A survey conducted by Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota found that ninety percent of parents want to learn more about alternative medicine options for their children.

"The survey also found that & 85 percent would like to minimize their [childs] dependence on drugs. Parents felt especially strongly about reducing drug treatment for mood or behavioral problems such as anxiety or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Sixty-eight percent of parents believed that integrative treatment could be effective." [Source: NaturalNews.com]

Despite the high level of interest, the study also found that only 12 percent of parents surveyed had ever talked to a doctor or other medical professional about alternative treatment options. Most parents only begin investigating alternative options after conventional treatments prove ineffective.

The survey also found that 95 percent of parents whose children used alternative treatment reported having a positive experience.

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Several recent studies have found an unexpected supplemental treatment to anxiety and attention disorders: yoga. The studies have mainly focused on yogas effects on cancer patients, but in the process have discovered potential psychological as well as physiological benefits.

A Nov. 1 article by MedPage Today staff writer Kristina Fiore provided the following details about yoga's potential for helping kids with ADHD:

An Australian study published in the Journal of Attention Disorders concluded that yoga "may have merit as a complementary therapy for boys with ADHD already stabilized on medication."

Heather Peck, PhD, a school psychologist at the Bethany Community School in Bethany, Conn., and her colleagues at the University of Connecticut, performed a study last year on children with attention problems -- although not clinically diagnosed with ADHD.

After taking a yoga class in school, the children had improved attention that was comparable to that of their peers who didn't have attention disorders.

"We found significant effect sizes," Peck said. "Their levels of attention came up close to those of the rest of the kids in the class."

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As cases of ADHD increase in Singapore, doctors there are exploring more experimental treatments.

"The first-ever local study of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for kids with ADHD will be carried out next month by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and TCM company Science Arts," The (Singapore) Straits Times reported. "It aims to measure how effective a TCM herbal remedy is for the disorder."

The study will last six months and will measure the effect of a drug whose name can be loosely translated into English as granules to benefit the spirit.

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Researchers in British Columbia are studying the effectiveness of supplements based on the nutrient L-theanine. An amino acid that is found almost exclusively in tea plants, L-theanine promotes a sense of "calm alertness," and is used in Japan as a treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The tea can be hard to find in the United States.

"Though the final study is not out yet, [Dr. Michael Lyon] has been seeing good results. 'These disorderly, edgy, impulsive kids that can't pay attention for a few seconds. Put them on a couple hundred milligrams two or three times a day. Kids will calm down, they'll sleep better. They'll start to be more focused, they won't be so anxious,' he said."

Some parents have begun giving their children theanine supplements in place of other ADHD medications - though health care experts emphasize that this type of change should only be undertaken after consulting with a pediatrician. Source: CBN News

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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

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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.

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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

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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)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Labels: alternative_medicine, focus, mental_health

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