Adhd - Menifee, CA

Hi K.,
Have you ever looked into her diet? There have been studies done that link behavior and learning to poor diet. I am a school teacher, and though I have no expertise in the subject, I am a strong believer that diet can make a difference. I am like you, and would rather not medicate my child. If I were you I would do a lot of research about the diet. My mom has done a lot of research. My cousin has always had a strong case of ADHD and they tried so many things. My mom finally helped out by helping change what things he ate. It was very successful. As he became older he was really able to tell a difference by his diet. He makes such good choices now and he just graduated highschool and is on his way to college. Just something to look into to.

There's a book called something like Healing the 4-A Epidemic: ADHD, Autims, Allergies and Asthma, by Dr. Bock. You can do a search for it on Amazon to verify the correct name of the book. It discuss dietary interventions and how food intollerance issues may cause certain symptoms the supplements that can be taken to help decrease the symptoms. Most M.D.'s are not big advocates of this whole approach but there are a lot of people out there trying this approach and claiming that it has helped them with their child.

Most of my friends who have put their children on prescription meds for ADHD symptoms have experience significant side effects from the meds which were almost as equally as bad (but different) as what they were dealing with had their child not taken the med.

organic and no artificial anything does indeed help. But, ultimately meds are the only thing that will help her focus and lessen impulse control issues

First thing is that I would recommend taking her to a psychologist because if she does in fact have ADHD it's recommended that they do both therapy and medications for optimal results. Medication alone isn't enough. Another thing is what type of doctor diagnosed her? A lot of children are being misdiagnosed with ADHD when it's really something else so having a full analysis done by a psychologist is the best way to go. I hate the idea of medicating kids and I have a 4 year old that shows signs of ADHD but the more I discuss him with my own therapist the more she is leaning towards Asperger's which isn't something to medicate for at all. Over the past couple years of suspecting ADHD I have tried diet changes (Feingold) and adding omegas and B's (with B vitamins you need a B complex because the body doesn't absorb just one B vitamin alone). What I have found by doing that is dyes (mostly red) and high fructose corn syrup affect him, beyond that I haven't noticed anything else that really made a difference. I am planning on having the analysis done to see what we are really dealing with before I do anything else. Last year his pediatrician wrote us a script for ADHD meds after sitting down with us for 30 minutes of questions and observation and I don't think any child should be diagnosed that quickly. I love our pediatrician but I think mental diagnosis’s should be handled by a specialist because there are so many other conditions that have symptoms similar to ADHD and it's best to know what you are dealing with before you treat or medicate.

Hi K.,

I'm sorry you are having trouble with your daughter. Unfortunately, the psychiatrists and psychologists don't know what causes kids to be hyper so they work with pharmaceutical companies to come up with a pill that is going to solve everything. The medication they give kids and adults has serious side effects and permanently changes the brain and nervous system. Please don't medicate your child. If you are interested in something that is safe, with no drugs, alternative, email me. It has to do with teaching your daughter when she doesn't understand something she is learning. If she learns how to find her own answers and be responsible for her own learning, then she will be able to learn ANYTHING.
Thanks.

Dear K.,
Greetings!!!

It's wonderful to hear that you have taken your daughter off the medications and are researching natural remedies and different diets instead. Sugar, dyes, different food combinations and even toxins (in the environment and home) can truly make a difference in a child's behavior. But, please also remember that kids are ALIVE and have feelings and spirit and do not deserve to be labeled or medicated. I definitely know from experience that these medications do more harm than good and that, in fact, there are many natural solutions that can actually help with what your daughter is going through.

I highly recommend contacting Dr. Anita Pepi who is truly an amazing Chiropractor and Nutritionist and would definitely be able to help your daughter naturally.

Here's her data:

2950 Los Feliz Blvd. Suite 101
Los Angeles, CA 90039
(323) 666~1088
http://www.drpepi.com

If she is too far for you, please let me know as I may know of an incredible nutritionist that is closer to you.

I'd also recommend checking out 5 organizations validating why going the natural route is best for you and your daughter:
http://ablechild.org/
http://www.cchr.org/
http://www.fightforkids.org/
http://www.psychsearch.net/teenscreen.html
http://www.labelmesane.com/

You'll also find some amazing data regarding alternatives at: http://www.cchr.org/solutions_and_alternatives/

And, K., please watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Xjx0gdL83I
http://www.psychconflicts.org/

I truly want you to know, K., that you are such an INCREDIBLE MOM for researching alternatives to the medications!!!

