ADHD Not Helped by St. John's Wort

In addition to traditional prescription medication, some parents turn to herbal remedies for treating their child's Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. But a study conducted by Bastyr University in Washington has found that on of the more popular herbs, St. John's Wort, is not an effective treatment for ADHD.

"[Lead author Wendy] Weber and co-workers recruited 54 children with ADHD aged between six and 17, and randomly assigned them to receive a daily supplement of 300 mg of [St. John's Wort]... or placebo for eight weeks... At the end of the study, the researchers reported no significant differences between the groups with respect to inattentiveness or hyperactivity."

The researchers aren't ruling out St. John's Wort completely, noting that it may be beneficial when combined with other herbs or medication. But as a stand-alone treatment it appears to be ineffective. Source: NutraUSA

St. John's Wort Doesn't Help Children with Attention Deficit

St. John's Wort, an herbal remedy for depression, does not help children with Attention Deficit Disorder/Hyperactivity (ADHD), according to a joint study from scientists at Harvard University, Bastyr University, and the University of Washington.

Wendy Weber, lead author, divided 54 children with ADHD into two groups. One group took St. John's Wort three times a day, and the other took a placebo. After eight weeks, the two groups showed no significant difference in their symptoms or side effects.

This study appears in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Skin Patch Effective in ADHD Treatment

A team from the University of Cleveland has conducted a study in which they determined that skin patches are a safe and effective treatment of ADHD for children 6 to 12 years old.

"'The findings are significant because only a relatively modest amount of work has been done to examine the effects of ADHD treatments by gender,' said Dr. Robert Findling."

Three-hundred and twenty-six children participated in the study, which found that a skin patch improved ADHD symptoms in 41 percent of boys and 23 percent of girls. Source: The Post Chronicle

Change in Diet can Help

The most common treatment for ADD and ADHD is medication. But some research indicates that changes in a child's diet, along with medication, can significantly improve ADD or ADHD symptoms.

"A number of nutritional approaches have been promoted to help manage ADHD, with most involving some form of food restriction or dietary supplementation... (Dietary modification and nutritional supplements should not be used instead of the usual medication without a doctor being involved.)"

Reducing food additives, decreasing sugar, and increasing magnesium and zinc have all been shown to improve ADD/ADHD symptoms in some children. When making dietary changes, it's best to change one thing at a time and take note of what works and what doesn't. Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)

ADHD and Exercise

Dr. John Ratey, MD, has written several books including his newest, Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, in which he explores the benefits of exercise for people with ADHD.

"There are many reasons for exercise in ADHD. Exercise almost immediately elevates dopamine and norepinephrine and keeps them up for a period of time so that it acts like a little bit of Ritalin or Adderall. It also helps to still the impulsivity and still the cravings for immediate gratification..."

Studies have also shown that exercise has a direct effect on learning by improving the brain's potential to process new information. Dopamine and serotonin also increase as a result of exercise, causing improvements in overall mood. Read more at ADD.About.com.

Medication-Free Treatment

Many parents of children with ADHD and other developmental disabilities are looking for treatments that require little or no medication. A program in Beverly, Massachusetts offers that kind of program.

"Goodchild's treatment is based on the theory that simple movements like crawling are critical to a child's brain development, and he believes that recreating those developmental milestones will help heal the brain. 'We can use movement to correct what's been mis-wired,' he said."

Though the method has been around for decades, there's no scientific proof that is actually works. There is however, mounting experiential evidence as parents see dramatic results in their children's behaviors after enrolling them in similar programs.

Cedars Academy schools for learning disabilities understand the needs of children with learning disorders. Their entire program is geared to help kids with ADHD, Aspergers, and NVLD.

Scientists Develop Unique ADHD Accessory

At John Carroll University in Ohio, a team of scientists have developed a clever aid for people with ADHD or sleep disorders; a simple pair of glasses that block blue light. By blocking blue light, a person's circadian rhythm is advanced, causing melatonin to be released sooner.

"Normally, melatonin flow does not begin until after the individual goes into darkness. Studies indicate that promoting the earlier release of melatonin results in marked decline of ADHD symptoms."

The glasses are meant to be worn for the two hours prior to bedtime. The team has also developed alternatives to the glasses - light bulbs and nightlights that also block blue rays.

Boarding Schools for ADHD, like Cedars Academy in Delaware, can help children with learning disabilities in ways that public schools can't. By understanding the needs of students with learning disorders, the faculty and staff at Cedars offer the personal attention and environment to help kids. Visit CedarsAcademy.com for more information.

Take Proactive Steps before Medication

Children with attention issues can be frustrating. Psychotherapist Pamela Sorensen readily acknowledges the difficulties that parents of inattentive children face. At the same time, she urges parents to try some "home remedies" before turning to ADHD medication.

"'Every family's routine and rhythm are different,' says Sorensen. 'Some families have bath in the evening, some in the morning. What matters is that it happens in the context of a familiar rhythmic routine of family life.' Sorensen says this predictability relaxes children..."

Sorensen also suggests letting even small children make some basic decisions, like what clothes he'll wear or what he'll have for breakfast. Read more at ReadTheHook.com.

A therapeutic boarding school, like Youth Care, can help children dealing with ADD/ADHD. Learn about Youth Care's programs for children with ADHD.

Alternative to Medication

Until recently, freshman Sophie Bell was taking medication to treat her ADHD symptoms. But she didn't like how "shaky" the medication made her feel, so she and her mom started looking for alternatives. They found Dr. Martin Rosen, a chiropractor.

"He believes ADHD can start with a misalignment in the spine which affects the body's balance and ultimately how the brain functions."

Indeed, after a series of treatments, both Sophie and her mom noticed a difference in her ability to focus. She eventually stopped taking her medication altogether. Read more online.

Find more alternative treatments for ADHD in our ADHD Directory.

Meditation Sharpens the Mind

Though it's still in the most infant stage of study, some scientists believe that meditation can help reduce the symptoms of attention-related disorders like ADHD. Studies have found that people who meditate regularly can focus longer, and that the area of the brain linked with attention actually becomes thicker.

"'One of the fundamental mysteries that is now becoming better understood as we go along but which is still a breakthrough area of research is neuroplasticity, the idea that we can literally change our brains through mental training,' [Richard] Davidson said."

Davidson's initial study used an ancient Buddhist meditation technique called Vipassana. Seventeen volunteers went through three months of rigorous training on this technique, and after three months were able to spot details more quickly in laboratory testing. Read more at LiveScience.com.

Talisman Camps offer summer camp programs and a semester long academic program for children diagnosed with ADHD, Non-verbal learning disorder, high functioning autism and similar Autism Spectrum disorders, and Asperger's Syndrome. Learn more about Talisman's Asperger's schools.

Drugs aren't Only Option for ADD/ADHD

Last year, doctors wrote more than 31 million prescriptions for ADHD drugs, many of them for children. Counselor Jane Fendelman wants parents to know that medication is not the only option, and some medicines have serious side effects.

"'They can cause early onset of Parkinson's disease, Tourette's syndrome, suicidal ideation, stunted growth, the children can't eat,' Jane Fendelman said about legal drugs parents are giving their children to control attention deficit disorders."

In fact, the FDA has required that many ADHD medications include stronger warnings about side effects like manic behavior. Fendelman suggests that first parents try a change in the child's diet, a more structured routine, and reduced stress in the house. Read more at News14.com.