He does not retain info if its a 3 step or more command. That condition is called Audio-processing. Its seem to coexist with ADD/ADHD. Break down instructions also. You can't say "go get dressed" Until he learns the steps (practice) 1. take off pj 2. put on shirt etc. Again lots of patience. :) I just talked to a mom w/ a 15 year old and the challenges never go away. But if you start early and be consistent, I believe it will only help in the long run. Good luck!

Hi J.,
I have twin 4 year old girls who do not have ADHD, but a boy in their preschool class does. I notice his parents have him on a gluten free diet. They bring special guten free snacks for him and the rest of the class from Trader joes and whole foods markets. I do not know the parents personally, but the dad told me that being gluten free helps his son focus. I know that whole foods will give you a xerox hand out of all their special dietary needs products that the store carries (including gluten free)to help you shop.
Good luck to you!!
P.

I know you have gotten a lot of responses about your request, but I also wanted to share a story I heard recently from a mom whose daughter was mis-diagnosed with ADHD. We were in the waiting room at the Opthamologists office. She told me her daughter was diagnosed at school, and that the test they used was a visual test. She was not satisfied with the results of this test (meaning she did not believe that her daughter had ADHD) and sought out other opinions. She was referred to a pediatric opthamologist and found that her daughter had a VISION problem not ADHD. Something to think about. I have recently learned (through our own experience) that vision problems are frequently overlooked by pediatricians and many go undiagnosed for years.

Hi dear! I'm not a mom-- I'm a GRANDmom! Don't have a homeopathic remedy - but I found when my daughter cut out the children's T V shows that had things moving at a fast pace it made a difference in his attention span. Wishing you the best and some peace!

You could also delve more into his diet. Cutting out the sugar is excellent but there are more things to try like gluten, dyes, milk products, etc. Might as well try them all. Does he sleep well? That can sometimes cause certain behaviors. Has he had a full physical to rule out other medical issues that can manifest with ADHD-like symptoms? There are also many other medications out there. You've only tried 4, so that's something to think about. What kind of counseling did your doctor recommend? The treatment plan should always include behavior therapy. Medication only allows him to focus but he needs to learn appropriate behaviors. Does your district have a Special Day Class geared specifically to kids with ADHD? IMO, I would try all these things before attaching him with a para-professional who may be great or who may not be. The idea of a para-professional would be to provide him services but be faded out eventually. He will probably NOT want to go to Middle School with an aide, so keep pursuing other avenues like you're doing. The counseling to learn appropriate behaviors though is key so I hope that's happening for your son. Good luck with whatever you decide.

I am the mother of a 29 week premmie, who was in a hurry to come into this world, feet first, but they did a
mid'section on me, opening up my stomach and giving me 22 stapes down the front of my stomach (I look like I have a tush in my front). Because he was in stress and they did not know where the cord was, they took him out that way. He weighed 2 lbs at birth and stayed in the hospital for 3 months until he was 4 lb 8 oz, came home with full time nurse, breathing machine, medicine, etc. They said he may never walk or talk. He proved them all wrong, he walks, talks (with slow broken speech) and has a very compassionate and considerate heart. OF course he was diagnosed ADHD at 3 years old, but too young to go on medicine. I did not want him on any chemical substances, so we tried the diet first also. Unfortunately for my son at birth he had 2 brain bleeds which caused his synapses in the front of his brain to be "fried".
So in his case, he really does need the medicine. I read up on everything I could, ritalin was out because he causes cancer. We tried different ones, but came down to Dexedrine spanshules capsules. It worked miracles, no side affects.
WE have tried to have him off the medicine during vacations and weekends, but it does not work, he is a kid who really needs the medication. He is 20 years old now, graduated with honors from high school and was on the varsity baseball team. He is only 5 feet full grown, but a powerhouse inside. He is attending a special ed college for students with disabilities at UCLA Pathway through extension. He is living on campus in an apartment with other special ed kids. WE are so proud. It was a long journey, many therapists, behavorial, etc., but have faith your kids will turn out great. Something about add kids can have them far exceed regular kids sometimes. IF you want more information you are welcome to contact me. I also have a "children's page" on my website that has more information on it. S. K. www.healthy-communications.com/childrenspage.htm

I have an 8 year old who was diagnosed with severe adhd add combination type and he's on 25mg of Adderal Rx and let me tell you before we started using the meds, his performance in school was horrible. He has a 1 on 1 shadow everyday because even with the meds, he needs a little support in the classroom. He is super smart but was not able to focus for more than 30sec at a time and the teacher would have to redirect him about 40x a day. He also takes a 5mg booster after school to help with focusing on homework.His grades have improved greatly. His school is great, they give a lot of support. His IEP's are very easy as we just increase the goals every year.I also have a 5 year old who has autism but he is not on any medication.I hope this helps!

I have two little boys with special needs. I have tried everything under the son, except drugs. I have an amazing product that you have to try. It has worked wonders for my entire family. Go to melissam.freelife.com and read about the amzing Gochi. You will love it. If not, you get your money back. No risk and everything to gain.
Let me know what you think.
God bless.
M.

Hi J.:

I recommend you read the book "Say Good-bye to ADD/ADHD" as allergy elimination has had great effect. Treatments are non-invasive, and no substances are taken into the body. If you would like to be given a website where you can research naet, please drop me a line.

Best wishes,

M.

Hi J., I will like to share these information with you.
Other options: According to Dr. Donald J. Brown, a naturopath who teaches herbal medicine at Bastyr University in B.WA, a "whole foods diet," that is high in complex carbohydrates is best for children who have ADHD.
Many parents of ADHD. children, have reported seeing tremendous results with the SUNRIDER "whole food diet." Remember that SUNRIDER is food, not medicine. It is optimally nourishing food, which provides the body with a wide variety of whole food nutrition. While SUNRIDER is perfect nutrition for anyone, it seems to be particularly well suited for those who suffer from ADHD. I being using these foods for 18yrs. http://my.sunrider.com/D. -in good health, D.

I am wondering where you live? As a teacher, I must tell you that most public schools in CA are facing severe budget cutbacks. It is difficult to get a one-on-one aide for even an AUTISTIC child, ADD alone doesn't usually qualify a student for much more than what it seems the school/teacher is doing already.

You may want to try bio-feed back. It is listed in many of the Orange County parenting newsletters/magazines. However insurance doesn't cover it. Also you may want to seek the advice of a psychologist specializing in ADD to give you suggestions of behavior plans you could try.

Is your son learning to read OK? That is crucial.

Your son may be able to succeed w/o meds. However, many ADD kids have trouble w/ organization and things become problematic in 3rd grade when they move away from early primary and shift to more academic rigor.

Good luck to you. I have a 6 year old daughter who is ADD. I've chosen not to med., but am just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

C.

Hi J.,

I have a 4 year old who has ADHD and we feel the same way you do about medication. It's a little easier to say no right now as he's not in school (just preschool) but we're still grappling with some pretty severe issues (hitting/biting) besides the hyperactivity and distraction.

Last week we started him on the Feingold Program, which eliminates additives like food dyes and preservatives from his environment. I researched it for a coupla weeks (in fact, I posted on this board about it!) and then figured it'd be worth a shot, why not? It's only been a week, so it's hard to say whether it's working or not, but nights and mornings at home were smooth sailing this week (school is another story...).

If you want to learn more about it, you can go to http://www.feingold.org/. There was actually a news report that covered a recent British study that supports the diet, you can watch it at http://cbs3.com/health/Health.Alert.Hyperactivity.2.66443...

Feel free to email me if you have any questions and want more info, good luck!