Hope this helps! Please free to contact me at: (323) 906~2784 or via e~mail me at ____@____.com,
L. (Mama to 37 week old Dylan Orion) : )))

Hi K.,

I understand that you'd prefer going the natural route and not use medication. I've been working in a school specifically for children with learning disabilities and ADHD/ADD for 15 years. I've been teaching 3rd through 5th grade. What I have found is that MANY parents who have tried going "natural" don't have as good a result as those who have medicated their children. We don't "push" parents to medicate, since ultimately the parent has the final word. However, after hearing 3 prominent professionals from UCLA Medical Center at a seminar, this is what was said... First of all if your child is PROPERLY diagnosed, medication can be a wonderful tool to help your child perform to the best of their ability. However, there are lots of kids who aren't diagnosed properly. Second of all, the brains of children with ADD/ADHD are actually different (this is done by brain scans) from children who do not have it. These scans also show that there is a "lag" or delay in the brains of children with ADD/ADHD. Medication is proven through research to be the one treatment that does help these children. One of the researchers comment was, "How can you NOT try medication if they are struggling with ADD/ADHD? One of the parents in the audience asked if it was too late to put their 16 year old on meds and the doctors comment to that was, "Do you want a 16 year old driving on the road unmedicated? (Remember ADD is characterized by impulsivity, lack of focus and sustained attention.) Can you imagine a kid driving with all of that? Dangerous! What people don't seem to understand is ADD/ADHD is real. From my experience, those children who were not medicated didn't improve much in terms of impulsivity, attention, and focus. I've have kids go the gluten free/wheat free/sugar free route, which often didn't have major results for the better. I have had students, when they haven't taken their medication, ask for it. They can "feel" a difference in their performance when they're off their meds. With that said, children who are medicated should definitely see a psychologist or therapist in conjuction with the meds. I would also say that even without meds, a therapist would be a great idea, since many of these kids suffer from low self esteem, as well as social and emotional issues. Lastly, there are children who are "non-responders" to medication. I would suggest taking your daughter to a dr. to get properly diagnosed and discuss all of your options.

I could go on and on about this. You could email me and I'd be more thatn happy to "talk." Best of luck!
M.

You have gotten so many responses and I do not know if you will even get to mine. I think you have gotten a lot of good advice and ideas. There are two things I would like to add that I did not see from skimming your answers. Medications unlike herbs are FDA approved and vigorously tested. Herbs are not FDA approved for any use- what this means is that every bottle and every pill may not contain the same amount of herb and the side effects have not been tested, Make no mistake Herbs may be natural but they are medicinal and can be very powerful and potentially dangerous. Because they are not subject to the standards of Meds- they can be more dangerous. I noticed that a lot of people with "advice" are trying to sell a product. Be careful! Also there are statistics that show that untreated ADHD in children can lead to a higher chance of drug addiction. I work in the field and specifically with ADHD kids which is why I added my two cents. Good Luck. It is good to do all your research so you can feel good about the decisions you make even if it does end up to be medication.

Hi K.,
I have a 9 yrs old boy and I thought he had ADHD! I has happy to find out he was not. But, he is a very active 9 yrs old... Anyway, when i took him to the DR. the doctor said the he can have him do a biofeedback. This are just wires that they connect to your brian and it just training your brian to be less calmer.Beleive me, his behavior has improved. He is really relax now... You can give it a try. Dr's name is Karen S. Kiefer M.s., D.O. The number is ###-###-####
if you have a fax number i can fax over some papers that tell you more about it...

Protein every hour or more really helps. No perservatives, low sugar & low salt diet. LOTS of fruits and veg. I've seen this work as a teacher with some really strong cases.

Hello! I can very strongly recommend going to a natural diet to help your daughter...sugar and food coloring have both been linked to ADHD. There are antibiotics and hormones in our meats, dairy and eggs, so trying to eat a more natural diet can help many other issues as well. Any processed foods like rice mixes, hot dogs, a lot of cereals, and fruit snacks are all FILLED with sugar, food coloring and preservatives. Every little bit helps! I wish you luck and hope you are able to find what your daughter needs. From one firefighter wife to another! :)

Many people have had great results with nutritionals from Neways for ADHD,ADD & Autism. Pls listen to a conf call www.menoqueen.com and contact me for whlsl discounts
re: Durian Fusion www.universalpartnersgroup.com/nww (passcode 'NWW' in caps) Also very helpful in cutting the disruptors/antagonists in everything from body care to hshld cleaning products. Best wishes! J.
www.4healthygreenhome.com

Hi K., My son also has ADHD and Aspergers Syndrome. I've been giving him a natural Supplement ESE. It is a Sunrider product. It has helped and he seems more focused and does not jump around like he used to. My friend is a distributor do if you are interested in getting more info. about it let me know and I will give you her Info.
Y.

