Herbal/natural Alternative to Strattera

Hi K.,
When my son was having difficulties someone told us about Blue Algae. We ordered it and tried it and it does have a 'calming' (not in a weird way) effect. You order it online. I found it in a powder that I could mix with his juice. Just a warning though that it is blue/green in color too and is visually odd looking to drink. Mixing it with the V8 Splash juice seemed to work the best so that he could drink it. There are pills too but at 6 I didn't think he was ready for that yet. Good luck....

Most "natural" options for adhd either don't work, or will help ANYONE -like good nutrition, or have FAR more side effects than medication does.

((Before I go on, I should probably mention I'm adhd-c, quasi-medicated (meaning I go the OTC route with caffeine and nicotine... but have tried most of the meds out there, and just don't like any of them enough / found my *magic wand* that lets me keep the gifts while getting rid of the annoying bits), and have a quasi-medicated adhd-c 8yo (caffeine via coffee or soda). I have no bias for or against adhd meds. They're a tool, and like any tool can be useful or not depending on the situation.))

People get all up in arms about adhd meds, for some very good reasons, but most of those reasons are looooooong out of date (from back when kids would be medicated into zombies, which does NOT happen... you know you have the *right* med when you're exactly as you are not on meds, but with a degree of control that was previously lacking. NO personality shifts allowed. Although it can seem that way if you're dealing with a child in constant tantrums who no longer has to fight the tantrums, and just gets to be themselves). No one gets up in arms about a diabetic taking insulin (instead of controlling their diabetes with diet, which isnt always possible) or looks down on them for it... no one gets up in arms about a patient prone to blood clotting taking coumadin... or a PPD mum taking antidepressants. Yet for some reason, people who have no experience with adhd, or any medical background, feel they have the right to decide that adhd meds should be made on moral grounds. It's baffling to me.

There are only 2 reasons we DON'T medicate our son. 1) It's not any kind of problem in our house (adhd house, he fits right in), and since we homeschool we have the luxury that we can structure our day so that it's the most optimal for him, bringing out the benefits of adhd instead of the negatives (NOTHING could be better designed to bring out the negatives of adhd than our current schooling system). And 2) Because I *am* adhd, I'd rather teach all the tedious coping mechanisms *first* (like emotional monitoring and regulation, sensory integration, fine muscle movement to avoid annoying others with large muscle movements and about 1000 other tips/ tricks/ and foundations) and then let him decide if, what, and how much he wants to medicate his adhd later, when he's more self aware and can have a better voice in the process. But that's based purely off of my having already done it for over 20 years.

In the meantime, like I said, we use caffeine. Our espresso machine is *golden*. While not as effective as meds, it takes the edge off. Which is just enough to get through anything boring.

Aside from caffeine... we also use a LOT of sensory things (like massage before bedtime, full body immersion in water -swimming, or baths- to calm the mind or body, LOTS of physical activity -since he's combined, like I am, he needs both mental stimulation AND physical stimulation to keep from going bonkers), LOTS of mental activity, just tons of things. All of which is in addition to those "things that help everyone", like good nutrition and sleep.

To research all the tips/ tricks/ foundations... the phrase you'd be looking for are "coping mechanisms". Of which, like I mentioned, there are thousands. Everything from playing music when you have to concentrate, to creating patterns so solid that you follow them without thinking about them, to using things like swimming in order to relax, to never touching a piece of mail twice (because the "I'll do that in a minute" actually gets translated to "It will *actually* get done the 3rd or 4th winter after hell freezes over"), to positive discipline instead of punishment (emotional regulation + figuring out what went wrong + what to do next time = solution based things working about a gazillion times better instead of guilt+shame), to gazillions and gazillions of others.

Here, as well, are my 2 favorite resources I like to hand out:

"You Mean I'm not Lazy Stupid or Crazy ?!?" by kate kelly & peggy ramundo

&

www.additudemag.com

I don't know any good herbal remedies but I just wanted to say that I know where you are coming from. I am generally against medicating kids unless absolutely necessary. That said I just wanted to let you know that as a teacher I feel the same way would rather deal with problem child than see on meds....but occasionally it is the right thing to do. I have seen some amazing results that have really saved kids who were beginning to ostracize all the kids around them with their behavior and struggling academically due to extreme behavior/attention issues. The meds made it possible for them to really feel success and part of class. It might be something worth trying....if you don't like results or feel child is overmedicated you can have Dr. adjust dosage or u can take her off of them. If you do end up trying meds give them a few weeks for her body to adjust before making decisions. I would also get familycounseling. Good Luck

K.

