ADHD Natural Remedies
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a disorder that affects young children, usually below the age of seven. There are significant numbers of children (about 3-5% of the children globally) who are affected by ADHD symptoms. A typical child with ADHD will show hyperactivity, inattentiveness, and impulsive behavior. These behaviors in turn may affect their performance at school, make them feel alienated, lower their self-esteem, and cause difficulties in building normal relationships. All children with ADHD need to be treated properly under the supervision of a medical counselor. The procedure for ADHD treatment is long and slow, and requires a lot of patience and perseverance on the part of the child’s family. With proper medications and counseling sessions, ADHD can be remedied fully in childhood. However, in some cases, if the treatment is not carried out properly, ADHD symptoms may persist well into adulthood.
The symptoms associated with ADHD can be varied; however, there are two broad areas into which these symptoms can be classified – ‘inattentiveness’ and ‘hyperactivity’. The common symptoms classified under ‘inattentiveness’ may be one or more of the following:
• Difficulty in paying attention in class
• Difficulty in organizing tasks
• Frequently losing belongings (like pencils, toys, books)
• Frequently making careless mistakes in doing homework
• General lack of interest in all activities
• Getting distracted easily and frequently
• Becoming increasingly forgetful about things
The common symptoms classified under ‘hyperactivity’ may be one or more of the following:
• General restlessness
• Fidgety movement
• Difficulty in waiting for his/her turn
• Excessive talking
• Interrupting other people
• Running or climbing excessively
• Trouble keeping quiet
These symptoms, however, may not be conclusive enough in identifying a child with ADHD. Most children will show one or more of these behaviors at some point or the other, and it is quite difficult to say whether a child suffers from ADHD just by looking at a few odd behavioral patterns. What matters more is how long and how persistently the child displays such behavior. A normal child will usually show different types of behavior with different people and at different times, but a child with ADHD is more likely to show these behaviors consistently. If you have seen a child showing one or more of these behaviors consistently for about six months, it is advisable to get him/her evaluated by a doctor at the earliest.
The exact cause of ADHD may be difficult to pinpoint – it is usually a combination of heredity and environmental factors. Exposure to alcohol, nicotine, certain medications or toxins during pregnancy may also have an effect. There are no effective home remedies that can cure ADHD. Medical help must be sought to treat ADHD in a proper manner. However, a proper diet, exercise routine, and support from the family may help. Feed the child a nutritious diet of fruits, vegetables, cereals, nuts, and dairy products. Avoid junk food, caffeinated drinks, and processed foods as far as possible. Also, feed the child plenty of foods containing omega-3 fatty acids (mostly available in fish) as it is known be beneficial in treating ADHD. Finally, it is the care and support of the family that counts the most. Be sure to understand the child’s behavior and pay attention to his/her needs with love and affection, while continuing with the medical treatment.