Hi K.,

Check out http://www.eegspectrum.com/FAQ/
This is a method that uses bio feedback to retrain brainwaves. I attended one of their seminars and though the process had good basis in science and decent promise. Our son ended up being just above borderline ADD, so we were told that he wasn't really a candidate (nice to know that they don't try to suck everyone in!)

Testing is pricey, as is training, but it's supposed to have good results. You might want to repost asking the moms if anyone has specific experience with this method.

Good luck!

R.

Kudos to you for looking for something different.

There are testimonies regarding B vitamins helping. My grandson drank XS (which I sent him) in the morning before he went to school. It has a huge amount of B Vitamins in it and no sugar. He came off the meds. He did real well with it and it was in a form he wanted to take. www.we-us.mychoices.biz is where you can get it.

Also on that site are organic vitamins and B supplement. 'Brainiums' for kids are a great source of DHA.

Ditto the no sugar thing, eat food as a single source, ie an apple, instead of an apple pie. Try the book "The Maker's Diet"

try an ounce of coffee in the morning. My mom was a headstart teacher and she did this with several of her students (with parents permission of course) and it really levels them out and keeps them focused. Make sure its just plain black coffee though lol, you don't want to feed her a bunch of sugar right off the bat lol
tip: put an ice cube in it :)

I have a son in the same situation. We have him taking a break from the med's during the summer. I will be trying different rememdies to see if it helps change anything with his ADHD. Here is one thing I am looking into. You should check out this product called, "Kid Calm". There are many websites that pop up when you type in that name. My friend purchased some from her chiropractor, for her daugther (age 4), and says it's really helping. Another friend of mine is taking it for herself for muscles spasms and says it's helping. She says she found it at Target. Here is one website I found online who seems to sell it the cheapest. I will be trying this product out soon for my son.(As soon as I can get my hands on it.) Take the time to read about it. Good Luck!!
http://www.calmnatural.com/kidscalm?gclid=CO6dm57D75MCFRp...

I also have a 8 year daughter who was diagnosed in the 1st grade. We have found that in order for her to function in school we have to have her on medication, but because of loss of appetite side effects we have to take her off in the summer to put some weight on her. She is already a rail. We give her Omega 3 vitamins on a daily basis and that is supposed to be helpful. I have also tried a product called Reliv and people have sworn that its combination of vitamins has made a huge difference in their children with ADHD. I personally didn't see a huge difference, but everyone is different. I have found that exercise and Martial Arts are great natural ways to help her focus and let out some energy. I always try to feed her things without alot of presevatives and go ogantic with dairy.

I don't personally have any experience with this outside of my 14 yo nephew, however I have heard of two more holistic approaches that might help: one is sleep, in the book "Healthy Sleep Habbits, Healthy Child" the author suggests that children that don't get enough quality sleep (deep, non-REM sleep) and are prone to ADHD symptoms and how this dignosis is on the rise; is your DD getting enough sleep? 60 minutes also had a really interesting story on sleep (and the lack of (deep)) sleep last night as well, stating that it can cause a whole range of problems from obecity, dibeties, pre-mature aging and most importantly mood.
The second thing I've heard mothers having a great sucess with is a gluten-free diet, I don't have any sources to site on this one, just the testimony from a mother I used to work with.
B vits. in general are great for metolibizing (sorry I'm a horrible speller) carbs (I take one).
I think alot can be accomplished with diet, eating organic, whole (non-processed), raw foods which can get expensive and time consuming to prepaire, but even just a little bit can help. There are lists of "super foods" that are high in nutrent value (like almonds, sunflower seeds, bee pollen, kale and many others).
I sound a bit like a health nut, but my family eats our fair share of chemicals (me esp. w/ my artificial sweetners) but I try to minimize as much as I can.
Hope you found something useful.....

Hi: My recommendation is that you consult with a doctor who is NAET certified. Using NAET (Nambudripad Allergy Eliminination Techniques) they have I believe had significant success eliminating ADHD. If you want the website for further information let me know. They have a physician locator service as well as books explaining the basis, and links to the research foundation.