I have ben in the field of special education for over 30 years. Medication has many positive results but it often takes a looong time to get the dosage and when to give the dosageon a schedule that works for your child. I certainly would not rule out diet changes, but a one on one aide will make him dependent on all of that extra help. He needs to become an independant functioning adult some day.

Hi, J..

I, too, have a 6 year old son who was diagnosed with ADHD last year. I am also a graduating RN. I did not want to put him on medication because of the potential of side effects. You did not mention what side effects your child experienced, but some children are more sensitive to stimulants and they can experience serious side effects like sleeping and eating problems, seeming "zoned out", and faster heart rates. Some children go through an adjustment period and the side effects disappear once their bodies adjust to the meds. What I will tell you in my situation is that we tried behavior modification, got him an 504 Accomodation Plan at school, started seeing the counselor at school, the counselor through our primary care provider and sought advice from ADHD parent support groups. He did improve somewhat but he still needed some more help. We did end up starting him on Concerta about a month ago. Life has been so good for us all! He is doing 100% better in school, at home, at basketball practice and his games, he listens and follows directions and he is happy! He did have some mild side effects in the beginning, but being a nurse, I knew what to watch for and if they were serious or not. If you do not want to do the meds, I suggest that you try all the things I mentioned above. It sounds like you are on the right track with getting him treatment. I know it is very frustrating having a child with ADHD, but you have to be patient, understanding and remember that you can not parent this child like your other children. Children with ADHD do not process information the same as other children. You have to constantly remind them to do things and that can be tiresome. They get into trouble because they are implusive and that can be annoying. But with work and treatment, they can be better. They can lead normal lives and be good students and good kids. I hope this helped if for not other reason than to let you know you are not alone. Good luck.

Dear J.,
I have been using a product called NCD or Natural Cellular Defense. NCD is a tasteless, non-toxic, all natural liquid supplement that safely removes heavy metals from the body, i.e mercury, lead, arsenic, aluminum etc from the body. Tests show that these heavy metals can contribute to the problems you are facing with your child. This product may help your son. I have been a health & nutrition consultant since 1978 and am a former owner of a health and nutrition center focusing on detoxification for better health.

I am a mother of 6 grown children, grandmother of 10, great grandmother of 4 ( soon five) been married for 59 years. Besides being in the health & nutrition business, I have been an associate pastor for over 10 years. Romans 12:1

I have a 25 y.o. son who was diagnosed at 9 y. o. after I had attended a seminar on ADHD. I only used herbs and diet and insisted on a Section 504. Get a handbook on this from your child's school district. He was gifted intellectually as well. Stay strong and remind everyone (including yourself to attack the behaviors, not the person. I put Arlo on a high carb/protein diet, no red dye and no refined sugars. He was allowed beef jerky and nuts rather than sweets. I used concentrated apple or grape juice instead of sugar in cookie recipes. There are herbal supplements that help. Research online. I bought an herbal combination from a distributor. The product was made in Utah.
Be prepared as my son still is high energy, but has a job as an air conditioning tech which makes this an asset.

Hi J.,

I know with things like this, it's a battle. I know the feeling of dropping my kid off at school and wondering what kind of things were going to happen that day.
My 6.5 year old son has autism/add and is in a typical classroom with an aide, who is an angel. One thing that made a HUGE difference is a gluten free/dairy free diet. For a couple of weeks, your son will go thru a detox process on the diet...more crazy behavior, but the dust settles after that and you'll begin to see the change. Many think it's just for autism, but I know many families that have had great success using it for add/adhd, too. We also took out all all sugar, additives, preservatives, food dyes, hormones, ...basically the Feingold diet, which I see someone brought up before. Then we are in the neutrogenomic process...using nutrients and vitamins to naturally reboot the brain and body to create better funtioning. You can find information about it at http://www.HolisticHealth.com. Dr. Amy Yasko has some interesting work posted. I know seems crazy and a bit much, and I'm baffled myself just reading it all. But, we are slowly getting a different little boy. Hopefully, I didn't overwhelm you with all this, because I do believe in what we're doing. What we decide to put in our children makes all the difference in those very tiny biochemical exchanges that happen in there which trigger behavior, retention, understanding, etc.

Have you tried Camomile Drops for calming. Also look into Aromatherapy. I have a 5 yearold that is adhd and Autistic.

I have a 9 year old son with ADHD and he has been on Concerta for the last couple of years. Have you tried taking out dairy products? Or how about trying behavior therapy?

If you don't already have it, purchase the book that Jenny McCarthy wrote, I can't remember the title. It gives helpful hints on diet etc.. Another book that might be helpful is Wheat Free, Worry Free - You can buy this at Wild Oats or any book Store. The Diet is the main thing that has to change and it really does make a difference. I have been working with children and adults for many years, I was a para-educator in Washington State, I also worked for the Orange County Department of Education as a substitute Instructional Assistant. I am currently a stay at home Mom, with a 5 almost 6 year old, and I will be going back to work very soon as a substitute, hopefully with a permanent position as an instructional aide for Los Alamitos, in the special education side. Don't give up! Your child has many gifts to give to the world and we all have to re-think what normal really is. I hope that these books will help- Any books that are wheat free and gluten free seem to help children with ADD/ADHD, Similar to allergies that my son went through and we changed his diet and he no longer has the problems that he had with food and attention span. It never hurts to try something different.

Hi J.,
I would like to put my 2 cents in! I know you have a lot to read on here so I will try and keep it short!

A friend of mine has a child that was diagnosed with autism,I know you are talking about ADD but this really opened my eyes.
They tried everything to help their child with learning. Well to make a long story short, someone asked them what cleaners they use in there home. They used everyday stuff that all of us buy in the store, so they were asked to try all natural cleaners to see if it would help they child.
They did and now the child doesn't show any signs of being autistic at all. I say all that to say also my husband is borderline ADD/ OCD I have been using these product for 2years and He is so much easier to be around!
He also has asthma so bad I couldn't clean the house when he was home or when it was too close to him being home. Now I don't have to worry.
He also does some cleaning now!!!
Lewann

lewann.fourpointwellness.com

J.,

I have a son with Aspeger's who is very high functioning and the symptoms are very similar to ADHD. He is ten and was diagnosed at 4. We have never put him on medication despite being urged to do so on different occations. My husband and I have focused on putting him in social skills groups to learn how to act appropriatly in social situations and at school. We have also worked with a behavior specialist in the home who has given us tools to help our son control his behavior in a positive way. It can be a very long and at times heartbreaking journey - but my son has improved his behavior 100% since the early days and has very few incidents at school anymore (he's in 4th grade). A good one-on-one is invaluable.
Although medication can and should be used in certain cases, my belief is that it should be last resort - or a short term solution while working on behavior solutions to get the child in a more secure place emotionally.
About me: 39 yr old Stay-at-home mom getting ready to go back to work at an elementary school... Married 16 years - 2 kids - 13 year old daughter and 10 year old son.

Hi J.. My daughter is not diagnosed with ADHD, but is mildly mentally retarded with some sensory integration problems and ADD type symptoms. We won't medicate her. A few years back we began taking her to a naturopathic practitioner who did a series of neurofeedback sessions with her. (She does these on ADHD kids, too.) The results were quite dramatic. The point of the neurofeedback was to prematurely mature brain connections. We did this when she was in 3rd grade for about a year. Now she's in 7th, and in the past 4 years we've had NO behavior problems with her at school.

Every naturopath has a different prism that they tend to view problems through, and so some of this woman's advice didn't really connect with with us, but the neurofeedback was impressive. It's something to look into. Good luck.

There is a chiropractor who I used to work for in Glendora who has been able to successfully treat children with ADD and ADHD. Check her website out at www.richardsfamilyhealth.com. Definitely worth the drive for the health and well being of your child.
Tell her J. Champion referred you.

