For children and adults diagnosed with ADHD, the symptoms of distractibility, impulsivity, and hyperactivity can wreak havoc with their intentions for a harmonious life. The brain cells called neurotransmitters that are responsible for these disruptive behaviors cannot be altered by sheer will alone. Although prescribed medications are the first line of treatment by most medical doctors, there is hard evidence that effective management of symptom severity can be achieved naturally.

Brain Critical Nutrients

Below is a listing of a number of key nutrients that have been identified to positively support brain function. They are important for everyone, but particularly for those struggling with cognitive performance.

• Protein is important for the regulation of blood sugar which affects mood, behavior and cognitive function. It is also composed of long chains of amino acids which are responsible for the development of neurotransmitters.
• Amino Acids tyrosine and phenylalanine are important for boosting the levels

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IBMT or Integrative Body-Mind Training has been a major research project at both the Dalian University of Technology in China and the Department of Psychology at the University of Oregon in the USA.

For over six years, Dr. Yi-Yuan Tang and Dr. Michael Posner have studied the effects of a body-mind meditation practice derived from Chinese medicine on the body, emotions and the brain.

Their research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences or PNAS, shows specifically that IBMT produces greater changes in brain and behavior than relaxation training alone.

Their research involved two groups; the experimental group was given integrative body-mind training, while the control group received relaxation training in which individuals were taught to relax the muscles of their bodies in a progressive manner using deliberate thought control.

With just 11 hours of training, practitioners of integrative body-mind training achieved far greater emotional and …

Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD, face many complications over the course of their lives and, for some, the complications may be exacerbated by a pre-existing connection to a neurological complication. If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, it is important to ask your doctor about the potential risks for developing a seizure disorder and seeking out medical testing to rule out, or confirm, this complication.

Epilepsy is a complication that is believed to be more prevalent in children with ADHD than in children without ADHD. While not all children with epilepsy will have ADHD, there does seem to be a close connection. When your child exhibits complications associated with hyperactivity, impulsivity, lack of focus, and lack of attention, seeking out testing for a seizure disorder may be prudent as well.

While medications to treat ADHD are effective, if your child also has a co-morbid complication with epilepsy, …

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder or ADHD is a disorder that is neurodevelopmental and affects the mental abilities of a person. It is usually diagnosed in children and remains till about adulthood.

What are the Symptoms of ADHD?

Some of the symptoms that can be observed in someone facing ADHD are:

1. Trouble Focusing
2. Daydreaming
3. Forgetfulness
4. Talking too much
5. Making silly mistakes
6. Fidgeting
7. Hard time resisting temptations
8. Difficulty socializing
9. Aggression, anger and excitability
10. Hyperactivity
11. Depression
12. Learning disability
13. Boredom and mood swings
14. Absent-mindedness
15. Short attention span

What are the Causes of ADHD?

The exact causes of ADHD aren’t fully known and scientists are still working on it but some things can be considered as the trigger of causing ADHD. Some of the potential causes of ADHD are:

1. Premature birth
2. Consumption of drugs or alcohol or smoking cigarettes during pregnancy
3. Low weight at birth
4. Exposure to some harmful substances during pregnancy
5. Brain injury
6. Inherited

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Dear Dr. Quinn,

I am writing to you as a father whose 15-year-old daughter has the inattentive subtype of ADD. She has always been a “low energy” person, and currently, despite a regimen of Zoloft 150 mg. and Concerta 36 mg. she still often complains of fatigue. Medical work-up (anemia, thyroid, etc.) has all been normal.

Is this a phenomenon you have, in your medical experience, commonly observed, and if so, how have you approached it — biologically, psychosocially? The symptom itself interferes with her motivation to participate in the flow of life.

The work of you and your colleagues is providing a very valuable public service.

Thank You

Dear Dad:

The situation you write about is common in girls with AD/HD, particularly the inattentive subtype. Dr. Russell Barkley has spoken about this and describes this type of ADD as having a “Sluggish Cognitive Tempo.” In a discussion on addconsults, …

 

By Kathy Swantee – It has been almost 3 years since I was diagnosed with ADD. I had picked up the book Driven to Distraction (Ratey & Hallowell) when my son was tested and found myself within the pages as well. The way I saw things, the way I did things; this was actually a cohesive explanation! The closest I had ever come to putting a finger on my difficulties had been in college. I was studying autism for a college psyche class and was struck by some of the resemblances to my own struggles. I wondered if I might have some mild form of autism…25 years later came my diagnosis of ADD, a disorder in the same spectrum as autism, if only I’d known how close I had been.

When we returned to the doctor’s to discuss treatment options for my son, we were discussing options …

Joan Charquero – I grew up in a Northwest suburb of Chicago. My mother was a very accomplished jazz and classical pianist. Much artwork was present around my home, but no one in my immediate family was active in the visual arts. However, there was a friend of the family, who took care of me on many occasions between the ages of 4 and 6. She was an artist and inspired me!

ADD seemed to be an early challenge in our family. My younger brother, like myself, displayed all the symptoms of a hyperactive child, although undiagnosed. He became passionately involved with music and I with visual arts. Presently, he is working as a professional classical guitarist, composer and music teacher. In schools, I had measurable difficulty with many aspects of learning. Although I had the desire to become a better student, everything around me seemed too confusing. The messy …

Do stimulants increase hyperactivity?
Dear Dr Quinn:
I wonder if you could answer a question for me. I was Diagnosed ADHD and cannot seem to take any medication. They make me hyper. When I am really tired, I can take a small dose of Adderall. Otherwise, I feel like I am bouncing off the walls. I take the lowest dose made of Adderall. Should I try Concerta or Ritalin? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
JS

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Dear JS:
I have seen this response on occasion in some of the children I have treated. However, the answer may be a little confusing. For some people with ADHD, taking a too-small dose of stimulant medication actually makes them more hyperactive. In such cases, they need to increase the dose of stimulant to get the response that they are looking for. I suggest that you speak to your prescribing physician and try a …

There is widespread agreement that the rates of depression and anxiety in females with ADHD is higher than that in males, and that such patterns tend to increase with age, throughout adolescence and into adulthood. Dr. Biederman has written that many women with ADHD experience what he calls “demoralization,” related to years of struggle with the challenges of ADHD, rather than having true clinical depression, characterized by vegetative signs of appetite loss and changes in sleep patterns.

Feelings of depression are so commonplace among females with ADHD that there has even been speculation that depression is one of the features of ADHD. There is much overlap between the features of depression and those of ADHD, especially in women with predominantly inattentive type ADHD. Women with Inattentive Type ADHD may be characterized as withdrawn, easily overwhelmed by daily events and demands, forgetful, disorganized, with low energy levels that make it difficult …

AD/HD women are experts at multi-tasking and caring for everyone else around them, but they often sacrifice their own needs for the needs of those they love. You know the scenario: you have a movie date with your girlfriend or sister, and your son or daughter comes home from school and announces a desperate need for your help (“Please, Mom!!”) with a big school project due tomorrow. What do you do? My experience, both personally and professionally, leads me to believe that the majority of us would call and cancel our anticipated girls’ night out.

Let’s face it, there’s no doubt about it — it’s difficult for most women with AD/HD to attend (no pun intended) to their own needs first and foremost. Stimuli from external sources do often have a stronger cognitive “voice” than the ones coming from internal sources. However, experience tells me we can acquire both a …