My parents were told to put me away and forget they ever had me by a highly placed east coast psychiatrist. There was no drug treatment for my unlettered diagnosis. They hadn't invented ADHD, or executive command disorder, Dyslexia et al.
My father told my mother if they couldn't rise to this challenge they weren't worthy people so they never put me away.
Through dance which I put myself in at age 8 I found where my body stood in space and time. I became a modern dancer. It saved me.
When my father at a party remet the famous psychiatrist he asked what they had done with me. He replied that I was graduating high school had won several national awards and was a dancer.
The learned and lauded man nearly fell over.
I wonder how many lives he ruined before he found out that each person takes a different road when brilliant.
I am the author of many books in a dozen languages among my achievements.
Stick with your guns no medication. Do not ruin your child.
Take her to gymnastics, or karate. One of my daughters had gymnastics three days a week. She is just fine. My grandchild had karate lessons. He is an honor student.
Art also helps. My father taught me how to paint when I was seven.
Take your daughter to an eye doctor to see if anything is wrong with her eyes. She may not have depth vision or some other problem you are not aware of.

What about a food allergy? I have a friend who was going through the same thing with her daughter...the teachers and doctor swore she had ADHD and other problems and it turned out she had a wheat and red-dye allergy. Just a thought!

My best friend's son was diagnosed with ODD, extreme anxiety, and also with "something else going on" so they are in an ongoing analysis situation (almost 2 years, no joke).

Counseling is helping somewhat. Medication made things (frighteningly)worse and they took him off after a couple of days. My friend was so worn out she was really hoping that medication would do it. Now they are starting neuro/biofeedback. Personally I think this has the best chance of a real solution. It basically rewires the brain. There is information on it at Dr. Amen's website, you can do some searching on there. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&domains=http://www...

http://www.amenclinics.com/brain-science/spect-image-gall...

I wish you the best. I really mourn for my friend, she has none of the motherly joy she and all mothers deserve. I hope you find a good solution for your daughter so she can have a happy fulfilled life.

I have kids who need medication for neurodevelopmental disorders, which is what you are talking about with both ADHD and ODD. You should first have a complete evaluation from a developmental pediatrician and get good, solid, medical treatment from a board certified child psychiatrist who can explain medical intervention and how that will assist your child with all the therapies, behavioral and educational interventions she should be getting. Counselors are not the right professional to give you the care she needs, and are just one of the ancillary therapist she should see for either play or cognitive behavioral therapy, but should neither diagnose nor serve as a case manager for a.comprehensive treatment program.

Strattera is a medication that adjusts norepenfphron, and there is not an herbal or natural replacement. Find a trusted prescribes, and listen to their advice because the side effects that you anticipate are a myth, children don't stay on any drug that cause them side effects when they are treated by responsible physicians. Kids.don't become zombies, lose their personalities, or have long term effects. Like all medications, some work better for any given individual than others. Finding the right medications is a.process, but these are.safe and effective treatments. Untreated ADHD has much worse side effects than any medication. Check out what the future holds by refusing standard treatment before you shun what works.

Read about the medical conditions (often comorbid) of ADHA and ODD in books by Dr. Mel Levine and Dr. Russell Barkley. They will give you factual medical information and many good strategies for living with this condition.

M.

I don't know any herbal replacements for ADHD medications but add flax seed oil (omega-3) to the child's diet does seem to help in the long run. My oldest was diagnosed with ADHD and ODD when he was 5 years old and later (after years of ruling out this and that) he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder as well. His behavior was so out of control (and still is at times) that I would be so exhausted running interference with him all day long it seemed nothing else would get done during the day. IF I had a free moment without dealing with a metldown the last thing on my mind was doing the sinkful of dishes.

I know its hard but when you have children like ours its soooo important to take care of yourself. The best advice I can give you is, if you have a relative that would be willing to take your daughter even for a few hours it really helps us mommies to restore ourselves.

My younger daughter did not have ODD -- that is supposed to be a discipline/parenting issue which cannot be medicated away -- but she was (mis)-diagnosed with ADHD.

There was no one simple herbal solution - like an OTC replacement for prescription medication. What we did find, eventually, was that she had several body-wide issues going on which needed to be addressed. Sleep, hormones, food sensitivities - needed to be addressed in her.

You may want to look at http://www.itsnotmental.com which talks about the medical aspects of some of the things which may have symptoms of ADHD (http://itsnotmental.blogspot.com/2009/04/is-it-adhd-atten.... However, if there are parenting issues, emotional issues, etc. nothing can medicate that away.

