By Steve Morris, N.D.

Overview

• History & Epidemiology
• Differential Diagnosis
• Signs & Symptoms
• The Hunter Child
• Complementary & Alternative Therapies
• Nutritional Medicine
• Environmental Factors
• Applied Nutrition
• Homeopathic Medicine
• Psychological Medicine
• Botanical Medicine

History & Epidemiology

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder affects greater than 5% of all school age children of which 90% are boys.
• Holistic history includes: behavioral, genetic, nutritional, social, neurological, and/or biochemical irregularities.
• In Toxic Psychiatry Dr. Peter Breggin states, "Hyperactivity is the most frequent justification for drugging children."
• Greater than 2 million children are currently taking prescription medication for ADD/ADHD, many of which have side effects.

Differential Diagnosis

• Up to 50% of diagnosed patients may not truly be ADD/ADHD. ADHD is a syndrome of symptoms, not a disorder.
• Hyperthyroidism: easily differentiated through lab work
• Depression/anxiety: 30-40% of patients may have both as well as ADHD
• TOVA Testing (Test of Variables of Attention): developed by Dr. Lawrence Greenberg of the University of Minnesota. According to TOVA Testing, 50% of patients treated are over medicated.

Signs & Symptoms

• Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes
• Easily distracted when playing or doing tasks
• Does not seem to listen when spoken to
• Does not follow through on instructions & fails to finish work
• Difficulty organizing tasks & activities
• Avoids or dislikes tasks that require concentration
• Loses things; forgetful
• Fidgets with hands & feet or squirms in seat
• Restless; runs or climbs excessively in inappropriate situations
• Difficulty in quiet play
• Acts without thinking first; driven
• Talks excessively
• Answering a question before the speaker has finished
• Interrupts others; has a hard time waiting in turn

The Hunter Child

• Thom Hartmann’s theory that children exhibiting symptoms of ADHD; impulsiveness, creativity, & distractibility are useful skills paramount to hunter-gatherer societies.
• Clearly, sitting in classrooms, is the norm of the day, however, medicating these young people may be a poor treatment protocol.
• Review of healthier options without medication may be more beneficial to students, parents, teachers, & communities in the long term.
• This begins my treatment protocols for ADD/ADHD.

Complementary & Alternative Therapies

• Nutritional Medicine
• Applied Nutrition
• Environmental Factors
• Botanical Medicine
• Homeopathic Medicine
• Psychological Counseling

Nutritional Factors

• Food Allergies and Hypersensitivities
• Food coloring & preservatives
• Caffeine consumption
• Sugar consumption & intolerance
• Vitamin, mineral, & amino acid deficiencies
• Foods containing salicylates such as almonds, apples, citrus & berries are contraindicated secondary to prostaglandin metabolism.

Food Allergies & Hypersensitivity

• Hypersensitivity to foods is easily determined by laboratory testing and rotation diets.
• Dr. John Bastyr instructed us to avoid the constitutional allergens at first and rotate them through the diet to determine the affecting allergen. The constitutional allergens are dairy, wheat, corn, soy and eggs.

Caffeine Consumption

• Clinically, we have found eliminating all caffeine products exhibits positive results
• The caffeine products are soda, coffee, chocolate, black tea, aspirin and NSAIDS with caffeine in their formulas.

Sugar Intolerance

• The average American consumes greater than 125 lbs. of sugar per year.
• Most soda pops contain 12 or more teaspoons of sugar per 12 oz. drink.
• Clinically, we have found eliminating all processed, refined sugars, including high corn syrup fructose made a dramatic improvement in cognition and performance.

Artificial Colors & Preservatives

• The little research that has been done with regards to artificial colors, preservatives, and flavor enhancers, such as monosodium glutamate, is overwhelmingly positive for children who wash out these chemicals from their daily diet.

Applied Nutrition

• Essential Fatty acids regulate inflammatory reactions & nervous irritability. A combination of Omega-6 (evening primrose oil) and Omega-3 ( flaxseed oil) @ 1500 mg bid
• Ascorbic Acid 500mg - 2,000 mg daily
• Phosphatidylcholine 25 mg - 50mg daily
• Calcium- Magnesium 250 mg – 500mg before bed

Essential Fatty Acids

• Essential Fatty Acids help regulate inflammatory responses and nervous irritability
• A mixture of fish oils, Omega 6 oils, such as evening primrose oil, and Omega 3 oils, such as flaxseed oil, up to 1,000-1,500 mg bid

Phosphatidylcholine

• Studies have demonstrated a relationship between memory function and the neurotransmitter acetylcholine resulting in a significant improvement in cognition with the addition of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine in the diet
• Neurotransmitters affect behavior and learning. A neurotransmitter deficiency has a dramatic effect on children’s cognition and behavior

Calcium-Magnesium

• Calcium/magnesium support exhibits a calming effect. Recommended dose for children is 200-500 mg/bid before bedtime.
• This has been shown to be beneficial for insomnia as well, which affects many children diagnosed with ADHD.
• ADD/ADHD children are almost always deficient in magnesium. Magnesium proves necessary for proper brain function, and is the first mineral depleted when a child is under stress.