I go to an naet certified doctor for other concerns and love him. His name is Dr. David Karaba and he is with East West Medical Group in Fullerton. Use my name if you like and he will give you a free consultation.

Best wishes,

M. Sexton

My oldest son, now 22, is also ADHD and was on meds for only a few years in elementary school. Consistency is key. They are creatures of habit more than anything. It takes a lot of patience and understanding, but it can work. Your must work on Behavior Modification more than anything. My son had to work harder on things and there were a lot of teachers who were not interested in working with me. I used to have to explain everything very carefully to him and have clear cut expectations. Everything had to be written down. Restrict sugar. I found that if I sent him to school with a Mountain Dew to have right before a test helped. The caffene acts as a modifier. He graduated high school with a 4.0 and I chose not to have him in any special ed classes, I did not have a 504 or an IEP. He needed to understand that the world didn't care if he is ADHD, that HE needed to find a way to fit and work hard. He is doing great today with a great job and living on his own. Good luck. A book that I would recommend is "How Your Child Is Smart". It really pin points learning styles and how best to teach to them. You can find it on Amazon.com. Good luck.

All the responses look great. We've gone to a therapist for behavior modification. Sometimes I told her it felt like it was more for me to have the support I needed. But we've really been finding is changing things is her vision therapy. Sounds crazy but many children diagnosed with ADHD have vision problems and are acting that way because of it. See an optometrist who specialized in vision development and get tested. The first visit will be covered by your insurance if you have vision insurance.

Dr Derek Tong in Temple City.

We also saw our daughter's friend go to him and completely reverse her school work, where it used to take literally 4-5 hours a night, it now takes 30 minutes to an hour. And now she loves reading. My daughter is showing signs of being able to read better after 2 months (for her it's a 6 month process). And he does tell some that they don't need it so he's not just in it to get patients.

G.

May or may not be helpful, but I just read an article in Parents that said a lot of kids who have an eye dissorder are getting mistakenly diagnosed with ADHD because they have very similar symptoms- and many of these kids only see a tiny improvement on meds. Look on the parents website for the article, and mention it to your doctor (and it doesn't show up on standard vision tests, but the article explained a simple test you can do if you suspect it).

Hi K.,

A lot of our children respond to what they are eating or not eating. Take a look at the foods. Have you removed all dyes (big contributor) and MSG, nitrates. Try and go as organic as you can. Sodas, artifical sweetners are a no no. If you go to www.tacanow.org and on the right side there is a section called GF-CF. They have a very extensive list of food choices, why you want to go this way, and also how to do it. Start slow, remove the above items, see if there is a difference.

Another thing is to find out what foods your child is getting the inflammation from by doing an IgG blood test through your doctor. They will test for around 100 foods. Amazing what happens when you remove the ones on the list that are causing a problem.

I don't know about nutritional supplements, but if you're not already doing it, I believe your child could be greatly helped with behavioral therapy. Many parents find that the ADHD can be handled through behavioral therapy alone and without medication. If you're seeing your pediatrician soon, ask about a referral to a behavioral psychologist. It is very likely that the service would be covered by your health insurance. If not, there are many psycologists who work on a sliding scale, depending on your ability to pay. Good luck!

I have heard a lot about diet and Adhd... It would not hurt to do some research on the effects of food and behavior in children. Good Luck!

I would look very carefully at her diet. doctor's are never going to tell you this because there is no money to be made on it. but the food typically given to american children is full of toxic chemicals that leech into the blood stream and cause dis-ease in the brain and wreak havoc on the nervous system. I would recommend you read "Fasting and Eating for Health" and although fasting may be tough for a nine year old, change in her diet will do wonders. our children should be eating mostly fresh fruits and vegetables. very little out of a bag or can and no dairy or animal protein.

I wish you well. I know that the drug issue is a tough one but they do more harm than good in the long term.

Best,

J.
www.thenewfastgirls.blogspot.com

Hi K. - My son developed ADHD after lead poisoning. There are several recent studies linking ADHD with lead poisoning - one stating that an estimated 21% of children with ADHD actually are affected by lead. The study is available on Environmental Health perspectives or www.bluedominoes.com.

We found supplements such as PS100 (gel form), Phoschol, Vitamin C, cod liver oil, and some homeopathic remedies were very helpful. Also, Interactive Metronome and a therapy called HANDLE were instrumental in our journey. The woman who developed HANDLE (a series of exercises) essentially recovered herself by using different exercises. I was skeptical, but my insurance covered it so I went. It really helped. Also IM has some studies behind it showing it's effectiveness and we noticed a HUGE improvement in my son's handwriting after it.