Try St. Johns Wort. It worked pretty good for my son when he was little. That and a 7:30 or 8pm bed time

Hi J.-

I saw that you had a great response to your question! Its nice to know there are sooo many people out there!
I have not experienced what you have gone through. From what I have read in the past, most parents want to go the natural way. I am an independant distibutor for MonaVie. I cannot say enough great things about thsi prouct. I was doing some research this morning and I saw this article (not from MonaVie) :
Monavie is a product that has had alot of success with autism, in fact there is a school in chicago for autistic children that have added it to their diets because of the success they have seen. Certainly everyone should do their own research on a product for validity. I hope that people give it a try for the benefits, I know anything that makes life easier is a good thing. There is a lot of information out there about the product and the main ingredient (acai berry) letting you know the benefits. I know that it has personally helped individuals that I know. There are people who use this as a forum to benefit themselves and I would hate for that to turn people off from the product. I will not be leaving my personal info to gain from this post. I just hope those dealing with autism look at giving it a chance for their own benefit. =)
its all natural from 19 fruits, the acia berry being the primary. This acai fruit is sooo powerful with antioxidants, many people are seeing amazing results. People with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, Anemic and arthristist, to name just a few.
I would love to share more information with you... please send me an email and I can give you my email and phone number.
I live in Costa mesa...

Hi J.,

How challenging for you and your family! I am sympathetic to your plight, and even though I am not a mother, I am involved with sharing tips for health improvement, and may have some information that will help you.
Cutting out sugar is excellent, that will make a difference.
Also cutting out milk and dairy products will help. They are linked to juvenile diabetes and cancers of all kinds. And processed foods come with dyes and genetically modified organisms that can wreak havoc inside our bodies. Cloned meat is something else to be wary of, although I've recently learned that's it's already on our shelves.
Buy Organic meats and animal products, and if you can afford organic produce that's also a better choice than what supermarkets provide. Locally grown produce is also a way to get fresher produce and support the local economy.
Try to get lots of fresh, raw, fruits and veggies into your son, along with whole grains, beans, and legumes. The most important foods we can eat are those types of foods.
Also investigate the vaccinations that your son is scheduled for, including the flu. Find out just what's in them and decide for yourself whether or not contracting the disease will build a natural immunity later in life that will be more beneficial than the risk of the shot.

I have some other information contained in attachments I can email you, with tips on what chemicals to avoid in foods.
"Excitotoxins" is a good book to look for.
And I'm involved with a non profit organization that is researching the benefits of adding more fruits, veggies, and grains to our daily diets. Your son could qualify for this program which is going on in 14 countries world wide.
My name is K. and my email is ____@____.com
If you want to contact me we can talk.

All the best,
K.

J.,
As well as getting him off sugar, I have heard great results with eliminating dairy and wheat. Hopefully someone else with respond who knows about the book for this type of elimination diet. Do a search online too.
D.

Hi J.,
My name is R., I'm 38,married, three kids. My oldest son Jayce is now 15. He was diagnosed adhd in kindergarten. the school psyc gave him the o'conner scale test. this would determine a score to see how severe his disorder was. It was off the scale. There was not even a number for him. I like you tried adderall, stratera, concerta, ritalin. My son had halucinations, night sweats, insomnia, suppressed appatite. I was lucky to finally come across a teacher in 4th grade who was familiar with this disorder. That he could be over or under stimulated in order to control his behavior. Please please please find the book "teching the tiger". It is actually a manuel for teachers to cope with these types of students as well as terrets students. I learned more about this disorder and how to cope at home and school. What works with these kids and what does not. Be prepared to go to battle with schools, teachers, childcare, and even some family and friends. Get educated and remember to be a POSITIVE force in your son's life. He could turn out to be a successful business man. However, these kids are more likely to experiment with illegal drugs. Diet will help him nomatter what, also check all labels for red food coloring. It has an adverse affect on these guys. Try shopping at Trader Joes when possible for all natural alternatives. Do not compromise his education in order to get along with the school officials. In our state they have whats called an IEP program. Individualized education program. He was tested for eligability and they made allowances for his disorder. Check with your local special education director. This program binds the teachers and principals to the IEP program which protects you and your childs rights. You are allowed to be forfront in the decisions about your childs education. The program sets your child up for success rather than failure, and helps him to fit in rather than be conformed. Be prepared for social issues too, as these guys just don't have the capability to understand what is acceptable behavior and what is not. They act and then think. People just don't understand about ADHD, they would not ask a heart patient to run 3 laps around a track and then yell when he could not do it. These kids are incapable of doing what is expected and asked of them. When testosteron levels come in to play that's when you will see a difference. Maturity helps alot. My son is not on meds and is maintaining a B to C average in 9th grade. It will happen for you too, but in the mean time be patient, exercise for stress, portray positiveness for your boy. Let me know if I can help further. Best wishes on your journey. Smiles R.

Sorry to hear you haven't had any luck with the meds. My son was diagnosed when he was 7, he's now 9 1/2. He has been on Adderall XR and it has helped so much. I still control the sugar in his diet and because the side effect for this med is loss of appetite he takes a supplement call Boost. This has the extra protien and vitamins his body needs to compensate for the loss of appetite. His teachers have been great with working with him too. When he started on the Adderall XR, we started with 10mgs, he is up to 15mg now, but he told me not to long after we started the meds that he felt smarter. He said his brain was quite and smarter. I knew then we had made the right decision and I wish I hadn't waited as long as I did to start. I was told when he was 7 and in first grade and I didn't start him till he started second grade. Hope you find what works for you and your little one!

You may want to look into the Drake Institute for drug-free treatment. http://www.drakeinstitute.com/

As a mother of Add/HD/Dyxlesia daughter. You are on the right track about the sugar. No Sugar of anykind. Refined flour turns into sugar. Cereals have been processed so they have sugar. Oatmeal, cream of wheat are better,I use Splenda but just a touch, nothing instant. Also fruits have sugar. Be minimal with the fruit. Vary the fruit. Lots of liquids are good as long as they are sugar free. Hyper children burn a lot of calories and since they are so active they prespire alot. That is why water is important. My daughter also has many alergies. Her room has to be kept dust free and I bought a Sharper Image ionizer. It seems to work very well. At least she rests better at night. Loud music, noises are very irritating to her also. We speak softly and slowly. She gets calmer when she is home. This is also very calming to me also.

I also have a 5 year old who has been diagnosed with ADHD & I agree with the lady who recommended the Indigo children book. I have read a couple books about Indigos now & it is really helping to implement these new strategies that seem awkward to me but work for my son. Like explaining to him that this is how we do things here on earth. Cause he is much more aware about his life purpose here & it is difficult for him to care about learning things that he finds inconsequential to his future. I do have him in counseling which seems to be helping a little, but alot of what works is the changes I make in myself as well. Paying more attention to him, working with him in a playful way rather that a sit & learn way, having a HUGE amount of patience, putting him in a home school rather than a public school, and making sure I give him enough time & space to let his energy out in a positive way. The thing to remember is that these kids are here to change the world as we know it. So these characteristics are very important to make those changes. We are very honored to be the chosen parents because they knew we would have what it takes to raise them according to what they need rather than what we are used to. Also, in addition to healthier eating habits I give him herbs that help him calm down & I consulted a nutritionist for that info which I recomend because it is natural & usually consists of stuff the body already makes on its own. In Charlies case he just wasnt making enough of it. And of course a healhty dose of LOVE everyday no matter how annoying they may get ALWAYS let them know that you love them NO MATTER WHAT!

Hello
We are hypno therapists and spiritual healers - maybe we could be of service. You can reach us on 818/986.2855. Ezzy.

