The term Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is well-known today. This problem affects both children and adults; people don't always 'grow out of it'. Schoolchildren, especially younger ones, may have trouble settling into a classroom environment, which requires concentration, sitting still, and being quiet. School officials routinely recommend medication for disruptive students, but parents are turning more and more to holistic ADHD treatment in New York City and other districts.
Faulty nerve connection in the brain is said to cause this disorder, but many people believe that outward factors are to blame. In other words, ADHD kids are made, not born. Children who cannot focus are asked to sit still, be quiet, and learn the Three R's - and many of them simply can't do it. This causes disruption in the classroom and frustration for both teachers and students.
Holistic medicine seeks to pinpoint the cause of illness, rather than treating the symptoms of it. The practice looks at mental, emotional, spiritual, social, and environmental factors, as well as physical problems and manifestations. Children may be reacting to issues the teacher knows nothing about, like stress at home or problems interacting with peers. Environmental factors can include lead paint toxicity, for instance, while emotional imbalance could stem from abuse, fears of divorce, or grief over the loss of a parent. Physical reasons could include vitamin or mineral shortages or food allergies.
Obviously a one-size-fits-all calming drug will not help these kinds of causes of unusual behavior. This is why even conventional doctors are turning to the field of natural or alternative medicine for best results. Often a combination of pharmaceuticals and alternative methods achieves success.
Although research is ambivalent on the value of food restrictions and proper diet, informed mothers of ADHD kids are not. They try to avoid sugary, high-carbohydrate snacks. To this end, they may discourage teachers from handing out candy at school and try to make sure their kids have a special snack for class celebrations. They build meals around good quality protein, fresh vegetables, and whole grain products.
There's not a lot of research to back up negative reactions to food additives, but millions of mothers firmly believe they are among the culprits of this disorder. These mothers are convinced that artificial preservatives, flavors, and colors contribute to poor concentration and hyperactivity. Many processed foods, candies, and desserts are loaded with these additives. Informed parents try to give their children plenty of good protein, whole-grain products, and fresh vegetables, and replace sodas with pure water. Additives, as well as certain foods, can trigger allergies that result in hyperactivity.
Research has shown the benefits of some supplements. Omega-3 fatty acids have been proved to be both lacking in the diets of many problem kids and beneficial for attention disorders. These are present in food, notably cold-water wild-caught fish like salmon and cod (farmed fish have almost none of this nutrient in their flesh). To get enough of this essential nutrient, it is often taken in supplement form.
Low-levels of zinc and magnesium are common in attention-deficit disorder. When magnesium is low, people have even more trouble coping with stress and may not get enough quality sleep. Limiting screen time spent in front of television and computers is important, as is making sure kids get a lot of fun physical activity. All of these things are combined in a natural approach to treating ADHD.
Faulty nerve connection in the brain is said to cause this disorder, but many people believe that outward factors are to blame. In other words, ADHD kids are made, not born. Children who cannot focus are asked to sit still, be quiet, and learn the Three R's - and many of them simply can't do it. This causes disruption in the classroom and frustration for both teachers and students.
Holistic medicine seeks to pinpoint the cause of illness, rather than treating the symptoms of it. The practice looks at mental, emotional, spiritual, social, and environmental factors, as well as physical problems and manifestations. Children may be reacting to issues the teacher knows nothing about, like stress at home or problems interacting with peers. Environmental factors can include lead paint toxicity, for instance, while emotional imbalance could stem from abuse, fears of divorce, or grief over the loss of a parent. Physical reasons could include vitamin or mineral shortages or food allergies.
Obviously a one-size-fits-all calming drug will not help these kinds of causes of unusual behavior. This is why even conventional doctors are turning to the field of natural or alternative medicine for best results. Often a combination of pharmaceuticals and alternative methods achieves success.
Although research is ambivalent on the value of food restrictions and proper diet, informed mothers of ADHD kids are not. They try to avoid sugary, high-carbohydrate snacks. To this end, they may discourage teachers from handing out candy at school and try to make sure their kids have a special snack for class celebrations. They build meals around good quality protein, fresh vegetables, and whole grain products.
There's not a lot of research to back up negative reactions to food additives, but millions of mothers firmly believe they are among the culprits of this disorder. These mothers are convinced that artificial preservatives, flavors, and colors contribute to poor concentration and hyperactivity. Many processed foods, candies, and desserts are loaded with these additives. Informed parents try to give their children plenty of good protein, whole-grain products, and fresh vegetables, and replace sodas with pure water. Additives, as well as certain foods, can trigger allergies that result in hyperactivity.
Research has shown the benefits of some supplements. Omega-3 fatty acids have been proved to be both lacking in the diets of many problem kids and beneficial for attention disorders. These are present in food, notably cold-water wild-caught fish like salmon and cod (farmed fish have almost none of this nutrient in their flesh). To get enough of this essential nutrient, it is often taken in supplement form.
Low-levels of zinc and magnesium are common in attention-deficit disorder. When magnesium is low, people have even more trouble coping with stress and may not get enough quality sleep. Limiting screen time spent in front of television and computers is important, as is making sure kids get a lot of fun physical activity. All of these things are combined in a natural approach to treating ADHD.
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