Changing the diet is key. My son was so sensitive to artificial colors - even in the soap and cleaners they used at school. The school ended up changing both so my son could go to school there and he had an amazing year. I've also heard that vision therapy can help but have not tried it. Also music therapy - there are CDs that help with focus and attention were helpful for us. My son would ask me to play them again and again.

Someone also suggested Reliv to us as a supplement roughly 3-4 years ago and when I emailed the headquarters they said it was made with genetically modified soy, so I decided against it. I'm not sure if they use the same formula still. Also, Natura Health Products has free consults with a Nutritionist and their products are excellent - a little pricey but they do help if you also have a good diet.

Good luck!

Hello K. S
I think it's a good idea that you're working with her pediatrician regarding medication. I would not be "afraid" or "hesitant" regarding the medication especially if the medication helps your daughter experience more success in school. It's ok to need some help with school. You can explain this to her. Everyone learns in different ways; that our brains are unique - just like we are unique in what we like to do in school, or what we like to play. Her brain needs help to pay attention and to remember what she learns better. The medication in addition to other things she can do will help her brain and help her to listen more carefully, or to stop and think better. The bottom line is, it's okay to need help-- learning about how our bodies work is a good thing for all of us.

However-- as parents it is our responsibility to consider all factors. THe medication is not a miracle cure; actually it's not even a cure. Think of it as a hearing aid for a person that is deaf. It's giving that person the opportunity to hear but that person still has to have all other factors in place to learn.

Eating habits are an important factor. I think it's important to insure that your daughter has a healthy diet that promotes concentration, e.g. no sugar ceral or pop tarts in the morning-- make sure she has some protein; that she is well hydrated during the day, and eating healthy snacks between meals.

Rest- being rested in the morning helps concentration during the day and getting exercise is also important.

Structure in her day at home ( a routine so that it's easier for her to remember expectations and helps her with staying organized) is important too. You say you let her have more slack. This is not always a good thing. This may be giving your daughter the wrong message about her. Does they confirm to her that she is different? That she doesn't have to follow the same rules or be as responsible as others or that she can get away with things because she has a "problem". Structure, reasonable expectations for her age, communicating these expectations clearly and enforcing them consistently is a better way to go than giving her extra slack.

Hope this helps or at least offers you some food for thought.

Hi K.,

I know that a good quality vitamin and mineral supplement along with a change in diet can drastically help with ADHD. I work with a wellness company and have seen many children improve after getting the many nutrients they are not getting from food these days. Also, the types of cleaning and personal care products you use could be contributing to your daughters illness. Chemical ingredients are being linked to many illnesses, ADHD being one of them. Here's a 10 minute video that will give you a good idea how environmental toxins play a role in our health: www.sharethecause.com/T.

Also, here's an article about ADHD and the scams by drug makers to keep your child on them. It's from a newsletter I get called Natural News at www.NaturalNews.com and here's the link to the article:
http://www.naturalnews.com/023334.html

It was originally published May 30 2008 and the name of the article is: The ADHD Scam and the Mass Drugging of Schoolchildren (Transcript)by Mike Adams.

I hope this all helps you and your daughter,

Blessings,

T.
www.sharethecause.com/T.

K.,

Check out www.feingold.org The Feingold Diet is also known as the ADHD diet. You basically eliminate artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. My son is almost 5 and he has autism and is VERY hyperactive. The full-blown Feingold Diet is very complicated and he only eats less than 20 things total (common with autism) so I've never done the full blown diet but we do watch what he eats and try to minimize the artifical colors, flavors and preservatives in his food. We've also cut out pizza, any ice cream that has artificial ingredients, fruit snacks, fruit loops and pop tarts. It has made a huge difference for him. I'd eventually like to get him on the fullblown diet but right now we are stuggling to get him to eat anything at all so it isn't so much of a possibility. But even what we are doing has helped (I'm basically eliminating the worse offenders and trying to slowly get him to eat other foods). Many kids react badly to all of the artifical "crap" in a typical diet. I was stunned how many chemicals were in the foods my son was eating when I started to look. Good luck!

T.