Hi J.,

I was at a blue-green algae conference a couple of years ago, and the one lecture that really stuck with me was a doctor who spoke for 1 1/2 hours about his work with kids and diet. He said that he had had alot of success with ADHD kids taking them off all artificial colorings and flavorings, etc, and other highly refined foods, and putting them on minerals they may be deficient in. His name is Dr. John Taylor, and his talk was: "Behavior, Learning & Health: The Dietary connection". Anyway, my notes on his talk also say that ADHD is an enzymatic disorder, also affected by excessive fat in the blood, but "red cells not enough fatty acids in cell walls.." (my cryptic notes). Anyway, here's his site I just found while researching him for you: http://www.add-plus.com/ The books tab has a couple of books he wrote about kids with ADD. Anyway, he really impressed me with his presentation. Hope this helps! And although I don't work the blue-green algae as a business, technically I am a distributor who can sign you up for free if you decide that's something you'd like to try for your child.

Aloha,

L.

I have read research conducted by Neurologists that indicate coffee twice a day (morning and at lunch) can greatly increase attentiveness in children with ADHD. While you would expect the coffee to make the child more hyper, it actually allows the child to become more focused. -Just be sure to use an artificial sweetener and not sugar to sweeten it up. As a Behavior Analyst, I recommend this to families before trying medication. It is worth a shot!

Hi there,
There was a book written about the use of Omega 3's to combat the affects of ADD and ADHD. My daughter was displaying a lot of the symptoms of ADD, and I started supplementing her diet with a children's version of Omega 3's and she improved dramatically. I know caffiene helps as well. :)

I have never had personal experience with this, but my husband was diagnosed at 5 years old and his mother said no to the drugs. They changed his diet and eliminated sugar and kept treats for special occasions. With that, she decided to take her Chiropractors advice and get him adjusted. By the first week of this, she saw amazing changes, within a month he was a new kid! This affected my husband so much that he dedicated his life to helping children and became a Chiropractor. Now he has helped so many kids and families and it has been such a blessing to see how families lives have been changed by something so simple and non-invasive that has no "side effects". When I asked him what you would do for a child, he said you have to support the adrenials and detox any heavy metals that were left from the vaccines if the child was vaccinated. My husband practices Nutritional Response Testing and it is a great way of asking the body what it needs, that along with the adjustment and change in diet has proven in our office to be extremely succesful. If you need to find someone in your area if you are interested, we would be more than happy to help you out. My husbands office has a firm belief that he does the adjustment and God does the healing. Hang in there and let me know if you want us to find a DC in your area.

Also, if you have not already done so, get your child on fish oils, my kids take Carlson for Kids Chewable DHA in bursting orange flavor and call it their "gum" vitamin! My husband orders it, but I am pretty sure that you can purchase it at Henry's Markets or Whole Foods Markets. If not, check out their website at www.carlsonlabs.com it supports proper brain function.

Lord bless you and I will pray for an easy solution and journey through this time for you!
W.

J.,
I would strongly encourage you to try a very incredible product of top nutrition and cleansing. You can read more about it at www.healthenergizer.isagenix.com. or call me at ###-###-####. Dr. K. Copeland

My son also has ADHD-in the 90's ritalin was the common answer and the side effects were terrible. So I used his diet as a way to help him. Please cut out all MSG and all foods that are not natural. This is hard, it means no junk or fast foods at all, lots of fresh foods are your best choice. When my son was having a VERY BUSY Episode we would sit down and have a cup of coffee with milk together, this calmed him down and soon he learned to let me know that he felt it was time for some coffee before he went a little too wild. I hope this helps you, remember that all boys are active and busy people, often the most talented adults were ADD as kids...
MomL

I have heard that Omega-3 is great for ADD/ADHD. I just ordered some for my son who has autism. It is supposed to be a great mood stabilizer. Check out Omegabrite.com. Good luck.

Hello J. S,

There are studies that have been done on kids diagnosed with ADHD/ADD who have been helped by acupuncture and Herbal medicine. Have you considered any of those remedies?

Having been around for over 5,000 years, acupuncture and herbal medicine have been helpful in the treatment of children's disorders such as ADHD/ADD. Acupuncture will help your child with the lack of focus issue... herbal remedies will also help...

It sounds like you are making good diet decisions for your child by eliminating sugar and processed foods from the diet. That is a good start.

If you have any further questions, you should look into finding an acupuncturist/herbalist who specialize in pediatric issues. If you are in the Las Vegas area, you can contact me at Rhee's Acupuncture Clinic, 1995 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, NV 89104, Tel ###-###-####.
Good luck, O. R.

Hi J.,
Research is showing that besides diet, the chemicals we are using to clean our house, wash our clothes and put on our skin are causing problems like ADHD. May I suggest Melaleuca. We have all natural products to replace the chemical ones that most people use today. We have been green since 1985 and every product is scientifically tested to do what it claims to do. To switch over to Melaleuca cost no new money. Just start buying from the company and it will be shipped to you. It cost $1.00 to become a member until March 20th. You can take a look at the web site at www.melaleuca.com I hope to hear from you. ____@____.com
C.

Hi J.,

We just found out our 2 year old falls under the Autistic spectrum. We have just started deep massages using a surgical brush. We only massage his arms, legs, and back torso, never his front torso or face. This massage stimulates his nervouse system and allows him to be more focused and attentive. After his massage we apply joint comprasions to his albows, knees, shoulders, wrists, and fingers. I highly suggest that you mention this technique to his pediatrician.We have seen a big improvement in Max since we started this treatment. This technique is known as The Wilbarger Protocol for Sensory Defensiveness, I have pasted a web address below that can give you more information. God Bless.

D. Munoz-Perez

http://www.thetherapyplace.net/newsletter/3_2.htm

Hi J.. You are on the right track...You need to get your little boy's "System" BALANCED. Eliminate slowly, one by one, sugars, white flour, everything "Artificial", etc. Start an all natural Diet. Eliminate all Proccessed foods as much as possible. I know in the real world that is pretty hard, but over time, it becomes a habit. Start adding a product called Extreme X20 to his water source. This product has over 70trace minerals, including the electrolytes Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium... It has a PH of 9.9. This is VERY IMPORTANT as well, because medications make the body ACIDIC and we need to make it ALKALYNE as soon as possible..Our bodies need these minerals for all of its ACTIONS and REACTIONS...
Most Children "DIAGNOSED" with ADD, or ADHA, usually have a MINERAL DEFICIENCY...As soon as he becomes "Balanced', you will start to notice an immediate difference.
Check out this product at www.xooma.ca It will be the best 5 minutes of your time you invested...

My son is also 7, but has not been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. He has some characteristics that are very typical in ADD/ADHD children. I have a degree in Child Development, and I have seen so many cases of ADD/ADHD, so I took it upon myself to completely change his diet. It's not just the sugar that you want to take away, but many other things. Start with refined sugar, high fructose corn syrup, artificial colorings...ESPECIALLY red and yellow (which is in so much), diary (very important)...milk has a lot of sugar, preservatives, chocolate, and be sure to make his diet as organic as possible. I had meetings with the school psych, and we agreed that if the diet didn't change his behavior, that we would have him clinically evaluated. I have been folowing the diet now for close to two months, and I have to say that he has done a 180* change. Try it and see, but just know that it takes two weeks for all the junk to come out of his system. Be patient and consistent. Shop at Whole Foods and Trader Joe's, and READ ALL LABELS. You will be surprised at how many brands of bread have high fructose corn syrup. Just FYI, my son is not deprived of anything. He gets cookies in his lunch, fresh fruit, cereal with organic soy milk, bread, and basically whatever he wants, it's just all natural and not full of junk! Good luck!