On the other hand, I have taught some kids with a diagnosis of "ODD" that seemed to me not "ODD", but rather, they COULD NOT always comply with what was requested because of learning issues, attentional issues, etc - and it was NOT willful behavior, imo. They would get frustrated. But then, I only got a glimpse, and kids behave differently with different people and in different environments.

I hope you do not feel I am being judgmental. I am not. I am saying it is complicated to really know what is going on, but no matter what it is, I do not think you will find a single herbal remedy for the ADHD, although I have heard many parents say things like Hyland's remedies help calm things down. My child took Hyland's Calms and Hyland's insomnia for a while, and it did help minimally, which was better than nothing. She is doing fine now, but like I said, we had to treat all of her - getting closer to the root of her problems. Not just physically, of course - we also addressed learning issues, and therapy helped her cope with her own nature as well.

Hi K.,

I know you aren't local, but Dr. Paul Thomas (http://integrativepediatricsonline.com/) works at detoxifying children and helping families to avoid toxin exposure in our homes, food and through medications like vaccines (if you choose to vaccinate, there are preservative free versions!). If you contact him, he may be able to refer you to someone in your area that can help. I have had several friends who have had great success using detox methods instead of drugs. I have one friend who is still struggling, but she went with drugs first as they seemed like an easy fix and she was feeling desperate. It made things worse and the detox is taking longer and she is feeling hopeless. So I hope you can stick it out and try some natural solutions first and the drugs as a last resort.

On a side note, my cousin was diagnosed similarly growing up. We found cutting out sugar from his diet kept him more balanced and at 18 he was finally diagnosed as bipolar. Proper medication and therapy have helped him tremendously and he is like a new person (still avoids sugar BTW). But, I think ensuring the diagnosis is absolutely correct is vital to finding the right treatment especially when using drugs as they can easily make things worse if misdiagnosed.

If you are interested in trying chiropractic care, as suggested by TJ, call Core Chiropratic in Coeur D'Alene. He did an amazing job with my niece when he was in Redmond, WA.

It is very wearing to have kids with special needs. Two of my brothers three boys have adhd/ odd. It is very taxing and very hard. I know meds are a hard thing to want to put our kids on, but research it and listen to the dr.s/ nurses.. Know that your sweet little one does not do this stuff to be a bad child. Their brain does not work right and therefore their behavior is difficult. My daughter has autism and she can be violent at times and very difficult too. We had worked with behavoir specialists, coucilors and more and I was ready to try meds. I am SO happy we did. She hardly ever hits her brother and is a completely different child! That doesn't mean we don't have challanging behavior, but it sure does take away A LOT of stress. My daughter is 6 and she is on prozac. That helps keep her anxiety level down and in return she is a happier child and we have a lot more happier times at home. I know how you feel.. These kids are very great wonderful kids, but when your brain does not function the same way, it really makes it tough!! Hope this can be you a little comfort :)
By the way, my brother is a pediactric development specialist and is very highly desired in his field. ODD is NOT a parental issue that will just get better.. It is proven that people who suffer from these things do not just do it because they need better parenting, their brian chemistry is completley different than those of us who are "normal".

.

Someone else suggested Dr. Paul Thomas as a resource. He is so knowledgable about this area and natural alternatives. A lot of children see big improvement being on a Gluten free (wheat free) Casein Free (Dairy Free) GFCF diet. Good luck and hang in there.

YES there are natural ways to cure this....DO NOT put her on these drugs that doctors' are so willing to dispense like candy. Read all these articles, you will find a ton of valuable trusted advice on this...

http://search.mercola.com/results.aspx?k=ADHD

I have an almost 9 y/o daughter who was tentatively "diagnosed" as a toddler with ODD, now she's been diagnosed with ADHD. I say tentatively because most everyone said that they didn't like to label/diagnose a toddler because much of the behaviors are normal to toddlers. I knew something was going on with my child (I also have a 14 year old who is "neurotypical" and now an 18 month old who is "high maintenance"). I have struggled with the idea of labeling her ADHD and what that meant, and whether medication was a good thing or a bad thing.

I have to say after all my research and reading I don't believe meds are a bad thing, and can be potentially really helpful. My husband was a "hyper" kid growing up (never diagnosed) and ended up "self-medicating" for many years with drugs and alcohol, so I worry also about the effects of not doing enough to get her the help she wants. She REALLY wants to be able to control herself, and feels a lot of remorse about not being able to. We watched a movie about a girl with Tourette's and my daughter really related to the girls inability to control herself.