Amino Acids

• L-Theanine
• L- Tyrosine
• GABA
• 5-HTP

L-Theanine

• Theanine, r-glutamylethylamide is one of the amino acids found in the leaf of green tea, Thea sinensis.
• Theanine affects the metabolism and the release of some neurotransmitters of the brain, such as dopamine.
• L-Theanine is found to control excitement caused by caffeine’s effect on the brain.
• Overall, L-Theanine has been found to induce a relaxation effect on the brain.

L-Tyrosine

• L-Tyrosine improves cognitive performance and reduces blood pressure without affecting mood of patients. It reduces the effects of stress and fatigue on cognitive performance, such as academic studies.
• Studies indicate that L-Tyrosine may be useful in improving performance in situations where academics are compromised by stress, such as multiple tasks. Administration of L-Tyrosine significantly enhanced performance. Recommended dose is 200-400 mg daily.

GABA

• GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter found throughout the CNS.
• Research demonstrates that many children who display ADD/ADHD behavior actually experience anxiety. GABA has been successfully used to treat mood swings, anxiety and depression.

5-HTP

• 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) is a synergistic amino acid when used with other amino acids to enhance cognition and moderate stress. Magnesium prolongs the effects of 5-HTP. Low brain serotonin levels are responsible for decrease in focus and reason. Caution must be used in prescribing 5-HTP with prescription medication.

Environmental Factors

• Exposure to lead, mercury, alcohol, Drugs (prescription & recreational)
• Hypoxia at birth.
• Diagnosis & detoxification of toxins

Botanical Medicine

• Melissa officianalis
• Gingko biloba
• Vitis vinifera
• Passiflora incarnata
• Piper methysticum

Melissa officinalis

• Melissa officinalis, or Lemon balm, is a sedative and also relieves spasms, as endorsed by the Commission E, the body of scientists that advises the German government of the effectiveness of botanicals. The sedative effect is attributed to a large group of chemicals called terpenes.
• It is noted that increased cognition and calmness resulted with the administration of Melissa officinalis, as noted in Neuropsychopharmacology, Oct. 2003.

Gingko Biloba

• Gingko biloba has direct effects on the cholinergic neurotransmitter system resulting in a significant improvements in cognitive skill and memory.
• Gingko biloba’s ability to increase blood flow to the brain resulting in improved memory cognition and decreased anxiety. 60-240 mg of a standardized extract per day.

Vitis vinifera

• Grape seed extract is very high in proanthocyanidins (oligomers of monomeric polyphenols), an antioxidant found in grapes and the berry family. Studies prove to be effective in stabilizing nerve cell membranes, and also in improving cognitive function.

Passiflora incarnata

• Passionflower is a mild sedative according to the Commission E, proving to be helpful in ADHD and insomnia.
• Ethnobotanically, passionflower has been used by many tribes as a food and a tea, as a calmative and a sedative.

Piper methysticum

• Kava kava is a tropical herb used as a sedative containing the alkaloids dihydrokavain and dihydromethysticin extracted from the leaves. Although it is considered narcotic in action, it is not addictive. It is advised not to take regularly due to its possible negative effects on liver function, however, most Polynesian countries drink it as beer or tea daily without side effects.

Homeopathic Medicine

• Arsenicum album
• Argentum nitricum
• Chamomilla

Arsenicum album

• Arsenicum album for anxiety especially when accompanied by insomnia and stomach pain.
• Keynote: Fear, fright and worry
• Great anguish and restlessness.
• Dosage: Third to 30th potencies. Very high potencies often yield brilliant results.

Argentum nitricum

• Argentum nitricum, or nitrate of silver, for the treatment of anxious children that may be very cheerful.
• Keynotes: Over desire for sweets. Fearful and nervous, weak memory, impulsive, wants to do things in a hurry.
• Dosage: 6th to 30th potency.

Chamomilla

• Chamonilla, or German chamomilla, is for children who are both easily irritated and distracted.
• Keynotes: sensitive, thirsty, hot, impatient and restless.
• Dr. Bastyr recommended this remedy for irritable children with one red cheek and one pale cheek.
• Dosage: 3rd to 30th attenuation

Psychological Medicine

• Unconditional love and forgiveness from parents, teachers and psychologists exhibiting a team approach addressing emotional support and care.
• Rewarding good behavior instead of punishing bad behavior.
• Specific and positive incentives.
• Counseling and activities designed to improve learning deficits.
• Enrolling students in activities such as, and especially, music, care for an animal, and sports.

Conclusions

As we have explored, we notice treatment for ADD/ADHD is a truly holistic approach involving support, proper diagnosis, and complimentary and alternative treatments instead of over medicating and addicting our children.

References

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