No one wants to hear that the treatment for their ADHD, or their child’s ADHD, is a drug with side effects. This is especially true for side effects like heart rhythm problems, addiction, and seizures. More and more patients are asking, “Can’t I try something natural first for my ADHD?”
Most doctors lean toward prescribing medication for ADHD. The main reason is, we know they help most patients quickly. However, new research seems to suggest that medication free approaches are worth looking at, at least for complementing medications, if not for getting rid of them entirely.
Ideally you want a treatment that is effective, easy to do, and with no bad side effects. So, here’s a list of a few of the most common natural treatments out there and what the medical research is saying about them.
Easy to do, no bad side effects.
- Get enough sleep. This also means fixing restless sleep (for example, if you have snoring that is disrupting sleep). Not enough sleep certainly causes symptoms of ADHD, as well as causing a host of other health and safety issues.
- Reduce sugar. This will not cure ADHD because sugar does not cause ADHD. Sugar could make symptoms worse for some people, though. Cutting back will also lower your risk of obesity, diabetes, and cavities!
- Take an omega 3/omega 6 fatty acid supplement. We aren’t sure if this works and it might only work a little, not enough to get rid of medication. You have to take big doses–300-600mg omega 3/30-60mg omega 6 daily. It takes 2-3 months to know if it is working. If the extract comes from fish, you risk mercury poisoning, so be careful which brand you choose to take. Some people get an upset stomach or worsening in their cholesterol.
Not so easy to do, good side effects.
- Get enough exercise. A hour a day for kids is not that easy, but it helps sleep, if nothing else. The benefits of exercise far outweigh the risks.
- See a counselor. You need someone who is trained to deal with ADHD to train you to get around specific things the ADHD brain does not want to do. Counseling may also mean training for parents on how to manage behavior. It is the treatment of first choice for preschoolers with ADHD. Expense can be an issue depending on whether your insurance covers it. The plus for counseling is that it teaches skills that you keep for life, even when you are off medication.
- Eat healthy. A recent study of teenagers showed an association between the Western diet (fast foods, red and processed meats, potato chips, high fat dairy products and soft drinks) and ADHD. A healthy diet (fish, vegetables, fresh fruit, whole grains, and low fat dairy products) was not associated with ADHD. We don’t know if that means a healthy diet will help ADHD. However, a healthy diet is, well, healthy!
Easy to do, possible bad side effects.
- Take megavitamins and megaminerals. These don’t work and are toxic to the liver.
- Take iron or zinc. Deficiencies may cause or worsen symptoms of ADHD. Some medications may not work as well if there is a deficiency. However, too much iron can lead to diabetes and cirrhosis of the liver. Zinc in excess can cause vomitting and diarrhea. The best thing to do is ask for a blood test for a deficiency before taking these supplements on your own.
Difficult to do, possible bad side effects.
- Don’t eat dairy, gluten, eggs, chocolate, nuts, and citrus for 2-3 weeks, then gradually add foods back to identify the sensitivity. This may work for some, but is very complicated. This diet and those below risk nutrient deficiencies if followed strictly.
- Follow the full Feingold diet. It may work for a small group of children, but it is very complicated.
- Follow a ketogenic diet. This has been shown to improve concentration only in children with uncontrollable seizures. You need to see a medical nutritionist or dietician to learn how to follow this diet properly.
References
Subcommittee on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Steering Committee on Quality Improvement and Management. ADHD: Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents.” Pediatrics 128.5 (2011): 1007-022. Print.
Millichap, J. G., and Michelle M. Yee. “The Diet Factor in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.” Pediatrics 129.2 (2012): 330-37. Print.
Calhoun S.L., J. Fernandez-Mendoza, A. N. Vgontzas , S. D. Mayes, M. Tsaoussoglou, A. Rodriguez-Muñoz, and E. O. “Learning, attention/hyperactivity, and conduct problems as sequelae of excessive daytime sleepiness in a general population study of young children.” Sleep. 35.5 (2012) 627-32.
Chervin, R. D., K. H. Archbold, J. E. Dillon, P. Panahi, K. J. Pituch, R. E. Dahl, and C. Guilleminault. “Inattention, Hyperactivity, and Symptoms of Sleep-Disordered Breathing.” Pediatrics 109.3 (2002): 449-56. Print.
Covington, Maggie B. Omega-3 Fatty Acids.” American Family Physician 70.1 (2004): 133-40. Print.
Howard, A. L., M. Robinson, G. J. Smith, G. L. Ambrosini, J. P. Piek, and W. H. Oddy. “ADHD Is Associated with a “Western” Dietary Pattern in Adolescents.” Journal of Attention Disorders 15.5 (2011): 403-11. Print.