Watch her diet. lots of fresh fruits and veggies and whole grains and MINIMAL sugar. cut OUT high fructose corn syrup and hydroginated oils. studies are proving that ADHD in many children is due mostly to their diet. also Juice Plus+ has proven to be very helpful in children with ADHD.
Blythe
____@____.com

Omega 3 (fish oil) can help some. Modified diet (low sugar, etc) can help. Caffeine helps too (try unsweetened tea). Good luck!

Kristie
I have two boys with ADHD, and I have the oldest on natural minerals/vitamins and he seems to be doing very well on them.
They are called S.M.A.R.T fx

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and you can check them out at
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Hi K., My son has also been adhd for all his life. WE have tried all the diet remedies first, vitamins, minerals before having to go the medicine way. He is well stablized on dexedrine spanshules (time release). Ritalin causes cancer so that is out, he has tried a few others, but the dex works best.
The main thing for your daughter to take along with the meds are good vitamins, minerals and milk thistle, which helps cleanse the liver of the toxic chenicals.
My son was born 3 months early and is now 20 years old, attending a special education college at UCLA (extension). He never could have gotten through life without the meds (I believe).
Since I am a cancer survivor, I do everything I can to have us eat healthy, drink pure water and take supplements eery day.
I am more than happy to discuss with you further on the phone if you would like. S. K. www.healthy-communications.com ###-###-####

A friend got our family hooked on the Feingold Diet - a preservative free, no artifical colors or flavors diet for my son who is 5. Check out their website: http://www.feingold.org/

We truly believe that he has a sensitivity to all of the above causing a behavioral reaction. It has been a wonderful improvement in healthy choices for our whole family. A friend who has both a son and her husband with ADHD introduced the diet to us. Best wishes!

After reading all your many, many responses =) the only thing I can think of to add is if you might consider homeschooling her for a year or so just to see if that would improve her self esteem.

Also then the issue of to medicate - or not would be moot for a while. You can teach her how to concentrate, and so on. I loved the book 'How to get your child off the refrigerator, and onto learning'. It has great tips for integrating movement into your lessons........

My daughter (now 17) was diagnosed at age 5, but we managed to keep her off medications until high school. I read everything I could find about behavioural management of ADHD symptoms. We put reward systems in place, and when one got old we replaced it with a new one. We had poker chips, prize boxes, hand stamps, you name it. In kindergarten she was pulling penalty cards at school every day. By the end of second grade she was no longer being cited at all for behavior, but was still zoning out a lot in class. We worked with all her teachers so they could recognize when she had lost focus, so they could go over to her and do something to bring her back to mother earth. As she got older we used a lot of secret signals, like a hand on the shoulder or a tap on the desk. Throughout intermediate school we had to intervene a number of times because of work she missed or misunderstood because of organizational or attention programs, but the teachers still agreed to work with us informally. In her first year of high school she just couldn't maintain enough focus to stay current in her academics, and she was also showing some hyperactive symptoms, like getting up from her desk in the middle of class. This was a hard time for her because she was trying so hard and she just couldn't concentrate well enough to master the more complicated information she was encountering. In December of her Freshman year she started on Concerta, which she had problems with, and in about April she changed over to Strattera which has worked well for her ever since.

Medication does not really help much with the organizational issues which your child will probably face in the future. Katie is also still hilarious and hyper at times, and still tends to zone out a lot. I often have to tell her things three or four times before she hears me. We also put a 504 plan in place for her.

If you haven't already, find out about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Kids with ADHD have legal rights for their education to be modified so it works for them.

If we had it to do over again, perhaps we would have put Katie on medication earlier. It wasn't until fairly recently that we have talked about how hard it was for her to stay focused in earlier grades. It took a great deal of effort on her part and also caused her a lot of stress. Would I put a child through that to avoid using medication? I don't know. Now that she is on a medication that works for her her life is so much easier. When we were having problems with Concerta and had to discontinue it, she begged to go on another medication immediately. She just couldn't stand the possibility that she would have to go back to facing school with her attention problems.

We did try some dietary supplements, but didn't see any change. Omega 3 comes up a lot as a supplement to help with ADHD. It upset Katie's stomach so much we weren't able to give it much of a chance.

I hope our story has given you some things to think about. Our daughter has turned out to be a wonderful young woman. Consistant work on your part will certainly help your child more than you can imagine.

Let me know if you need anything or if I can be of further help.