All that said, we haven't started any meds yet. We are currently working with a naturopath (paying out of pocket) and doing a lot of dietary changes and supplements - it's true that these things will help anyone but can be especially crucial for kids with neuro problems. Despite her oppositional behavior and picky eating habits she has been very willing to try if it means she'll have better control of herself. We will see where we get with the naturopath first, and if she continues to struggle in school this year we will go back to the doctor for meds. I figure if we don't like the effects of meds, we don't have to continue with them but I am willing to try in order to help my daughter feel like a success.

Anyway, you are not alone - keep researching but caution - it can be overwhelming! There is a ton of alternative treatment "information" on the internet, it can be daunting to sift out what you think is legit or potentially useful for you. That is partly why we are paying a naturopath, to help guide us through the maze of natural therapies. We made sure to find one who specializes in working with kids, especially with neurological issues. I don't think it has to be a "one or the other" route. If we try meds, we will continue with supplements and dietary adjustments.

There is also occupational therapy, sensory integration stuff, cognitive training... many many avenues to explore. I hope you find some helpful solutions for your child. If you want to PM me, I'd be happy to talk more about my experiences with you - your situation sounds very familiar to me!

You say that your husband and yourself are at your wit's end and that she has two very serious disorders that are highly disruptive. There are no herbs or teas that can treat ODD and ADHD. The medications that your child needs do not have "disastrous side effects", rather, the act of not treating your daughter with medication will have disastrous side effects.

Yes, I have been there. Ease your suffering and hers, by treating her medical condition with appropriate medicines.

I have heard of kids with ADHD being helped with chiropractic adjustments. The basis for this would be that the nervous system, which controls all mind and body functions, is housed within the spinal cord. So if there's a vertebrae out of alignment, it can cause nerve interference, leading to pain and many other side effects. I remember seeing a study showing that a very high percentage of ADD and ADHD children have a subluxation of their atlas (the very top vertebrae).

I think it's worth checking out! My kids have been adjusted since they were born, it's very safe! If you don't know of a chiropractor in your area, call my old boss Dr. Mick Tiegs at Northside Chiropractic in Boise ###-###-#### and see who he recommends up near you. Or I know a very good one in Spokane WA, Dr. Ray Sicilia.

There's some interesting nutritional studies also with ADD/ADHD kids, mostly involving the removal of gluten and dairy products. Have you tried any of that? Best of luck to you, it's got to be hard on everyone, especially your daughter. Hang in there, and congrats on trying to find the least harmful way to help her!

T.

Could your daugher be allergic to something in her diet or reacting due to a chemical(s) in your home? I have heard of some who got rid of the reguar cleaners in their home and their children's behaviors improved greatly. The typical cleaners you buy in stores (laundry detergent, even shampoos) can and do have some pretty nasty stuff in them. Just a thought that is worth a try.

Best of luck to you.

Hi K.,

I'm an auntie to 9 amazing little ones, one of those children is quite incredible (they all are of course!), and this little is also off the charts defiant when triggered. In my professional life, I work with folks help them understand that the defiance in our human mind/psyche feels profoundly intense at first and yet, in Truth, upsets in the psyche are not real. In actuality, the psyche is only partly convinced its upsets are real anyway. (This is why we often have regret/feel guilt after an outburst. Children are going through the exact same process as adults, except they are more honest about their upset feelings.) As long as the upset person is deeply trusting of the person who shares this sort of information and knows that the person will give them the personal space to check in with themselves, they may regain equilibrium. It is vital to not discount the intense feelings of a child or grown-up, which is what leads to supression/stuffing away of feelings that will come up later in the day or later in life. Just allowing the uncomfortable feelings to pass through us unresisted is profoundly healing without attacking ourselves or other people.

I often use language something to the effect with children, "You are incredible. No matter how upset you are, please know you are perfect and nothing ever changes this. I know you are really upset right now, and that is perfectly fine, let those waves pass through you. And maybe, if you like, while you're doing that, reach deep inside your heart. Reach right in there, with your favorite spoon or shovel or straw. Reach right for the love inside you, and see if that beautiful love that you are has a message for you." As the child's ego-mind relaxes, and if it feels okay to do so (our own intuition will guide), I may share that upsets in our mind often feel quite real and intense, but they are really not. It's a game our mind likes to play. If we don't focus on the upset whatever is being felt go away naturally because it really is nothing. The intense feelings dissolve if we don't give them our attention. To an upset child, I'll give them all the time they need (or to the degree it is safe and possible to do so), since finding our inner peaceful place can only be done by an individual for themselves at any age (free will). I let them know that I am here and that I care what matters to them, and that together maybe we can come up with a better way to do (fill in the blank whatever the person believes caused his/her upset). All upsets are always related to either fear, guilt, judgment, shame, grief, etc. Acknowledging the beauty and perfection of the upset person helps their psyche to relax and often that may be all that is needed, especially with children. It is so easy to see their heart-psyche wanting to entrain to love, yet flipping between Love and fear. World peace would ensue if we all just told each other we are amazing when we're upset.

