People sometimes make playful references to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) when observing a child or adult performing an activity with seemingly endless energy, but a true diagnosis of ADHD is no laughing matter. In fact, ADHD, especially in children and some adults, has become a fairly common condition in recent years. It can be a problematical disruptor to a person’s life affecting social relationships and performance at school or work.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of 2022, an estimated 7 million American children between 3 and 17 years of age had ever been diagnosed with ADHD, that based on a national survey of parents. That works out to about one in nine children and of those 7 million, about 1 million had been diagnosed in just the previous six years. Roughly 60 percent of those 7 million children were diagnosed with moderate or severe ADHD.
What Is ADHD and What Causes It?
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a developmental affliction that involves an ongoing pattern of inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity that can also be described with terms such as a lack of focus, boundless and aimless energy, or anxiety. A segment of people diagnosed as ADHD exhibit symptoms of inattentiveness while others might show hyperactivity-impulsivity behavior. Some have both.
No root cause of ADHD had been identified. However, researchers believe that genetics might play a central role whereby it can get passed to a child from one or both parents. It’s likely that multiple factors are involved in many cases, perhaps to include environmental factors, while there is ongoing study involving how brain injuries, nutrition, and social environments could also be at play among those with ADHD.
What Natural Remedies Might Benefit Anyone with ADHD?
It is typical for confirmed ADHD cases to be treated with behavioral therapy or psychotherapy in addition to prescription medications such as methylphenidate, more commonly known as Ritalin. Natural-remedy treatments such as supplements, vitamins, and herbs have also been shown to be effective in mitigating the symptoms. Be sure to discuss their use with your physician or other healthcare professional, paying particular notice to the age of the patient being treated. Some such remedies might not be suitable if the patient is already taking medications—they might not mix well with the supplements. Here are four such natural remedies worth considering:
Omega-3/6 fatty acids. Such fatty acids, commonly found in fish oil and those appetizing flax seeds, are readily available over the counter in supplement form and typically marketed as fish oil. A large study cited at National Library of Medicine revealed that Omega-3 and -6 supplements were successful in treating children with ADHD symptoms such as inattention, hyperactivity and visual learning.
Magnesium. A review of studies published in a publication called Molecules regarding ADHD in children and adolescents identified one study which found a bolstered use of magnesium was closely linked to reduced ADHD-related behavioral issues in the adolescents. other studies postulated similar findings.
Ashwagandha. Many people with ADHD exhibit nervous or anxious proclivities, which happen to be conditions suitable for treatment by intake of ashwagandha. That’s because this herb, which has been used in traditional medicinal practices for centuries, can regulate serotonin levels, thus enhancing attention and executive functioning while also improving stress responses.
Gingko biloba. Like ashwagandha, gingko biloba is an herb, in its case sourced from a tree native to East Asia and in possession of antioxidant characteristics that can perform a number of health-related functions. These include protection of cellular membranes, DNA and protein structures in the brain. Gingko has also shown an ability to improve ADHD symptoms in children when used in tandem with Ritalin.
As common as ADHD is in people, especially children and adolescents, there still is much to be learned about this condition and its root causes. One thing we do know is that there are numerous natural remedies that have shown the potential to reduce the symptoms in those afflicted with ADHD, and that includes a number of dietary supplements and herbs.