Hi there! I know very little about children with ADD or ADHD. However, my husband is a teacher and works with emotionally disturbed, autistic children and students with ADD/ADHD. We just had a baby in November and our Doula has a 7 year old girl who is ADHD. She cut out all gluten from her diet and said there is a night and day difference. She did this after trying several medications, trying no medications and nothing seemed to help. Maybe it's worth a try for a few weeks. Good luck to you!

Hi J.,

I am a chiropractor in Reno, Nevada (not sure where you live) and I have two kids and one adult I am currently working with that have ADD/ADHD. We have had great results and if you would like me to check your son to see if he might be a candidate for this type of care I would be happy to. You can call my office ###-###-#### and ask for a new patient apt. with me, Dr.A. Rammel. My consultation is free and I will let you know if this may be an option. If it is not we can explore some other natural remedies that may work for your son specifically.

M son also has ADD and I tried everything. The two things that made the biggest difference where getting processed foods out of his diet, artificial colors, preservatives, etc. The bigest help came from getting biodynamic craniosacral therapy. He is 22 now and still has some mild issuebs, but he's much improved. Go to www.craniosacratherapy.org to find a practionr near you. Best of luck.

Hi J.:

The young Living Esential oils aare homeopathic therapeutic oils that are good for many things. Check out the website to see what may work for your son.

https://www.youngliving.org/366584

J.,

I wish you the best of luck in your endeavor. We all want the best for our children and each one is unique. I took my now 14 year old son to an occupational therapist when he was 4 and showing signs of ADHD. (His older brother had it and was prescribed first Ritalin and then Concerta. Both only helped his mouth stop talking non-stop, and kind of curbed his impulsivity. Which at 23 he still has and is unmedicated). We didn't want to medicate a 4 year old. Well, we tried various "treatments," brushing, joint compression, weighted vests. They seemed to help some at home, but they wound him up in the therapy room. Maybe too much stimulation there, I don't know. Anyway, when he was 6, he was still wetting the bed and was self-conscience about it (bed wetting is common with children with ADHD I am told). My husband and I invested in a bedwetting program. Within 4-5 months my son was decalred completely "dry". It also solved his ADHD problem. Once his sleep problem was taken care of, (he was falling into deep sleep within minutes of getting in bed, not progressing through the stages of sleep, therefore not able to sense he needed to go to the bathroom), then the ADHD disappeared as well. I would have never guessed the correlation, but it worked for us. Now, it's hard to get him to do anything physical, but he does well in school, and plays in the band. Like I said, it worked for us, and it is another option to consider.

Hi J. (and Melissa, previous post)!
My daughter, aged 15 has suffered with symptoms similar to fibromyalgia. Her doctor wanted her to go on a heavy pharmaceutical regimen, however, I didn't want to go down that path. We have been using essential oils. Try calling this number during business hours:

1-800-371-2928 Young Living

There might be an oil blend out there to help with your situation. My daughter hasn't been taking these natural products very long, so the results have not yet been obvious. These things take a long time to heal....

Hugs,
M

Hi there first I wanted to say good for you for looking to change your sons diet to help. I dont know much about what exactly helps as far as food goes, but I saw a dr.Phill show once that talked alot about this issue and they had parents on there that did change their childrens diet and was very helpful. So maybe you could contact the show and they could help you with finding resources and experts in your area to help.

Find a homeopathic doc in your area. I have not heard any success stories from close friends who have opted to medicate for ADHD. I personally dont have experience with ADHD but I had a son with severe anxiety problems at a young age and we went for three years without treating it. Soon as we changed his diet and got him on some homeopathics he was a completely different person. Shocked the pants off everyone. I love homeopathics....love them. I have heard from many sources that artificial food colorings severely affect ppl suffering from ADHD. Maybe try that along with the no sugar.

One of the most helpful things, as an educator, I found for kids with ADHD is outside time... this is supported by a few recent studies. Make him play- and play hard- in nature. (Not only on play structures- but in actual nature- a park, etc.) I know it's not a cure-all, but I have found it to be extrememly beneficial for my students and also for the kids I work with in homes- play in nature!

For us the big difference wasn't from cutting out sugar but cutting out dyes and preservatives. We also eliminated all screen time except what he does on the computer at school. No TV, DVD's, video games of any sort but also, no medication needed. Our son is almost seven. Good Luck!!!

I have heard of wonderful nutritional advice from The Gerson Institute. Look into Raw Food Diet.....best of luck.

Hi J.,

I have children that has ADHD. I cut down the sugar and drink intake with sugar. I devoted my son to take an art class. It help him focus and sit still. soccer,Tae Kwondo and or any sport. Even the piano lesson or any musical lesson will help your son naturally. I don't believe in medication also but I thought I could try the scientific medication but it does not work, as you said, every medications has side effects. Sometimes as a mother, we have to make a decision for the sake of our child. You can check with Lindberg Nutrition Store and see if they have a herbal tablet that he can take it. The only thing we could do, is try and error about and see what will happen. We are the only one who could decide what best for our child. My son also played clarinet when he was growing up. I have busy doing sport,art lesson,music lesson. I even sit down with him when we doing his homework together. Just to follow up at home also with one on one basis. My son is already 21 yrs old and so far he was studying in NY doing Video and Games Designer and he lived there. He had one more year then he will come home and do his internship here in California. Keep him involve with sport or extra curricular activities to keep him busy. Also my son was in Boy Scouts. I have four children that I raised, two girls are both played 5 musical instruments and in Girl Scout, two boys played in the band also and in Boy Scout. I keep them busy when they're growing up because I am stay home mom. Good luck and I hope I can help.

A.

wow! You have a lot of reading, so I will keep it short: Omega 3 (Fish/Flaxseed Oil) does help; and has other great benefits, but it wasn't enough for us. And, caffeine DOES help; but it's short-term, and soda isn't healthy. We used unsweetened tea instead. I believe diet could help, but my son is so picky, it would never work for us. We ultimately (reluctantly) went with the meds - went thru a dozen meds and dosages before settling on Concerta, but it works great. He's now an honor roll student. So, do whatever works in your family and hold your head high. God Bless!

I have agrandson who is now 13. who was not diagonised with ADHD until he was 8. We tried alot of home remedies.Nothing worked. We also tried several perscription drugs. We hated putting him on the perscription drugs but he was un bareable other wise. If you son has ADHD then he probably has something else like ODD. We tried counciling several times which was a disaster. Because 1 told us pretty much to let him have his way. "Not". He is very smart.But has no comin since. We have him on concerta & risperdal because he would get anger over nothing & would start swinging.The main thing is watch his SUGAR intake. You can find alot of info on the net.

Hi J., I can relate to you, my son was diagnosed ADD at 5 yrs. was given medication which I in turn stopped because I did not like the side effects at all. my son was small for his age to begin with, the medication took his appetite away, he was loosing weight, SUPPRESSED!! Yes, he went from extremely active to lost in another world state, very quiet, complained of stomach aches. I just figured if God blessed me with my son as he was he would guide me also. I immediatly got him involved in sports, t-ball, baseball,football, kararte,hockey, wrestling, as the years progessed, he excelled in all.Just to aid in channeling all that energy constuctively.Music also was introduced.Yes, it was challenging But we got through it. He is now a young man of 25 yrs.& I am very proud of him.Hope this has helped.
Blessings to you.

Dear J.,
Greetings!!!

It's wonderful to hear that you have taken your son off these medications and are researching homeopathic and natural remedies instead. I STRONGLY, STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU NEVER PUT HIM ON ANY PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATIONS NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE, INCLUDING HIS TEACHERS, SAY TO THE CONTRARY!

I highly recommend contacting Dr. Anita Pepi who is truly an amazing Chiropractor and Nutritionist.