All my best,

J. Davis
____@____.com

Hi K.,
You have already received a lot of really good advice. I just wanted to add something for you to consider. If you want your daughter taking a vitamin, just make sure it is a good, high quality vitamin that will really work for her. I would like to recommend looking into Melaleuca, the Wellness Company. Their vitamins have a patented mineral delivery system that guarentees absorption at the CELLULAR level. By taking a vitamin that is giving the brain the fuel it needs to function properly, there have been many docudmented cases of drastic positive behavior changes in children suffering from ADD/ADHD.
I hope this is helpful.

Feel free to contact me if you want me to send you the research articles and product stories regarding this matter.
You can also visit www.melaleuca.com for more information.

Good luck!
A.
____@____.com
saferforyourhome.com

I am not a big fan of the meds. There is much you can do nutritionally. As much as possible stay away from processed foods, sugars, simple carbs-white breads, white rice, pasta, white potatoes. Superfood is really recommended. Superfood is dehydrated greens such as wheatgrass, rye grass, spirulina that you add to a smoothie or juice. Great stuff, everyone should drink it. Spirulina is packed with B vitamins that the body is usually short on when it is stressed and your daughter sounds like she could use it. You can find it in any good health food store, Whole Foods and maybe Trader Joes. In addition to that,believe it or not, chiropractic adjustments can help. I am including the following link with an article on this subject.

http://www.chiro.org/research/ABSTRACTS/Children_ADD_ADHD...

It can also help with the incontinence.
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Chiropractors-965/incontinence...

I would say that her teacher doesn't have the full picture. With all that is going on I'd say it's more about self esteem than not wanting to apply herself. Build up her self esteem as best you can and she will be more motivated.

Yoga might be a good thing also. It will help her focus, calm her down, and help with her self esteem. Maybe it something you can do together with the aid of a DVD. It could help you also.

http://www.specialyoga.com/adhd.htm

It's great that you have her seeing a counselor. You didn't mention how long she has been seeing the counselor, so it is hard to say how effective it is. If after 4-6 sessions you are not satisfied consider finding someone else. It is quite possible that the two of them are not a good match. I know you are providing her with lots of love. Hang in there. You are doing a great job.

You have received a lot of responses, I just want to add one more thing. Sleep apnea is often misdiagnosed for ADHD. If your 9 year-old daughter snores or does not sleep well, you might want to look into getting her tested for sleep apnea.
http://www.drgreene.com/21_621.html

Blessings!
N.

True and properly diagnosed ADHD is a medical condition that benefits from appropriate medication. If your child was diabetic would you be withholding her insulin? Unfortunately, we've all been trained to see these meds as bad. There are no bad meds, just bad uses. If your child needs them to reach homeostatis please help her out and give them to her. Not treating her properly is going to make her self esteem plummet, which in the end is much more damaging than any ADHD medication.

Hi, K.. Try adjusting you daughter's diet. A lot of people have success removing certain things like red dye (even naturally occurring, i.e., red apples), so you might try that. Maybe a nutritionist can help if you notice a difference removing certain foods and with adding more than a multi-vitamin. If your treating with a specialist in this area and the medications help and make your daughter feel better, I'd keep her on it and just monitor her. My son had ADHD and the medication was a godsend for him. He felt better on it and did well monitored. He is now a Navy man and doing great.

Hi K.-

This is such a hard thing to go through. If you are looking into alternative routes other than prescription medications which may not be the entire answer, please let me know. I am familiar with a company who manufactures all non-toxic, chemical free household products (including laundry) and personal care products. There have been numerous studies that ADHD is related to toxic chemicals one may be exposed to (especially in the home). Also, they have fantastic vitamins that have 85% absorption rate into your body. Most, like Centrum, Nutralife, etc have less than 10% absorption rate so most of it is not absorbed into your cells. I'd love to give you more info if you would like to email me back or at ____@____.com.

I agree with the NAET advice & watching the diet. My children do not have ADHD, but NAET has helped us eliminate allergies.

http://www.schoolmoves.com/

Check out that website. I've attended her workshops. Schools in Northern California use her program and ALL children benefit from the "brain gym" type exercises. The exercises are VERY simple and easy to incorporate into your day. Teachers can use them in the class room. They are so quick and easy they are called "minute moves."

