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• Does Your Child Really Have ADHD?
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Does Your Child Really Have ADHD?

©Heather Caruso 2009

     Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) seems to as popular a diagnosis as the common cold in children. What is concerning is that according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 8 percent of American kids and 4 percent of adults are diagnosed with it. The diagnosis rate is rising 4 percent per year. Some medical experts feel the increase in diagnosis is due to marketing of ADHD drugs to doctors and the public.

     Drug companies often work with medical doctors who have the power to label a new disorder and make its symptoms covered in the DSM (a manual of psychiatric conditions). Recently, premenstrual syndrome has been labelled as a psychiatric disorder.  The drug companies are advertising to doctors the use of antidepressants to those women who are not sure what to do about their condition. When the patent runs out on prozac, it may be given another label and pushed for another disorder. Smart business but not healthy for our bodies and brain. Neurological pharmaceuticals are big business. Our children’s brain development depends on a proper chemistry of hormones and nutrients, not drugs. What worries me is that we are altering our children’s brain chemistry without seeking and treating the underlying cause.

     ADHD is a serious concern for many parents. Many of them are at their wits end with their child’s behaviour. The symptoms of ADHD are common in many young children. Their children may have a number of symptoms such as:

·     Being restless and fidgeting

·     Excessively active

·     Poor impulse control

·     Hard time waiting for things

·     Poor school performance

·     Difficulty being quiet

·     Excessive talking and interrupting

     The diagnosis for ADHD is not a brain scan or any laboratory testing, it is a small questionnaire called the Conor’s Scale. It is done by the parents, teacher and doctor. It is better to get to the bottom of “why” than simply suppressing the child’s behaviour with drugs. Drugs such as Ritalin are a cocaine derivative. I am sure that many of you would not take or allow your child to use such as drug. It also depresses the appetite, stunts growth, increases blood pressure, alertness and heart rate. Dr. Mane of the American Heart Association mentioned that children on Ritalin should have their heart checked prior because a number of deaths have been reported. If used for a period of years it can contribute to cancer. According to Dr. Mercola, www.mercola.com, these classes of drugs show changes in the brain show an addiction to these medications. Not only is addiction a factor, but some drugs for ADHD have been shown to cause suicidal depression and behaviour.

     With all of this information what can you do for your child? Take a healthy approach to supporting your child’s needs. A study done by the University of Adelaide in Australia found that the long term use of Omega 3 fatty acids in fish oil improves the symptoms of ADHD without the side effects and more effective than prescription drugs. What else can you do for your child?

1. Get your child tested for food sensitivities. Often common allergens such as corn, dairy, wheat, food dye, sugar, citrus, chocolate or soya can be a problem.
2. Have his intestinal flora tested for the levels of good and bad bacteria. If the bad bacteria are high, it affects the nervous system because it creates toxic by-products such as acids and alcohols. This can make kids feel a number of things like foggy thinking, dopey or jittery. Certain foods feed bad bacteria such as sugar, refined carbohydrates and mouldy foods like cheese and dried fruits.
3. Take supplements to improve cognitive function such as fish oil, B complex and calcium and magnesium.
4. Have your child’s case taken and get a constitutional homeopathic remedy. These remedies are safe and gentle and match their physical and emotional symptoms. They have a balancing effect without any side effects.
5. Limit your child’s use of video games and television. Spend some one on one time with your child and take them out in nature. Let them participate in sports to burn off some of their energy.
6. Be patient with your child’s progress. Using natural remedies helps to fortify their constitution for life rather than suppress their symptoms.