Here's her data:

2950 Los Feliz Blvd. Suite 101
Los Angeles, CA 90039
(323) 666~1088
http://www.drpepi.com

I'd also recommend checking out 4 organizations validating why going the natural route is best for you and your son:
http://ablechild.org/
http://www.cchr.org/
http://www.psychsearch.net/teenscreen.html
http://www.labelmesane.com/

I truly want you to know, J., that you are such an INCREDIBLE MOM!!!

Please free to call me anytime: (323) 906~2784 or you can e~mail me at ____@____.com,
L. (Mama to 23 week old Dylan Orion) : )))

Hi J.,
My son, too, also has ADHD and his symptoms go up and down daily. I recently put him on Concerta 13 mg. and its helped him alot. He is almost 9 years old. However, recently I lost my job so I couldn't afford his meds anymore and someone suggested to me, "Why don't you give him some coffee before he goes to school." I replied,"How is that going help? Won't it make things worse?" They replied,"No. It will have the opposite effect. It will work like the meds would." So I tried it and IT WORKS. Give it a try. Good luck. C.C.

J.,

I would highly recommend looking at the Feingold Diet http://www.feingold.org/ Many parents swear by it. I'm currently researching diet interventions for my 4.5 year old who has autism and is EXTREMELY hyperactive. Hyperactivity is common with autism so it is something that is discussed a lot on autism forums. Most folks try some sort of dietary interventions at some point and some are very successful with them. In addition to Feingold, there is a gluten/casein free diet (www.tacanow.com) and the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (I have a book on that one that I got off Amazon.com). Behavior and attention problems of all sorts can be a sign of food intolerance. So no matter what you try you should keep a food & behavior journal to see if you can spot a pattern between what he's eating and how he's acting. My son is sensitive to peanuts and eggs and any time he eats them his hyperactivity goes off the charts. Good luck!

T.

I see you are in San Luis Obispo (far from Westlake Village, Ventura County) but there is a place here that helps children "naturally" without meds and I hear people have had great results.
http://www.brainbalancecenters.com/
You'd have to go in for an evaluation to see if they could help your son. They do turn away people they can't help, but for those they can help I hear it's made a big difference. There are only 4 centers in the US (1 in Atlanta, 2 in NY, 1 here in SoCal). I think my friend goes 2-3 times a week (which would be really hard for you being you are so far away) but I'd give it a shot. Dr. Gary Erkfritz is my chiro and is really great.
I would also visit Mothering.com discussion boards (Mothering Magazine is a Natural Living Magazine) and post in the "Find your Tribe - Tribal areas" (so you can post in California/Nevada) and see if there are any moms in your area with your issue and see if there are local health care practioners that they can recommend to you.
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/
I have also heard ads for the Drake Institute on the radio:
http://www.drakeinstitute.com/

You are RIGHT to stay away from medications for this sort of thing. GIve him a good pure source of Omega 3 fatty acids, like Nordic naturals for kids (whole foods, whole wheatery should have it) and be strong about avoid artificial food dyes. If that doesn't do the trick, email me offline at ____@____.com and I'll shoot some other ideas your way. Don't let them bully you into thinking you are doing him harm by not going the drug route. They are misinformed and your instincts are right.
Best Wishes,
J.

In recent studies sodium benzoate has been linked to hyperactivity in children, so you could try avoiding that. It's a common preservative in sodas and salsa and other packaged food.
Cranio-Sacral Therapy has also had a good track record in treating severe ADHD. You can contact the Upledger Institute to find a certified CST practitioner in your area.
Massage (by you or a professional) has also been shown to reduce hyperactivity and encourage body self-awareness in children.
Good luck!

Australian Bush Flower Essences, I found the ADOL works wonders and is very easy and the kids feel the difference very soon.

Hi J., I have been on this AMAZING juice called MONAVIE, and its so amazing that it has helped with many kids with ADD/ADHD etc... the great thing is it is just fruit, but the 19 fruits that were chosen for this juice have the most incredible anti-oxidant value (way higher than the blueberry or cranberry) and are very high in anti- inflammatory properties. It also has natural Omega 3,6,9 oils and glucosomaine derived from the corn husk. So believe me its the most natural juice I have ever seen. I could send you some of the e-mails from parents with kids that have benefitted from taking it if you would like. Email me at ____@____.com kids love it and have managed to stay relatively healthy during all the illnesses that have gone around. I hope you call.
C.

Hi J.,
My stepson had ADHD and is now grown. I did alot of research back then and have always had in interest in it. Back then I gave him chromium picolinictinate because that helps level the blood sugar. I now am a distributor for a company that carries a product that has 19 fruits in it and that does the same but is even better because it gives you the nutrients your body needs. Let me know if you would like to try it. My 13 year old takes it and he says it makes him more focused at school. I am all about the natural stuff. I was not happy with the meds. my son was prescribed and there are so many side effects!

As a teacher, I understand how tough ADHD is from the other side. Here's an idea that was very successful for one of my ADHD students years ago: if the student got part of the lesson completed, I'd let him take a short jog around campus to bleed off some of that extra energy, then he'd come back for more work. He got more work done that way and we didn't drive each other crazy. I will say that this was at a small private high school, and I could see his jog route from my classroom door.

My son is squirrley in class (not ADHD) and I've often suggested this to his teachers, always to a resounding no because of lack of supervision. Perhaps your son's (future) para-pro could supervise your son's jogs? When I tried this strategy at home (in terms of focusing on chores or homework), it was also successful. The chance to move around can be such a great incentive, at any level!

I don't know. It's just a thought.

BTW, I also use Meleleuca products in my home. I think they're great. You might give that lady's response another look.

Good luck.

Although I have not had to deal with something like this, I wanted to root for you and your family. This must be stressful. Hang in there!

The only thing I can offer is this: I have had results with listening to a mother's intuition. And if yours is telling you to seek out complimentary options (not necessarily giving up completely on a traditional western approach)... you are probably 99.9% on the mark, and you will only know for sure after you've followed your instinct.

Are you in Hawai'i? There is a great Naturopathic doctor on Oahu, who is also a midwife. She is certainly familiar with ADD/ADHD in children, and she comes highly recommended. If you are interested, I'm happy to pass along her info.

Your son is lucky to have such a devoted and caring mom. I hope your situation improves soon!

Hi J.,
My children do not suffer from this condition, however the refined sugars and the YEAST are offenders from diseases and conditions which many people suffer and do not even realize. It's great that you cut out as much sugar as possible. Try to cut all refined sugars out if you possibly can. There are natural substitutes you can use in place of sugar, like Stevia, for example. Sugars from fruits are fine- the 100% natural fruit juices are great. Go as organic as you can with him so he is not affected by any chemicals or hormones etc. Take the yeast completely out!!! There is a child safe product called Candex he can take for Candida Albicans that will help get rid of only the bad bacteria. Both my children have it everyday. I break open the capsule and dump the powder in their juice. I also have them on a Probiotic chewable. It would also be beneficial to have your son completely off any dairy from the cow. I know it may sound difficult. I did this with my daughter, who I was having a very difficult time with, and within 2 days, she was like a new child. She LOVED the healthier way of eating, too! It may not seem to taste so good, or seem appealing to us, but your son may actually love it :) I bet he has a lot of sensitivities to things in his food, and he also is probably very smart. Perhaps he is bored with the way he's being taught in school and needs to be approached a different way? Rather than give his little body drugs, try taking him to a Naturopathothist. My friend overcame M.S. she had since she was a child, and became one of these doctors to help others who suffer from this disease and others. My neighbor sees this type of doctor, who is located in Laguna Hills. She has really had a healing transformation. He can work with your son in a healthy way, and treat him accordingly. If you would like to get more in depth, feel free to email me :) I hope all goes well.

Blessings and smiles,
J. W.