Blessings with your beautiful young one.

L.

I really don't know too much about oppositional defiance disorder but I do know about ADHD. There are several doctors who know about ODD and ADHA and talk about it quite frequently. There is an excellent doctor who will know what do use instead of medications and he has saved so many lives that the traditional medical doctors have given up on. Strange I know but true. In fact he was one of the people whose life was saved by non-traditional medicine. His name is Dr. Brouse and he is in the Clackamas area. If you are interested please call him because you would be surprised what he could do naturally. At least call and talk to him or to his staff - they are very knowledgeable also.

I hope for the best and am praying for your child. This is a hard place to be in but it can be overcome.

N.
Health and Wellness Coach

I would strongly recommend you look into the works of Dr. Daniel Amen. He is AMAZING!!! He is both a doctor and a parent of 3 children with ADHD. He has used brain scans to actually typify ADHD patients into 6 catigories and he has recomendations on the best treaments for each type. His treatments include diet, exercise, lifestlye, supplements, and medications. I can't remember the name of his book that goes over all of this but they sell it at major book stores like barns and noble - I'm sure if you just did a google search on him you could find a ton of info. In his book he includes a quiz to help you determine the type of ADHD you are dealing with and then he goes into detail about coping skills and treatment options for each type. My doctor recommended these books to me and it has been lifechanging. I have ADHD and have struggled with it unmedicated most of my life (I did use medication while in college). I am SO thankful that my parents did not medicate me. It was harder on all of us, but my coping skills are much more developed than they would be if I was reliant on medication. This is especially good now that I am forming a family of my own because ADHD meds are not ok for those who are pregnant and lactating. Basically, meds would be off limits for me right now even if I wanted them.

Some of the things that Amen recommended for my type of ADHD that have been particularly helpful include a double serving of omega-3 supplements every day, and 60 + minutes of aerobic excersize. There are similar lifestyle/non medication aids for each type.

Also, I would warn you that what works for one type may have an opposite effect on another type. So if some of the other moms swear by something and it does not work for your daughter, that may be because you are dealing with different types of ADHD - so don't be discouraged and keep trying other options!!

While I know nothing about dealing with this from the parental perspective, I can tell you that as an adult looking back on my childhood I am forever grateful to my parents for all the hard work they put into me. ADHD kids are not easy to live with (I'm sure I wasn't!) and I have thanked my parents many times for taking the harder route of not medicating me as a child - the pay offs for me as an adult are huge and I know they were pressured from many sources to medicate me.

What ever you decide for your daughter, know that you are doing a great thing by looking into non-medication routes. Even if you use medication in conjunction with other coping skills and lifestyle changes you are teaching you child the value of the many options she has.

Good luck!!!!

Edit - after reading some of the other mother responses, I would like to share that supportive parents are often more powerful than meds. To the parents who say you will ruin your childs future by refusing medications, I would like to say that I am an almost straight A student (B in spanish classes), I graduated High School with Honors unmedicated. I also hold 2 college level degrees and while I was medicated during 1/2 of my first degree, My second degree I was not medicated. Both of my college degrees were magna cum laude. So don't make this decision based on a fear that your daughter can't succeed without drugs. That is 100% silly.

Also, sports are important - especially those that emphasize body control. One other lady mentioned marial arts and dance, and I would add dressage, swimming, and running to that list.

Hi. I have two son's with adhd. One is medicated one isn't. The one that isn't is a teenager and isn't hyper and destructive, just disorganized. My other one is Hyper and a no truer case of adhd. A couple of people here do not realize you can have both odd and add. you can have autiism and adhd, it isn't an one or another disorder. My youngest takes meditate and strattera, he is hyper and does have a quick temper. I am wondering why the doctor is treating the adhd first, because usually it is the last to treat, in other words they would try to help the odd first. The strattera may help with the anger, because that is why my son is on it. I would try everything but not rule out the meds if nothing works. If the meds change the personality of your child, then it is the wrong medication. Some people will say you would give your child insulin if they had diatetes, then you would treat adhd the same way. I never went with the herbal or natural way, at the time my son was diagnosed I read about parents giving to much herbal sublimets and the child dying. I would recommend adhdnews.com parent forum. It is full of great advise and wisdom. It helped me in the first few years of dealing with my sons disorders. Good luck. Just remember you are not the only one out there.

We bring our kid to a homepath at portlandfamilyhomeopathy.com It's helped him tons. Very worth a try. Good luck.