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August 27 2007
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Non-Drug Treatment Touted for Preschoolers with ADHD

A five-year study of 135 preschool students with symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) found that non-medicinal interventions work effectively to prevent the related behavioral and academic problems in infants.

The study -- the largest of its kind to date -- evaluated early intervention techniques and their ability to decrease aggressiveness and behavior problems, while improving academic and social skills, in children aged three to five.

The interventions, which included individualized programs that emphasized positive support to reinforce behavior at home and school, were highly effective. Specifically, children who received the intervention techniques had:
  • A 17-percent decrease in aggression and a 21-percent improvement in social skills at home
  • A 28-percent improvement in both categories at school
  • Improvements in early literacy skills of up to three times over their baseline status
While medications for ADHD may treat the symptoms, said George DuPaul, professor of school psychology at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, Pa. and lead author of the study, they do not improve the children’s academic and social skills the way behavioral interventions may.

ADHD, which affects about 7 percent of school-aged children, makes it difficult for children to pay attention and control their behavior. Up to 40 percent of toddlers with ADHD symptoms are suspended from preschool, and 16 percent are actually expelled.

School Psychology Review August 2007 Vol. 36, #2 (Registration Required)

Eurekalert August 21, 2007



Dr. Mercola Dr. Mercola's Comments:
Behavioral interventions using positive reinforcement are an excellent choice for children with ADHD, one of the most common chronic conditions affecting school-age kids, especially if they're used alongside nutritional changes.

Sadly, the first choice that many physicians make in treating kids with ADHD -- medications like Ritalin -- is not a strategy that will solve the underlying issue the way behavioral and nutritional interventions may.

Doctors prescribe drugs including Ritalin to about two million children with ADHD symptoms every month, according to Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital.

Ritalin is not a weak stimulant -- it is actually more potent than cocaine.

And other ADHD drugs have been linked to a host of side effects, including hallucinations and cardiovascular problems. The last thing that children need when they’re just starting out in life is a barrage of drug side effects to overcome, particularly when ADHD often improves dramatically with some natural lifestyle changes.

In my medical practice at the The Optimal Wellness Center, here’s what I recommend for kids, and adults, who suffer from ADHD:
  • Increase your intake of omega-3 fat from krill oil. This is the single most important nutrient for ADHD children.
  • Drink only water for a beverage, taking care to avoid fruit juices, soda, and pasteurized milk
  • Restrict or eliminate all processed foods, sugars and most grains from your diet
  • Avoid processed foods, especially those containing artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, which may aggravate or cause ADHD symptoms
  • Spend more time in nature
Another important element that you can teach your children, or do right along with them, is the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). This is a form of psychological acupressure that you can perform anywhere (it involves only tapping with your fingertips and repeating some positive phrases), and that would make an excellent addition to any type of behavioral therapy your child is receiving.

Anytime your child becomes frustrated or is having a hard time sitting still, performing EFT is an excellent form of natural relief.

It is the rare event when the above applications do not help dramatically with ADHD. So please, instead of looking for a quick fix in the form of a potentially dangerous pill, invest the time in these natural lifestyle modifications… and experience side-effect-free relief from ADHD.


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Community Comments ( 50 )
Comment on this Article
  
  
Rogway
[ Joined on 06/06 ] [ Posted on August 24, 2007 ]
16 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
CHANGE THE KIDS DIET and give them a little compassion and understanding!

It has been proven in some Texas schools, it has been proven in various reports and testimonies I have read, it has been proven before my very eyes!

Romove the exito-toxins and clean the kids inners and put them on whole-organic foods! Lets try that first--FOR A CHANGE!
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
Rogway
[ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on August 24, 2007]
6 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
I think I have misspelled excito again. Man, that word is giving me fits.

I must have had an excito with that chocolate cookie I had with my coffee--oh woe-wiz-me. 

I also forgot to mention to give the kids some good water and throw those polluted soft and energy rinks away.
Mercola
  
Russ Bianchi
[ Joined on 09/06 ]  [ Posted on August 24, 2007]
3 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
Just think Rogway, I could triple my negative votes if they counted misspellings!

So low, I'm way under the radar....

;-)

Uncle Russ
Mercola
  
Rogway
[ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on August 25, 2007]
7 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
Russ---There's no way you could get under me for misspelling. Sometimes I look back over my comments and see that I have misspelled so many words, at times I have no idea what I was talikng about.
Mercola
  
jkroot
[ Joined on 08/06 ]  [ Posted on September 13, 2007]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

You are just too hyper, Rogway.  You need a good dose of Ritalin to calm you down. Your spelling will not get better, but you will certainly not care if it does because you will be flying high!

Mercola
  
KathieJamisonCote
[ Joined on 04/07 ]  [ Posted on September 13, 2007]
       
   
Savvy User
  Mercola

Rogway - Excellent Point - Parents would be absolutely amazed at the incredible positive changes in their children if they fed them mostly fruits and vegetables, removed all processed foods and and drinks.  I just don't understand why more parents don't try this route...what's more important?  A child who becomes more calmer, focused and mellow.........or freakin' easy foods?

And remember, from Tufts University - organic has 88% more nutritional value than non-organic!

Mercola
  
aeh1955
[ Joined on 12/06 ]  [ Posted on September 13, 2007]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Amen to that!!!!!!! You can't put water in a gas tank and expect the car to run, so why do we expect to put junk nutrition in a growing body and expect that to work!!!!!  Old saying " you are what you eat", eat real food, have real health, eat processed food.... suffer the consequences.

  
  
Islander
[ Joined on 03/07 ] [ Posted on August 25, 2007 ]
9 Points        
   
 
Moderator User
The biggest technique reported here seemed to be a form of behavior modification: non-aversive, positive reinforcement. No mention was made of diet.