Hi J.,
I'm not directly affected by ADHD, but I have a friend whose son was diagnosed with ADHD and a son who has mild autism and I'm always providing her with info as it comes along. Here is a website I found and forwarded to her.
http://www.bodyecology.com/08/03/06/should_parents_of_chi...

Also, I've read that some chemicals will also exasperate children's symptoms so switching to safer non-toxic products may also help.
I'm a customer of Melaleuca and can give you info on that if you're interested. http://www.TotalWellnessInfo.com

C.~

Hi J.,
I have been doing a nutritional cleansing program called Isagenix for 2 1/2 years now, which has brought wonderful health benefits to my family. One of the nutritionalists involved with this company, has been doing some testing of children and young adults who have trouble focusing in school, & have behavior problems. He is seeing dramatic results just by adding nutritional shakes into their daily lives. I encourage you check out www.powerfulcleanse.com and contact me if you are interested in hearing more. ____@____.com L. ###-###-####

Greetings J.,

Sounds like you have an awesome school and great support. Have you also tried eliminating all food and drinks with Red food coloring, dye number 40. This also has an effect I have noticed on children's behavior. When I taught first grade many moons ago, (an educator for 22 years) a parent shared she gave her child a natural substance, "Calm Child". I would never have suspected that this child was ADHD. I recently saw this at my Health Food Store. My little guy is only 3 years at present and diet is so very important in maintaining his disposition. I was giving him fruit snacks and his behavior was out of control. Lo and Behold, dye #40 is used. It is found in a lot of foods to get the color pink, orange, red, purple and blue. Even Go-gurts had it! Eliminating this really helped bring my boy back to balance. If ever the time comes that I need to try 'Calm Child' I will. I know there are lots of answers out there and wish you lots of luck as you find his!

Hi, I use a Homeopathic remedy ESE and it has been working. My son is more focused now. It is from Sunrider. My friend Tanya is a distributor. You can reach her at ###-###-####. No side efects eaither. Hope that helps
Y.

A Mom I know cut out all processed foods from her 7 year old son's diet. She buys all organic, fresh, no-preservative foods and she said it has helped a lot with his ADHD.

AROMA THERAPY. research it! You will be amayzed!!!!

TrueHope.com.

It is being studied at Harvard for the treatment of multiple mental health issues among adults and is being studied at the University of Calgary Behavioural Psychology department among children with diagnosis's as far ranging as Aspergers, Autism Spectrum, Bi-polar and ADHD (both are being undertook by medical communities and are the ONLY vitamin / mineral supplement being studied for it's effects on ADHD).

Read the information on the site about success for children with ADHD.

A friends father founded the company 15 years ago. We are very very proud of how it is helping people. I myself am a participant.

I agree with Nellie B. Caffeine in small doses works well. My son has severe ADD but is unable to take any of the prescription meds because of a low seizure threshold. We use coffee or diet soda. Sugar is the enemy! He completely comes unglued when he has any. Exercise is very beneficial and also helps boost his self esteem. I used to have to speak with his teachers to let him stand at his desk during school or let him walk around during reading time. They were all very good about letting him do what he needed as long as it wasn't disruptive during class. It is possible to help them without meds. I was just told today that he won the award for top student at his middle school and not because he has the best grades or the best attendance but because he is all around a good person. I have had many teachers say they wish they had a classroom full of him or they wish they could clone him. If you have problems with the school, look into getting an advocate. ADD/ADHD is a disability but the schools like to fight you on it, good luck!

Dear J.,
I have a son with ADHD. He is 11 now. We struggled with the decision to medicate or not to medicate. We tried the bio feedback, herbs, changing his diet. It did not work for Sean. It does work for some.

We finally went the route of medication, because he was falling farther and farther behind in school. We tried medadate and it made him a zombie and he could not shut down at night. He is now on Adderall and we have had no side effects. He still has a little trouble concentrating sometimes, but I think he just gets overwhelmed with some subjects. He is doing much better and even sleeping soundly at night.

The one thing our doctor said was that there is a myriad of ADHD medications out there and everyone is so different. It takes time finding the right one sometimes.

Good luck, and best wishes for your son and family!

I believe you can effectively treat ADHD with diet. I helped my son throughout his high school with his ADD. Email Shula Edelkind [____@____.com] or google Feingold and you will have resources that will help you a great deal. I also had my son take aphanazomonon flos aqua (blue green algae). I get mine from Desert Lakes Technology in Klamath Falls, OR. It comes in small tabs and are easy to swallow. I still take it to this day to help with concentration and memory.

Remove any and all products from your pantry that have dyes, preservatives, and artificial sweetners...down to gum. Soda can aggravate the condition, especially diet soad. Absolutely, without question, remove any products you have in your home that have aspertame. Sensitivity to chemicals found in soaps and even his hygiene care items can aggravate his condition until you get it stabilized.

ADHD is an issue of messages in the brain being short-circuited. If you can get him to eat a lot of healthy nuts (almonds, walnuts) he will benefit from the fats in those nuts. Cod liver oil is good too but its taste is mostly undesireable to most people. Our brain is 60% fat and when chemicals cross the blood brain barrier it scrambles messages and aggravates behavior. The healthy fats help protect the brain. You can also get them into his foods via olive oil instead of other kinds of cooking oils.

A lot of this information is available through Feingold. I hope this helps...

One last thing, keep things in your home as peaceful as possible. A calm, strongly centered home environment is your son's best friend. And don't ever allow his ADHD to become an excuse for his behavior. If that happens, he will be teathered to it for all of his life and use it as an excuse for all kinds of ailments of spirit and soul.

There is a good chance, combined with a healthier diet, that love, strength, strong boundaries and guidelines and support will help him outgrow the downside of his ADHD as he matures.

If you have any other questions you can respond to this response. Wishing you success and strength as a mother and woman.

C.

About me:

I am a mother of four children ranging in ages from 23 to 36. I am self-educated in nutrition and currently represent a 28 year old health and wellness company that distributes pure, safe, and beneficial products internationally. Our focus is broad based and includes inner and outer health (skin care, hormone balancing, weight management, and supplementation with whole food vitamins – for children to mature individuals).

I am also the author of “Diamond Moms, A Mother’s Guide to Raising a Baseball Player” available on Amazon. While it educates mothers about the sport, it is also a book on parenting and the importance of being a strong, disciplined, and loving mother. Don’t ever leave yourself out of the picture!!

Hi J., I also have an 8 yr old boy with ADHD who a year ago sounded much like your little boy. We chose not to use precribed medication but try to monitor his diet & use an herbal supplement that was recommended by my chiropractor. I am so glad that we did, becuase he is doing so much better. He does not get in trouble as much in school & can focus so much better. The supplement is called Nutri-West Complete Children's Co-Factors & DHA/EPA, you can only get it from health care providers that are distributors. I don't know their web address but you could probably google it. We try to make sure he has protein with every meal including snacks, too many carbs makes him very hyper. As little sugar as possible, so we buy diet drinks & sugar free desserts. Try to increase his caffeine & try sour sugar free candy. In school, you could ask his teacher if he could listen to classical music during individual task time & a stress ball is also helpful. Structure is also key, he likes to stay on schedule for activities & meals. I purchased an activities chart to keep track of his chores so he can be rewarded for completing so many each week. He loves being rewarded for doing his chores & he can use the chart to remind him what he needs to do each day. I'm sure you noticed that you must ask your son to do something several times before he actually remembers what you asked him to do because he is already thinking about something else or what he wants to do. I get very frustrated sometimes but have to remind myself to be very patient with him. He is very bright & his teachers love him but they too have been pushed to their limits on occasion. We communicate weekly on his progress & they are so helpful in keeping him on track. He has done a 360 from a year ago, he was in the principal's office weekly & this year he has only visited her one time!!!! I hope this helps, one or more of these tips might help but then again each child is different & unique but it is definitely worth a shot. Good luck :)

Hi J.,
Have you tried the gluten free/ caseine free diet? How about taking out artificial colors, flavors? I have several things that work for us. Can you email me at
____@____.com

As far as the baby goes, spread out the vaccines. If you can wait until he's 2 to give him any more, do it. I have some natural supplements that we use, but I'd rather have you email me, then we can talk more.
Hope to hear from you soon,
L.

