Addressing ADHD without medication can include many different areas like diet adjustments, herbal remedies, homeopathy, behavior modification and brainwave training (neurofeedback) among other options.
Natural health care providers are successfully using these tactics individually or in conjunction with other strategies, depending on the person’s symptoms.
One of the most promising non medication treatment strategies for ADHD is the field of electroencephalographic (EEG) biofeedback, also called neurofeedback. Brainwave training helps teach the brain to function more efficiently.
Brainwave training (EEG) is a natural way to address learning difficulties as well as ADHD/ADD symptoms. It can help improve work or school performance, address behavior issues and eliminate or reduce the need for prescription medications.
Research has shown that EEG training can help ADD/ADHD children to gain self-control, increase IQ scores and help eliminate problems like out of control behaviors, bed wetting, and sleep disorders.
Additionally, once the child has learned and is acclimated to relaxed concentration through EEG biofeedback training, training can be discontinued, with lasting results.
Diet and Nutrition
In treating ADHD naturally, diet and nutrition can be a major influence in affecting behavior for both children and adults with ADHD. Adult mood swings and child behavior problems may be due in part to blood sugar variations as a result of hypoglycemia.
This can be addressed by assessing dietary intake of protein, carbohydrates and fat and making necessary adjustments.
ADHD symptoms may be connected to sensitivities to food additives in highly processed foods or allergies to specific foods.
Some common allergies include peanuts, dairy products and gluten from certain grains, including wheat. Allergies and sensitivities are unique to each person and must be tested and explored methodically to be successful.
A pediatrician named Benjamin Feingold is the person credited with discovering that diet has an effect on ADHD symptoms. This was in the 1970′s and today it’s commonly known how refined sugar and “junk food” can negatively effect behavior and learning ability.
Feingold was one of the first people to notice how processed food additives like artificial flavor, coloring and preservatives sometimes caused sensitivities or true allergies in people with ADHD and other similar conditions.
With naturopathic doctors and other natural health care providers today it’s standard natural treatment practice to include an ADHD diet for kids along with other strategies.
The usual recommendation is that ADHD patients should try to avoid and eliminate as many artificial food additives as possible.
Homeopathic and Herbal Remedies
Another way to treat ADHD without meds is with homeopathic and herbal remedies. Homeopathic and herbal medicine have many advantages. It has proven to be safe and even gentle enough to use with babies and small children. No prescription is needed, it is economical and troublesome side effects are rarely experienced.
Homeopathic and herbal medicine doesn’t cover-up or suppress symptoms like prescription medications are prone to do. Instead, it works to support the body’s natural balancing and healing ability by addressing the true, and sometimes hidden, cause of imbalance.
Treating ADHD without medication is possible with alternative methods like brainwave training and homeopathic and/or herbal remedies. ADHD is a disorder with symptoms that can vary widely from person to person, so everyone will respond differently to these methods. For more information or to get help in developing a personalized plan of action, see a naturopathic physician or other natural health care provider.
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