ADHD Natural Treatments Cures Facts And Herbs That Work

Ideally, ADHD treatment will touch on many aspects of a patient's life, from daily routines to exercise to behavior therapies to nutrition. ADHD is likely a multifactorial disease, therefore it deserves to be treated on many fronts. The following lifestyle changes can help in reducing the anxiety associated with ADHD:

Diet. Aim for a well-balanced diet. Avoid unnecessary simple sugars. Use specific elimination diets only in partnership with a physician. People observing elimination diets are likely to need supplementation with vitamins, minerals, and possibly other nutrients.
Exercise. Moderate to vigorous physical activity is beneficial for all children but especially for children who have behavior disorders. Try moderate-intensity activity for 30 minutes almost every day and a minimum of 30 minutes of vigorous activity 3 to 4 days a week.
Mind-body techniques. Try massage, biofeedback, and meditation. Avoid information overload. Some children with ADHD benefit from predictable, rigid schedules.
In addition, the following nutrients may help relieve symptoms:

Zinc—15 to 30 milligrams (mg)/day
EPA/DHA—1400 mg/day of EPA and 1000 mg/day of DHA
Vitamin E—400 International Units (IU)/day of alpha-tocopherols and at least 200 mg/day of gamma-tocopherols
Magnesium—160 to 500 mg/day
Vitamin B6—up to 250 mg/day
Acetyl-L-carnitine—1000 to 2000 mg/day
Melatonin—300 micrograms (mcg)/day to 3 mg/day
DHEA—15 to 75 mg/day; have blood tested after 3 to 6 weeks to determine optimal levels
Ginkgo biloba—120 mg/day
American ginseng—500 mg/day


ADHD Safety Caveats
An aggressive program of dietary supplementation should not be launched without the supervision of a qualified physician. Several of the nutrients suggested in this protocol may have adverse effects. These include:

Acetyl-L-Carnitine

Acetyl-L-carnitine can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and diarrhea.
DHEA

Do not take DHEA if you could be pregnant, are breastfeeding, or could have prostate, breast, uterine, or ovarian cancer.
DHEA can cause androgenic effects in woman such as acne, deepening of the voice, facial hair growth and hair loss.
EPA/DHA

Consult your doctor before taking EPA/DHA if you take warfarin (Coumadin). Taking EPA/DHA with warfarin may increase the risk of bleeding.
Discontinue using EPA/DHA 2 weeks before any surgical procedure.
Ginger

Do not take ginger if you have a bile duct obstruction or gallstones. Ginger may stimulate bile production.
High doses of ginger (6 grams or more) can cause damage to the stomach lining and ulcers.
Ginger can cause anllergic skin reactions.
Consult your doctor before taking ginger if you take blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin). Ginger can increase the risk of bleeding.
Ginkgo Biloba

Individuals with a known risk factor for intracranial hemorrhage, systematic arterial hypertension, diabetes, or seizures should avoid ginkgo.
Do not use prior to or after surgery.
Avoid concomitant use of ginkgo with NSAIDS, blood thinners, diuretics, or SSRI’s.
Gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea and diarrhea) may occur.
Allergic skin reactions may occur.
Elevations in blood pressure may occur.
Magnesium

Do not take magnesium if you have kidney failure or myasthenia gravis.
Melatonin

Do not take melatonin if you are depressed.
Do not take high doses of melatonin if you are trying to conceive. High doses of melatonin have been shown to inhibit ovulation.
Melatonin can cause morning grogginess, a feeling of having a hangover or a “heavy head,” or gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and diarrhea.
Vitamin B6

Do not take vitamin B6 if you are being treated with levodopa, unless you are taking carbidopa at the same time.
Do not take high doses of vitamin B6 (5 milligrams or more daily).
Vitamin E

Consult your doctor before taking vitamin E if you take warfarin (Coumadin).
Consult your doctor before taking high doses of vitamin E if you have a vitamin K deficiency or a history of liver failure.
Consult your doctor before taking vitamin E if you have a history of any bleeding disorder such as peptic ulcers, hemorrhagic stroke, or hemophilia.
Discontinue using vitamin E 1 month before any surgical procedure.
Zinc

High doses of zinc (above 30 milligrams daily) can cause adverse reactions.
Zinc can cause a metallic taste, headache, drowsiness, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and diarrhea.
High doses of zinc can lead to copper deficiency and hypochromic microcytic anemia secondary to zinc-induced copper deficiency.
High doses of zinc may suppress the immune system.