As more of the nation’s children are being diagnosed with hyperactivity
and attention-deficit disorders,
some parents are finding that
natural alternatives are helping
their families cope
As more of the nation’s children are being diagnosed with hyperactivity
and attention-deficit disorders,
some parents are finding that
natural alternatives are helping
their families cope
The phone rings and caller ID tells you it’s your child’s school or camp calling. Your heart starts beating more quickly and you take a deep breath before you answer, wondering what it’s going to be this time.
They are calling to tell you that your child, this beautiful creation of yours, has once again wandered away from the group, this time on a field trip where teachers spent 30 minutes searching for him. Or she has impulsively hit another child. Or he is not staying seated in the classroom and can’t seem to focus. Or she is not making significant connections with other kids. You hear this, and that part of you that was hoping this call would be different begins to feel queasy. However, you are not surprised. This is not the first call, and most likely will not be the last.
If this scenario sounds familiar, chances are you are the parent of a child with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
And you are not alone. The statistics are staggering. According to statistics released this year by the National Mental Health Association, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder is the most common psychiatric condition, affecting millions of children, an estimated 5 percent to 10 percent of all children nationwide. That estimate range is so wide because experts suspect that 50 percent of children with ADHD are never formally diagnosed.
Children with this diagnosis often demonstrate, among other things: inattentiveness, irritability, impulsivity, hyperactivity, social/emotional issues and defiance.
Causes of ADHD are thought to be predominantly genetic. However, environmental influences, such as nutrition, stress, poor parenting and excessive use of screens (television/computer/video games) are thought to potentially play a part. Although ADHD can vary in severity, it not only impacts the daily life of the child, but the rest of the family as well.
Popular treatment options include medications, such as stimulants like Ritalin, along with behavior modification plans. All too often when a child is diagnosed with ADHD the parents are given a prescription and sent on their way. Conventional medications absolutely have their place and are appropriate in various cases. However, there are many alternative treatments for ADHD that can be used in place of, or in conjunction with, these medications.
Because these alternative treatments are relatively new to the general public, many are not backed by the same scientific data found in prescription drug studies. But plenty of parents and children say they have seen marked improvements as a result of alternative treatment.
One North Suburban mother, Donna Craig of Wilmette, struggled for years to help her now 10-year-old son after formal testing confirmed he had ADHD. Although she was first advised to place her son on medication, Donna decided not to as she was already concerned with the amount of medications her son was on for his severe asthma. She did, however, agree to take her son for counseling. After four months of therapy with little improvement, the psychologist told her medication was the only other option.
“There was simply no way I was going to put my son on more drugs, so I had to think outside the box and come up with alternatives for him. I decided to go the route of holistic medicine and found the Center for Holistic Medicine in Deerfield,” Craig said. “Through this approach, my son’s ability to concentrate improved 95 percent. His sleep improved significantly and his asthma symptoms were relieved. And this all happened within a little over one month’s time. There was a time when I was afraid to leave my son alone. Now he is like a different child.”
Below you will find alternative treatments to consider for your ADHD child. Some are “mainstream alternative,” while others are more obscure. You, your family and health care providers can determine which options seem most appropriate.
Nutrition
Given that our bodies are essentially organic machines, it makes sense that what we use for fuel will greatly impact the body’s operations. According to Marcia Zimmerman, C.N., in her book The ADD Nutrition Solution, people who suffer from ADHD, particularly children, have a tendency to be highly sensitive and require special dietary considerations. For example, our diets are often deficient in certain essential nutrients, such as omega-3, which impact many parts of our brain processes, including neurotransmitters (important in cellular communications), focus and much more. A study at Purdue University found that boys diagnosed with ADHD had lower levels of the omega-3 essential fatty acid dha (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 71). Other similar studies have demonstrated that children with ADHD have a tendency to have deficient levels of magnesium and zinc, as well.
