BusyBodyHealth

Non-Drug Options are Highly Effective at Treating Behavioral Problems Like ADHD

Drugging children with narcotics to treat behavioral problems should be a very last resort, only implemented after all other options have been exhausted -- if they are regarded as an option at all. This is what makes Australia's threat to parental rights to choose alternatives to drug so outrageous and downright dangerous to the well-being of their children! Other options exist that are far safer, and involve no drugs whatsoever!

So before you consider drugs, please consider implementing the following strategies first, in addition to making sure that your child is assessed in an age-appropriate manner before labeling him or her with ADHD:

·         Eliminate most grains and sugars from your child’s diet. Grains and sugars both tend to cause allergies in sensitive individuals. Even organic, whole grain can cause problems in many children so it would be wise to give them a grain holiday and see if their behavior improves. A 2006 study showed that ADHD is markedly overrepresented in those with untreated celiac disease, indicating that wheat may be an especially problematic grain worth eliminating as a precaution.

·         Replace soft drinks (whether diet and regular), fruit juices, and pasteurized milk with pure, clean non-fluoridated water.

·         Increase omega-3 fats by taking a high quality animal-based omega-3 fat such as krill oil. Research has confirmed that animal-based omega-3 fat can improve the symptoms of ADHD more effectively than drugs like Ritalin and Concerta.

·         Consider a natural drug alternative such as the pine bark extract known as pycnogenol. It is one of over a dozen natural substances that have been studied to reduce the symptoms of ADHD in children.

·         Minimize your use of nearly all processed fats, especially trans fats as they disrupt nerve cell intercommunication.

·         Avoid all processed foods, especially those containing artificial colors, flavors and preservatives, which may trigger or worsen symptoms.

·         Clear your house of dangerous pesticides and other commercial chemicals. Pesticide exposure has been linked with ADHD.

·         Avoid commercial washing detergents and cleaning products used on clothes, and replace them with naturally derived cleaning products with no added perfumes, softeners, etc. Permanent press or stain-resistant products also contain chemicals that can initiate ADHD-like reactions in sensitive individuals.

·         Spend more time in nature. Researchers have found that exposing ADHD children to nature is an affordable, healthy way of controlling symptoms.

·         Investigate sensory therapy and emotional wellness tools. Instead of looking for a quick fix, encourage ADHD sufferers to talk, and find out what emotions are causing issues. You may want to consider the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) to improve emotional coping and healing. Stress is the frequently unappreciated and overlooked variable that can easily worsen ADHD. If the parents are having trouble in their relationship this can easily influence the child's behavior.