To find the right ADHD treatment without medication, you need to know a few things first. ADHD is a brain-based issue, it can be intensified by gut issues, environment, discipline methods and more. With that said, many parents choose to go a more natural or holistic method to avoid the stimulants Ritalin and Adderall. The results vary depending on the severity of the child and the diligence of the parents. But it has definitely been done successfully with many children. See the typical ADHD symptoms.
Our daughter has shown marked improvement with the natural methods that we have taken. So, let’s talk about what I have learned.
There is no one supplement that can reverse ADHD. There are many who claim to, but there is no way a supplement or herb can solve the overactive parts of the brain without some cognitive exercises to go along with it.
ADHD is a matter of several factors. It involves neurological wiring, gut health, early development and nutrition. The good news is that it can all be helped with at-home treatments which result in a reduction of the ADHD symptoms and issues. Some parents have seen complete reversal of ADHD. Here are some of the natural treatments that we have successfully used. Here are more ways to treat ADHD without medication.
Cognitive Exercises at-home
Studies have shown that children with ADHD have underactivity in the right hemisphere of their brain. This is coupled with higher activity in the left hemisphere. Because the left side of our brain is the activator and the right is mostly the inhibitor, there is no balance of impulse and impulse control. This is the case with their actions, social interactions, emotions, speech etc. Some simple brain activities done with the child at home can improve this imbalance remarkably and bring the right side up to balance with the left. This method was studied by Harvard University a couple of years ago and found to be very affective. We used this on our daughter and loved the results. Learn more about brain stimulation exercises for ADHD.
Coffee or Caffeinated Teas
They have found that stimulants have an opposite affect on ADHD children. Caffeine can actually help them calm and focus some. Ritalin is actually a powerful stimulant called methylphenidate, but can cause severe side effects and lose effectiveness over time. Caffeine works on the same principle, but on a much lower level.
Guarana Herb
Guarana herb can be found on Amazon and has natural stimulants in it. Studies show improved test scores for children who take it.
Probiotics
Part of the symptoms of ADHD are gut related. The brain under stimulates the digestive track which leads to food intolerances and constipation. The body reacts to the intolerance by creating inflammation. This includes inflammation in the brain which aggravates brain function and will make their behavior worse. In addition, it sometimes includes achiness or swelling in their joints, specifically their ankles and knees.
Primitive Reflex Exercises:
Primitive Reflexes are the special reflexes that develop in the brain stem before birth. Most of these Primitive Reflexes go away through the first year of life as higher functions of the brain and muscle control develop. If the reflexes remain, they interfere with the neurological organization of the brain which contributes to ADHD, behavioral, social, sensory and health problems. These remaining reflexes are unnoticed muscle movements in older children and adults. They are not normally noticed if one doesn’t know what to look for. The reflexes cause them to walk apelike or with an unusual gait. They are solved through exercises.
Supplements
Because of the gut issues, ADHD treatment without medication need to include added nutrients. However, many supplements cause more inflammation in their body. Dr. Robert Melillo understood this and created supplements specific for these ADHD kiddos.
Homeopathic Drops and Pills
I have tried some calming drops, they helped somewhat especially in her nighttime bath. Lavender and Chamomile oils are known for calming and relaxation.
Things to Avoid
There are some foods that kids with ADHD should stay away from. They have a very hard time digesting the larger chain molecules in gluten and dairy. This is usually a problem because they have very limited food preferences due to their sensory issues. They usually love foods with one or both of these. Such as mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, yogurt, ice cream etc. There are great gluten free, dairy free alternatives to these on the gluten-free isles of your supermarket, or a health food store.
Red and blue food dyes are not natural and have an almost immediate affect on them. My child shows immediate twitchiness and aggression after foods and drinks with red and blue additives.
Refined sugars and corn syrups are triggers. Watch out for regular table sugar, candy, pastries, ice cream and pretty much everything good. Try to find some fun alternatives for them with natural sweeteners. We use Agave to sweeten our daughter’s food as much as possible. In addition, there are candies with natural coloring and less refined sugars at most health food stores. If they are going to have some at a party, reduce the portion size.
Another trigger we found was peanut butter. My sister-in-law and I noticed a definite increase in ADHD type actions within a half hour of our ADHD kiddos eating peanut butter. Some theorize it is because they are GMO’d. I don’t know the cause, but the result is evident.
Keep a journal of what they eat and their behavior. You might find other triggers specific to your child.
Conclusion
ADHD treatment without medication can be a real racket. In a sea of conflicting information, you could spend thousands of dollars trying everything out there. For instance, they have proven that parents of ADHD children spend thousands more per year on their children than neurotypical kiddos. The best results I have seen come from gut health and the cognitive exercises. This isn’t a quick fix, but a steady win. Furthermore, both are affordable and can be done right at home.