Hi my son is six years old and has adhd .we didn't want him on any meds but i wen a natural way its from herbalife and its a powder you put a pinch size amount in his water in the morning and it will help him normalize so that they can concentrate at school .if your intrested its called nature's raw guarana i think you can go online and order it i dont remember how much i payed for it but i know its under twenty and also you have to cut sugar out and if you can go the organic way a good balance diet helps them.my son was doing really bad in school there was not one week with out him getting a refferal for being bad in school and before he got out of school he got student of the month so it turned out good for me good luck to you because i have been there.

hi. my grandson was also on meds with little inprovement what we did was we went to a organic diet yes it cost more but is well worth it . no food colors no preservtives no dyes, no sugars such as refine sugars corn surups. we only use fruits sweetin with it on fruits . people will tell you that if it said all natural it just as good as oganics it may be all natural that chicken the chicken food may be all natural but what was sprayed on the food the chicken ate you get the point all so we give are granhson fish oil with at least 1000mgs af dha a day magniums at least 400mgs at bed time. for my grandson this a work great for him, for focus when give aherb call calm and focus this has worked very well to, he still has a bad day now and than but over all we are very pleased . all meds do is cover add/adhd up. there are many books out there about this subject pick one up we did and learned a great deal about diet. hope this helps. thanks R. and belinda curnew

My son, too has ADHD. He is fourteen now and we have been trying different things since he was seven. I will say, he is finally growing into his skin and is able to cope and use the skills he has been taught now that he is older...although it is still an uphill battle. You may want to supplement with PLENTY of Omega 3 fatty acids. There have been quite a few studies that show that it helps...Also check out Attend. It is a homeopathic medicinal made for children with ADHD...they also have something called Excite which helps with impulse control. I will say, I fought medication tooth and nail for a very long time. Finally, we gave it a shot and the difference in his demeanor, grades self control was amazing. The biggest difference for him was in his self perception. He was beginning to think of himself as a "bad" kid. Unable to control impulses, stupid, unlikeable...it broke my heart. Being on meds for a while helped him to redefine his own image of who he could be and the possiblities were there...you know? This is th first semester he hasn't gotten straight a's at school...four A's and two B's..Wow...this is just because, 1. he believes in himself, and when he needs some extra help interms of meds. he gets it. There have been many days where he knows he's okay without...and so at fourteen I trust his being in touch with his "body"...so far so good.
YOu will most probably get many different responses...some of which will warn you against the evils of meds...some of which will tell you that it's impossible without them. Trust your instinct, do your own research, and know that what may be the right solution for YOUR family may be different from someone else's. I wish you good luck...I know how painful this can be...one day at a time...

I have 3 children who are ADD or ADHD. I have heard that an organic diet is the best way to go. With all the stuff put in meats and other foods for processing, it is showing many more kids with ADD and ADHD.

I am on a food suppliment that contains mostly Colostrum. I have tons of energy during the day. This is a food suppliment that is ALL natural. In ADD and ADHD people, it will make them less hyper. Medications,foods and caffine have an opposite affect on those who have this. Instead of giving them energy, it will make them less active.

Look up the website twinow.com/jlwagner. It will give you benefits that will take your child off medication.

If you have questions, let me know at ____@____.com

J.

My daughter has ADHD and Asperger's Syndrome. We have tried several types of meds with varying degrees of success, but Vyvanse has worked the best for her. Medicine has made all the difference. She is a gifted student in a regular classroom setting, has a small group of close friends and is looking forward to middle school. I know people swear by "natural" remedies, but I suspect that perhaps their case is so mild that such remedies may help. I know many others like my daughter and the only thing that has worked is the medication. There are medications that don't have stimulants - one of those may work for your daughter. Good luck.

K. S,
I am a mom of 3 and my oldest daughter was VERY ADHD (she is now 13, on the honor roll, going into the 8th grade and on NO medication)! I am writing to encourage you to look into Neurofeedback. I have my degree in Neuropsychology and I do drug free therapies, including Neurofeedback which can correct ADD/ADHD without medication - permanently. I am NOT just trying to get your business - simply letting you know there IS an alternative to medication and to your daughters struggles. Neurofeedback is the most effective drug free treatment and the results can be amazing. Her focus, her grades, her behavior will all improve and her self esteem will improve. I see it all the time.
My office is the C.K.E. Brain Development Center in Temecula and you can call us anytime for any questions you have. Our goal is to let parents know there is a solution and a very effective one. Even if you don't call my office, at least look into Neurofeedback!
Sincerely,
C. ###-###-####
P.S. all 3 of my children needed Neurofeedback - my oldest with ADHD, my middle with ODD/Bipolar and my youngest with mild Autism. Now they are all on NO medication, at age aprropriate levels in school and socially - as "normal" as "normal" is.