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