In my years as an educator I have seen a lot of ADHD as well as the way in which medication can affect symptoms. But I also had an ADHD boy among my foster children. Despite denials from the medical community that such methods are ineffective, all I had to do to control the symptoms was to feed him wholesome, whole foods without artificial flavors or colors, and abstain from all sugars. Except for the times when he got into his sister's Halloween candy or Girl Scout cookies, he was symptom-free.
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
Rogway
[ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on August 25, 2007]
6 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
Islander--now that's what I'm talking about.

You see folks, more proof of how simple it is to rid a kid of what some others calls a medication only remedy.

I too Islander have seen a change in kids this fast and this easy just by getting them off of what I call crud.
Mercola
  
jkroot
[ Joined on 08/06 ]  [ Posted on September 13, 2007]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Right from the horse's (teacher's) mouth. First hand, personal and right up front experience. Artificial colors and artificial flavors + young child = dose that young puppy! Psychotropic drugs = $$$ for all. $$$ for the drug company that sells the poison; $$$ for the Dr that prescribes the poison and $$$ for the school district that keeps that young puppy coming through the doors each day. Forget about the causes of ADHD. Forget about the effects of the highly processed foods and sugars, just show me the money!

  
  
kimkc
[ Joined on 06/06 ] [ Posted on September 13, 2007 ]
5 Points        
   
 
Novice User

My 4 year-old daughter with high functioning autism including ADHD symptoms has improved immensely once we started biomedical treatment using a DAN! (Defeat Autism Now) doctor.  Her biggest health problem is the inability to detoxify her own body so she is getting help with this problem using the DAN! protocol. She is on a GFCF and nearly soy-free diet with lots of organic foods bought from a local organic farm and limited sugar, preservatives and colorings.  We are a dairy-free family and the health benefits since going off of dairy are amazing!  Our daughter is the 4th child out of 5 and the only one with autism.  She is my only child exposed to a flu shot during my pregnancy, at 8 months while I was breastfeeding her and also a flu shot at 20 months.  I do not think this is a coincidence, I think vaccinations triggered regressive autism but also now know her family history that includes arthritis, asthma, allergies, diabetes, and thyroid disease put her at risk for autoimmune problems (the loaded gun theory).  After 4 rounds of chelation, we had to stop due to low iron and fear of returning gut issues...she had elevated lead levels and almost elevated levels of mercury and nickel on her lab reports.  Once her mineral levels are stable, we hope to try chelation again as we (and her teachers/therapists) saw absolutely amazing improvements in our child during chelation therapy---glimpses of the incredibly intelligent toddler we saw before regression at 2 years-old.   We live in a newer home, so we wonder if it is the toys and other plastics that have caused elevated lead levels.  With alternative doctors educating and guiding us, we have seen our child become less autistic and lose some of her ADHD behaviors in a matter of a few months!  

 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
jkroot
[ Joined on 08/06 ]  [ Posted on September 13, 2007]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

You are right on!!!  Who is your Dr? You must know that there are thousands that need your guidance and experience. Don't stop with your daughter...honor her with the fact that you will document and expose the truth of autism. She deserves no less as a victim of a drug company's quest for profit.

Mercola
  
Sheila C
[ Joined on 12/06 ]  [ Posted on September 13, 2007]
1 Points        
   
Apprentice User
  Mercola

Hi kimkc, that is wonderful that your daughter has made such a big improvement.  I know of a non invasive form of chelation that works as well as or better than intravenous chelation.  It is called the Body Detox Patch available at www.straussheartdrops.com  Beware of similar products as this one has been tested for contaminants and contains none.  I have used this successfully on my own kids.  (I am not affiliated with this product)

Mercola
  
KathieJamisonCote
[ Joined on 04/07 ]  [ Posted on September 13, 2007]
       
   
Savvy User
  Mercola

kimkc - what wonderful info, thanks for sharing.  Your story will inspire others to seek alternative ways..........yeah! Best wishes for your little one! :)

Mercola
  
kimkc
[ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on September 13, 2007]
1 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

My autistic child is seeing Dr. Philip Ranheim in WA State, as well as, my oldest son who we found is extremely allergic to cow's milk and then peanut butter, wheat, and eggs in that order along with many environmental allergies (interestingly the same exact same panel my husband had tested positive for when he was a teenager).  Our psychologist (a Bastyr Univ. adjunct professor)who is working with our family suggested that we not go with our dentist or MD's advice to have his tonsils removed and get our oldest boy tested for allergies.  Sure enough, changing his diet and starting oral allergy drops has eliminated his sticky throat language that developed along with no hay fever type symptoms during his baseball season last spring!  We have switched from regular clinics to naturopaths as many families with autistic child have done.  Along with a friend, I am starting an information support group in our town which will include speakers/discussions on diet, biomedical, behavior, and many other therapies.  It amazes me how many kids in my older daughter and son's academically capable classrooms that are somewhere on the autism spectrum!  I do believe that the higher the IQ, the more fragile the brain is to environmental assaults...the psychologist believes our autistic daughter has incredibly high intelligence which is what we saw before the horrible, heart-breaking regression.  Thank you for the information about the patch...I will check out the website. :) After we stopped chelation, we started epsom salt baths which I believe has helped our daughter but to a smaller degree than chelation therapy.  She broke out with chicken pox type bumps on her back after 3-4 weeks of baths and has been putting out extremely strong odors in bowel movements, urine and skin with a lack of overall progression.  My friend's autistic son did the same thing after he started these baths then he had a huge leap in his abilities!!!  

Mercola
  
TGNMOM
[ Joined on 07/07 ]  [ Posted on September 13, 2007]