What is ADD/ADHD?
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects both children and adults and can drastically affect a person’s ability to learn or work in most traditional settings.
There are three types of ADHD:
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- Combined ADHD (most common), patient has both inattentiveness and hyperactivity/impulsivity.
- Inattentive ADHD (previously known as ADD), patient has impaired attention and concentration.
- Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD, patient has hyperactivity without inattentiveness.
What are the symptoms of ADD/ADHD?
Typically to be diagnosed with ADHD, symptoms that cause impairment must be present before age 7 and in more than one environment. The symptoms fall into three categories: inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
Common inattention symptoms:
- Consistently producing messy and incomplete assignments/work.
- Easily distracted by small noises or activities that others easily ignore.
- Unable to follow conversations, not listening to others, constantly shifting the conversation from one topic to another.
Common hyperactivity symptoms:
- Inability to sit for prolonged periods of time, even when absolutely necessary.
- Often “on the go”.
- Talking excessively.
Common impulsivity symptoms:
- Extremely impatient.
- Obsessively blurting out answers to questions before the question has been asked.
- Interrupting conversations to the point of causing issues.
How many people are diagnosed with ADD/ADHD?
The most recent statistics on the number of people, in the United States, diagnosed with ADD/ADHD are from a 2013 CDC (Center for Disease Control) report which analyzed findings from 2011.
- 1 in 10 school-aged children were diagnosed with ADD/ADHD by a healthcare provider in 2011.
- The number of children ages 4-17 diagnosed with ADD/ADHD is on the rise. A 42% increase between 2003 and 2011.
- Approximately half of all children diagnosed with ADD/ADHD continue to experience some level of impairment from the symptoms in adulthood.
What are the traditional treatments for ADD/ADHD and are there side effects?
Typically ADD/ADHD is treated with medications and behavioral therapies. Finding the right medication, dosage and schedule can often take quite a while. Typically doctors will start with pyschostimulant or stimulant medications such as Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta or Dexedrine. This class of medications is effective in 70% to 80% of patients. If this class of medications does not work or if the side effects are too great then nonstimulant medications are tried such as Strattera or Intuniv. If neither the stimulant or nonstimulant drugs are effective or well tolerated then there are a handful of other medication options such as Wellbutrin, Elavin or Catapres.
The side effects of stimulant drugs typically go away after prolonged use. They include: weight loss, sleep problems, headaches and jitteriness. Occasionally severe side effects such as cardiovascular problems, depression, psychosis or anxiety occur. It has also been shown that stimulant drugs are toxic to nerves because they stimulate the cells until they exhaust their energy reserves and die. In some instances, growth and maturity has been impaired in children. It also can inhibit the normal development of attention span which leads to adults with ADHD.
How can ADD/ADHD be treated naturally with homeopathy?
Homeopathy is a very effective and gentle treatment option for ADD/ADHD. Homeopathy takes a holistic approach by first removing all toxins from the diet such as: artificial sweeteners, caffeine, all forms of sugar, MSG, artificial colors and all allergic prone foods (milk, wheat, etc.). After all toxins are removed, a natural and organic baseline diet is implemented. Then treatments can be given based on the patient’s remaining symptoms and medical history. Options include:
- Aranea iaxabola – Encourages others to misbehave.
- Baryta carbonica – Acts out, class clown.
- Baryta iodatum – Difficulty concentrating.
- Chamomilla – Irritable, impatient, restless.
- Cina – Very difficult behavior, disobedient.
- Cornus circinatus – Cannot concentrate, doesn’t want to read, think or work.
- Zincum metallicum – Fidgety and restlessness.
The above list should not be used for personal diagnosis and treatment. This is a short list of possible treatments. The exact treatment, dosage and schedule should be determined by a trained homeopathic doctor.
Disclaimer: No statements on this website are intended to diagnose, prevent, treat or cure any condition or disease but rather are given for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of a licensed, trained health care provider when using any dietary supplements, herbal, homeopathic, over-the-counter medicines, prescription drugs or making any dietary or lifestyle changes.