My son also has severe ADD. We got great relief of symptoms from the Feingold diet, to the point where it's easy to pinpoint when he had eaten something he shouldn't, because within 20 minutes he's running around the room and throwing things again. They're at www.feingold.org.

Something else you can try for immediate relief is Epsom salts baths. It sounds strange, I know, but there's science behind it. Some (most?) kids with ADD are lacking an enzyme (phenol sulfotransferase) that breaks down certain compounds in plants. It appears the limiting factor is sulfate, which is a form of sulfur, a necessary nutrient that performs detox functions in the body. Anyway, Epsom salts supply sulfate, and for some kids the effects are dramatic. When my son was running around screaming and throwing things, if I wrestled him into the tub, within 10 minutes he'd be calm and singing. Still works, though he doesn't have a lot of reactions anymore.

If you're going to try it, use about 2 cups in a tubful of very warm water, along with a cup of baking soda (reduces skin irritation) and make sure he stays in 20 minutes or so.

Good luck!

L.

Hi J.,

I also have a son who is ADHD. Have you tried to give him all natural foods? Foods that are organically grown? There have been studies about children being allergic to the foods because of the chemicals that are put into them.

Also, does your child have sleep problems? You might want to check this out if he does. My child only sleeps a total of 3 hours a night. There are tests that can be done if he doesn't sleep, like a sleep-apnea test.

I can't give you any other suggestions since my son is on medication and this is the only way we can keep him calm enough to study and be a regular teenager. I do give him organic foods, and that seems to help.

J. W.

I was curious for other options as well.

Hi J.,

I was reading thru all of the many helpful responses you received and can't help but put my two cents in. I noticed that you already received info on young living essential oils in prior posts. Please take the time to give it some serious consideration. I have had the great opportunity to see this stuff work. Its inexpensive & simple to use. My dear friend, Stacey, actually does in home visits with people that are interested in using this product..... I recently started my mom on it, she suffered from Hepatitis C and was not diagnosed for over 10 years... needless to say her liver functions were completely inept. She is now (per her doctors advice) able to stop her shots and is now in starting to gain her liver function again.
I could tell you tons of stories about the people who have been using them that I know personally, but if you have a chance, feel free to email me at ____@____.com and I will hook you up with Stacey - she will even provide some samples if you are not 100% sure this is the route you want to take.
By the way, she has been eating gluten free products for over 20 years now and can help you in that respect as well. I wish you all the best!

Sincerely
C.

J.,
I have been a teacher for many years, specializing in Behavior Modification. I have had several children of all ages "diagnosed with
ADHD and ADD. Many were on medication. I am a Christian and have always been open to God's leading and His knowledge for me to help children. I am happy to say that each of the children who were on meds or were considered to be going on it, were medication free, improved behavior and a positive self image was established. Parents were so relieved as were the children, who were terribly uncomfortable in their hyper state. This is what I did and for these children, doctors, psychologists, parents and even children recognized the improvements, dramatically. Doctors even took their patients eventually off of medication. I am not a doctor, but was always willing to being a part of the working force to help children. First, I made sure that the children had healthy breakfasts,fresh fruit (better than juices), protein, carbs at each meal.
At mid morning the children brought a snack, ie almonds and a 1/2 apple or cheese and a piece of fruit, something that had both a good protein to sustain the blood sugar and a carb, ie fruit, to give a quicker lift, first. After the child became accustomed to their special treats, which they chose with the guidance of their parents and a good nuitritionist, was the beginning of behavior changes. Lunch came a couple of hours later and then a mid afternoon snack...the same protein and fruit. I like the combination of nuts and fruit because it is healthy and sustaining. When the child goes home, a snack, just a small one, dinner and perhaps a little something an hour before bed. The idea is to sustain the blood sugar level to help keep the child in balance andnot nervous or antsy! I next important thing is to keep a calm voice. Do not (if possible ) over react by yelling, but rather by being audibly and verbally clear what the child needed to do, even if it meant for the teacher or the parent to take the child to his/her seat and be clear that there is where they needed to be. Now, in the beginning, don't expect a child to sit for 10 minutes at a time. Start with small steps and praise them for doing such a good job of staying where they needed to be. Exxplain to the child that sometimes we all get to feeling like we need to move around or fiddle with something. In that case, I recommend play dough for the child to take out, when they felt that nervousness begin in come over them. Now, you have them snacking in a healthy way, talking in a reasonably quiet voice, praising their improvements,giving them use when they need a little distraction. I wish that you were in LA, I would love to try to help. I hope this helps. Always talk to a doctor and have blood work done to ensure that blood levels are in sync. A good nutritionist with a Master's in biochemistry is good, too. Hug your child and let him/her talk about how they feel when they start getting antsy and when they feel calm..That is a good thing.
Look forward to your child liking themselves , school and their environment a whole lot more. It may take a couple of weeks to a month to see changes, if you are consistent.
Sandy

Getting off pharmaceutical drugs is a VERY GOOD THING! They will cause more damage than good! Try to cut out ALL processed foods and ALL sugars - especially the refined kind. And NO SODA! Toxic stuff that is. Also be very wary of fruit juices which are extremely high in fructose. Try to juice your own organic fruits for a much healthier alternative to chemically laden store bought juice. Limit his intake of dairy products unless they are 100% organic as dairy is loaded with hormones (especially milk and cheese!). Fill his diet with raw fruits and vegetables and fish like salmon which is high in Omega 3 essential fatty acid. Brain food I call it. No red meat, no burgers! Cold cuts and sausage are highly processed meats containing egregeously high amounts of nitrates. Limit the amount of salt intake too. Valerian root is a good herb and acts as natural sedative - but only in very small quantities.

Remember - doctors are quick to describe an active (advanced) soul as having ADHD. Most doctors only want to put people on drugs because Big Pharma gives them kickbacks. Your child is just more evolved than most. Teach him some meditation exercises - perhaps even do some easy yoga and breathing techniques with him. And take him to a naturopathic nutritionist.

Hope this helps!

You have to keep trying the medications, till you find the medication that goes with your son, and this depend on your judgement and your kid's performance and of course it depend on a good doctor as well who can understand your concerns.
Did you try Adderall ???? having kids on a special diet doesn't really helps with ADHD,you are only delaying his years of achievement. The problem is to find the right medication that goes with your son, with the right doctor....

my son was diagnosed with ADD when he was in the 2nd grade. We tried ridelin for awhile. We found that if you try eliminate foods with red dye, that helps some too. And we also gave him coffee. I know that sounds funny but we found that the caffein helped to control things alittle better. It counter acts the hyperness. Let me know if any of this helps.
Good Luck----He is now 26 with his own child and she acts just like him.

You might want to try limiting dairy products too. It has made all the difference in my daughter's attention/ excitability.

try the gluten free diet. No wheat, no pastas, no flour. all these makes them less hyper. it does not cure the child but it helps a lot. Actually the diet is gluten and casein(dairy) free products. I only do the gluten because it is very hard to do the dairy free diet because my son loves milk. You can see the difference in 3 months. Some parents say it works for their children some say it does not work for others. It makes a difference for mine but after 3 months I saw the difference in my child. Go to the internet and look for the gluten and casein free diet for more info.
O.