Neuro-feedback
Neuro-feedback is a process through which the brain is trained to improve regulation of bodily functions. This technique can aid ADHD children by training their brains to better organize, encode, recall and apply information. The process is non-invasive, completely painless and does not produce side effects caused by medication. In a typical session, sensors are connected to the head to monitor brain-wave activity. The child sits in front of a monitor, much like a computer game, and is asked to make the game operate with his or her brain. Their thoughts literally make the game work. As the child plays, the sensors exchange information with the computer while targeting the specific area of improvement — for example, decreasing hyperactivity or increasing impulse control. Gradually the brain responds to this new cueing and new brain-wave patterns are created. Ann Richman of the Discovery Clinic in Glenview, Ill., specializes in providing neurofeedback services to children with ADHD and other conditions. She reports seeing significant improvement in many children. “Of course, results will vary between individuals,” she said. “However, children can pay attention better at both school and home. Most significant is the increase in the [children’s] self-esteem as they are better able to manage behavior and emotional problems associated with their ADHD.”
To learn more about neurofeedack visit www.thediscoveryclinic.com or www.eegspectrum.com.
Pilates
It is well known that exercise is essential for well-balanced, healthy living. Pilates specifically requires the participant to integrate both the mind and the body through use of controlled movement and special breathing techniques. Lily Horowitz, a certified Pilates instructor in Highland Park, Ill., has done ground-breaking work in teaching Pilates to special-needs children. She has found that children with ADHD and other similar disorders have particularly weak trunk stability, or “core.”
“Working to strengthen their bodies increases the children’s self-esteem, stamina, abdominal strength and sleep,” Horowitz said. “In addition, it provides them with the opportunity to focus while moving, which is in contrast to an educational classroom setting where the expectation is to stay seated.” Horowitz and Dr. Sarita Freedman, a psychologist specializing in special-needs children, have conducted trial Pilates classes at the Cove School for special-needs children in Northbrook, Ill. Horowitz said she first realized Pilates can have a positive affect on children when she invited her special-needs son to participate in her classes. Not only did he enjoy himself, but his self-esteem and strength improved.
“As I observed the changes in him, it made me realize how valuable this could be for other children. If my own son seemed calmer after a class and slept better on those nights, then perhaps this would be something to make a difference for many children,” Horowitz said. To learn more about Pilates for children, contact Lily Horowitz at ThePilatesBody@sbcglobal.net.
Reiki
Reiki is a form of healing-touch therapy, or energy work. The basic premise of this type of healing is that people are constantly operating on many levels in a dynamic, interconnected way that includes mental, emotional, physical and spiritual roots. By working with the body’s many energy levels, the body works to find a balance and harmony in its functioning. Although there are no studies that examine the specific impact of Reiki on a child with ADHD, there is a consensus among those who work with energy techniques such as Reiki that they can have a calming and relaxing effect on the body. A child suffering from ADHD might find some relief from these sessions, especially those dealing with sleep issues. One parent of an 8-year-old boy with ADHD became a Reiki practitioner in order to treat her son, who began requesting the treatments after experiencing them.
To learn more about Reiki, visit www.Reiki.org.
Holistic Medicine
By definition, holistic medicine, also called integrative medicine, focuses on any type of ailment or condition through a multi-dimensional approach. Jerry Gore, M.D., director of the Center for Holistic Medicine in Riverwoods /Deerfield, Ill., practices both general medicine and psychiatry. He said that he and his fellow doctor, Prabha Vaidya, M.D., have had great success in treating children who have ADHD. Their approach is an all-inclusive one that begins with a hair analysis, a special diagnostic tool that provides them with information on what types of toxicities are in the body. This is followed by a full nutritional evaluation, a stress analysis and an environmental examination dealing with any psychological factors influencing the home and family. In addition, the child is introduced to yoga, meditation and breathing techniques. Finally, homeopathy, the use of natural plants, minerals and tissues in diluted forms, is used to impact the energetic realm of the child.
“What people do not realize about holistic medicine is that it is powerful and effective,” Gore said. Parents like Donna Craig, who see drastic results in their child in just one month, appreciate first hand the marvels of this naturalistic medicine. To learn more, visit www.holistic-medicine.com.
Mia Tennenbaum is a parenting coach, Reiki practitioner, educator and freelance writer with a private practice in Northbrook, Ill. She can be reached at www.MiaSharon.com.