| Approximately two million American children | | | | found to improve memory and concentration in |
| are affected with attention-deficit | | | | rats; lemon balm which is used as a tea to |
| hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is about | | | | soothe agitated and hyperactive children; |
| one child per classroom, with boys being 3-5 | | | | oats (avena sativa) which traditionally is |
| times more likely to have ADHD. Symptoms of | | | | believed to have a calming effect on the |
| this disorder begin before the age of seven | | | | nervous system. There are two well known |
| and often continue into adulthood. ADHD has | | | | studies that directly evaluate herbs in ADHD. |
| nothing to do with intelligence, and the | | | | In an open trial, the herbal formula (AD-FX) |
| precise cause of it is unknown, but it is | | | | which contains American ginseng and ginkgo, |
| known that it evolves from an interaction | | | | was given to children ranging from age three |
| between genetic, biological, and | | | | to age seventeen who were already on |
| environmental factors. Since the symptoms | | | | medication for ADHD. The dosage of herbs was |
| vary between children, ADHD is commonly | | | | 200 mg of American ginseng extract and 50 mg |
| over-diagnosed. Additionally, many | | | | of ginkgo extract, twice a day at least |
| psychiatric disorders interfere with a | | | | thirty minutes before meals. After four |
| child's ability to pay attention and can | | | | weeks, 74% of the children had improved. In |
| confuse a diagnosis. Similarly, anxiety, | | | | another study, the use of Mexican valerian |
| depression, drug abuse, and stress can | | | | was tested by giving five boys that had ADHD |
| interfere with attention and cause | | | | a placebo for two weeks, nothing for seven |
| hyperactivity which can be misdiagnosed as | | | | days, then 500 mg of dried valerian root for |
| ADHD. Adults who have extreme expectations | | | | two weeks. The valerian improved sleep and |
| about behavior can also mislabel a child as | | | | particularly helped the boys with hyperactive |
| having ADHD. Children who actually have ADHD | | | | behavior. Children with ADHD may also be |
| and are not appropriately treated may | | | | deficient in essential fatty acids, therefore |
| experience academic and social failure, low | | | | supplementation of EPA and DHA or eating more |
| self-esteem, drug addiction, and trouble with | | | | fish, leafy vegetables, chia seeds, canola |
| the law. There are three subtypes of ADHD: | | | | oil, pumpkin seeds, Brazilian nuts, and |
| inattentive without much hyperactive | | | | walnuts can also help this disorder. |
| behavior; hyperactive and impulsive without | | | | Supplementing drug treatment with magnesium |
| attention problems; and both inattentive and | | | | and zinc can improve behavior more than |
| hyperactive/impulsive. There is no test for | | | | standard therapy alone by severely reducing |
| ADHD, therefore, diagnosis takes time and | | | | hyperactive and impulsive behavior as |
| expertise. A child psychologist or | | | | children with ADHD symptoms often have low |
| psychiatrist should be used because of this. | | | | blood levels. Other ADHD treatments include |
| Recent studies have found that 54% of parents | | | | deep breathing, mediation, massage, yoga, |
| used alternative therapies such as vitamins | | | | biofeedback-assisted relaxation and |
| and dietary changes to treat ADHD problems. | | | | progressive muscle relaxation, and |
| A calm and orderly home, good diet, sleep, | | | | acupuncture. There is not one cure-all for |
| and exercise can often help to treat this | | | | ADHD. Those cases that are mild can be |
| disorder. A diet that is high in protein may | | | | controlled through alternative therapies, |
| also help. Twenty percent of adult | | | | while more severe cases may need alternative |
| caregivers give children with ADHD herbs | | | | therapies to augment treatment. Most |
| which enhance mental function or provide a | | | | importantly, it is most important to get the |
| sedative effect. Many parents use ginkgo | | | | proper diagnosis and treatment for a child |
| bilboa which increases circulation to the | | | | that has ADHD. |
| brain and protects the nerves; Asian and | | | | |
| American ginseng which help to improve the | | | | More information can be found at where a |
| body's ability to cope with stress; bacopa | | | | large selection of vitamins and herbs are |
| which helps memory and learning in both | | | | available for attention and hyper children. |
| adults in children; gotu kola which has been | | | | |