In small doses kids can do well with meds and some absolutely need them to function, but if your child can see improvement by changing their diet or taking some supplements it would be a much safer route health wise.
Effective Treatments for ADHD Children
However studies are beginning to show that long term use of stimulants can have negative effects on the body. Studies have shown that stimulant drugs can actually slow a child's growth by ½ an inch every year that they are taking the medication. There are drug free treatments for ADHD children so try natural methods and discuss your options with your doctor before giving your child a drug.
Behavioral Therapy- Studies have proven that ADHD is actually a learned behavior. There are negative behaviors and thought patterns that develop early in a child's developmental stage. In order to break these behaviors you may need a therapist to work on identifying what caused the inattention, hyperactivity or both to stop these behaviors from repeating themselves and intensifying.
A combination of meds and therapy has been the most successful approach. Therapy helps to stop inattention/hyperactivity at the source (the mind) and medications help keep a child with adhd focused and better behaved in between sessions. As the sessions progress you can ween your child off the medications for good (if all goes well!).
NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming)- This method is an expensive form of therapy, but it has literally cured more people with ADHD than any other method. This is a combination of hypnotherapy,psychotherapy and language.
Here’s How it works:
Neurology- Regulates how the body functions
Language- The basis of our interactions and communication with others
Programming- Learned behaviors and personal view of the world (what’s engraved in the brain)
NLP helps a child with ADHD to reprogram negative beliefs and attitudes that make inattention and hyperactivity more severe. An NLP practitioner is very expensive, but there are books, DVDs and Cd’s all with NLP style therapy. Severe cases may need a person to talk to, but people have seen great success by getting a highly rated CD or DVD as well.
Learn more about NLP, EEG and other natural treatments for ADHD children here…
Meditation- This is perfect by nature for either inattentive or hyperactive types. The basis pf meditiation is to focus on nothing but the way you are breathing. A child with ADHD under the age of 6 years old might have a hard time focusing on their breathing (especially if ADHD is present), but older children should be able to do this. This is also a great exercise in focusing for inattentive kids. The benefits of meditation are long term and may take a few weeks to see results.
Neurofeedback (EEG biofeedback)- EEG Teaches how to control your brainwaves. Expensive therapy but praised by professionals for being as effective as meds without the dangerous side effects. The positive effects of neurofeedback are said to be permanent by those that have tried it.
Homeopathic Remedies- All natural substances from plants, animals and minerals that benefit the body by improving concentration, restlessness and hyperactivity. With no known side effects homeopathic remedies are a good substitute for all natural herbs which at times can interfere with the effects of prescription medications. Homeopathic remedies work wonders with all kinds of mental and physical ailments by naturally restoring balance to the body and mind of a child with ADHD.
Homeopathy is a holistic treatment that seeks to cure the entire body as a whole rather than just the isolated symptoms. The phrase “like fixes like” is often used to describe the homeopathic approach. In much the same way that snake venom is used to create an anti-venom that will save your life from poisoning homeopathic substances use a small bit of a substance that has similar effects as the problem you are having (in this case inattention/hyperactivity) to actually alleviate the problem.
EXAMPLE: A holistic/homeopathic remedy that has worked wonders for hyperactive children is to give them 1-2 cups of coffee a day. “Wouldn’t that wind up a child with ADHD hyperactive kid even more?” you ask. With other children yes, but with a truly hyperactive child a little bit of caffeine will actually balance them out and calm them down. (consult with your doctor before giving your child caffeine)
Nutrition- This is more of a small lifestyle change than a treatment, but its effects should not be taken for granted. Part of the reason that so many children (and adults) have ADHD is the amount of refined sugars, preservatives and processed foods that we all eat.
Tweaking your childs diet a bit is one of the easiest and most rewarding treatments for ADHD children. Most of the food at the average grocery store is loaded with chemicals that preserve flavor, freshness and colors in the foods that we eat. Making sure that your child gets the right amount of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and proteins in a day could make a big difference in attitude and focus.
Fish has an abundance of omega 3 fatty acids which seem to be missing from the diet of most ADHD children. That along with food dyes and additives are suspected to be the main biological cause of inattention and hyperactivity. Make sure to limit processed foods and try to offer a balanced and natural diet for a child with ADHD.
Exercise- This may sound like a no brainer, but with video games and Internet connections in just about every household it can be easy for kids to choose to be a couch potato rather than go outside and get some exercise with friends. Daily exercise releases endorphins into the blood stream that help to keep you at your best both physically and mentally.
Exercise is a physical outlet that promotes all sorts of positive benefits for the mind and body. Make sure that your child gets at least an hour of good outside playtime (or rigorous indoor play) every day. Being cooped up in the house is bound to wind a kid up and make them hyperactive. A lot of treatments for ADHD children could be avoided with a more active lifestyle.
Which Treatments for ADHD Children Work the Best?
As you can see there are several approaches outside of using harsh medications. The side effects are bad enough for an adult, but rather than putting a child with ADHD at risk I highly recommend that you try some other options first. Try to save prescription medications as a last resort. However, if your child does need the meds don’t be afraid to supply them either. Medications are not all bad and they do relieve inattention and hyperactivity almost instantly. For some kids keeping them from medication is sentencing them to constant and avoidable difficulties.
The problem is that the effects only last as long as you are taking the medication. That’s not to mention the side effects that a child with ADHD could have. This is usually resolved quickly and with no serious consequence, but the long term effects of these drugs has yet to be tested.
Try more natural methods and you can help your child with out subjecting them to possible side effects that could make things even worse. There are plenty of treatments for adhd children that are 100% natural and completely drug free. If all else fails a light dose of medication and behavioral counseling has been the most effective strategy to date.
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