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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

  ADHD and Symptoms
  Conventional Treatment
  Homeopathic Approach

ADHD and Symptoms
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD or ADD) is a condition in which some children have difficulty controlling their behavior and/or paying attention.

The main characteristics of ADHD are hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity. Not all children with ADHD have the same symptoms.

People with ADD and ADHD display their stress in different ways depending on their unique make-up. They may show distraction, spaciness, boredom, compulsive tendencies, depression or aggression, and lack of self-confidence. Though the symptoms displayed can be very diverse for each child, conventional approach tends to label each child with one diagnosis. The symptoms are controlled as long as medication is administered. What happens when the underlying causes are never resolved as the child goes into adulthood? The symptoms such as anger and/or depression have manifested  for a reason and will not magically disappear unless they are addressed.

  • Children suffering from ADHD perform very poorly in school, may have behavioral issues at home, and have difficulty in social relationships with other children.
  • Children with ADHD have difficulty concentrating and paying attention, especially when they are forced to sit at their school or home to complete their homework assignments. If a child suffering from ADHD chooses to do an activity himself, he may well sit and do it for hours and be completely involved in it.
  • For a child with ADHD, it may be extremely difficult to follow any instructions.
  • Children with ADHD misplace books, homework assignments, jackets etc.
  • Children with ADHD have trouble making and keeping friends.
  • Children with ADHD can be uncomfortably intrusive, interrupting others, and verbally loud to make sure their needs are attended to. They are often also described as silly and immature.
  • ADHD children may be perceived in the school environment as troublemakers.
  • ADHD children may be very bright, but may not succeed in any task that requires sitting still, paying attention, and  concentration.
  • Parents of ADHD children complain about having to repeat instructions again and again even to get the simplest things done.
Conventional Treatment     Top
The most commonly prescribed stimulants for children with ADHD are Ritalin, Dexedrine and Cylert. At least 2 million children in the United States are prescribed stimulant medications for ADHD. This number doubles every two years. A report by the United Nations in 1996 revealed that 3 to 5 percent of school aged children in the United States were taking Ritalin.
  • Stimulants provide only short term superficial healing and do not in any way treat the root cause of the problem.
  • The effect of stimulants last only for four to eight hours.
  • Stimulants do not treat all the symptoms manifested in children who suffer from ADHD.
  • Stimulants seem to be effective only in 70% of the children with ADHD.
  • Stimulants can cause side effects such as appetite loss, insomnia, anxiety, headaches, tics and stomachaches.
  • Parents of some children with ADHD who were administered these stimulants report other side effects such as increased heart rate or blood pressure, drowsiness, social withdrawal, irritability and moodiness, and involuntary movements or sounds.
  • Stimulants get children into the habit of taking drugs.
  • Stimulants may need to be taken throughout life as they do not address the problems from root cause of the problem..
Ritalin is derived from the same family of drugs as cocaine. In some schools, 30 percent of the children are on these stimulants.  Many stop using Ritalin because of side effects; however, a few patients never outgrow their need for the stimulant. The Food and Drug Administration released a study in 2001 showing that high doses of Ritalin given to mice may cause hepatoblastoma, a rare form of liver cancer; however the FDA still regards the drug as safe and effective.
If prescribed stimulants don't seem to help the child with ADHD, the physician may recommend Antidepressants or 'Off label medicines', which means the medicines that are approved by FDA for use in adults or older children, but not for younger children.

Homeopathic Approach     Top
Homeopathy offers natural, effective remedies for children suffering from ADHD. Rather than suppressing the symptoms of restlessness, difficulty in focusing, and lack of behavioral control, Homeopathy gets to the root cause of the problem and works to bring the system into a state of balance. Homeopathy individualizes the child by his/her unique qualities and conditions such as genetic predisposition, anxiety, depression, fear, grief, low self-esteem and anger, rather than labeling the child with one general diagnosis. Children with symptoms of ADD can also have very wonderful qualities. They are often curious, communicative, passionate and lively. Homeopathy will not diminish these qualities, but works only to address the symptoms that are out of balance.

As Homeopathic remedies are chosen to treat the whole person rather than to treat a disease, it also takes into consideration  physical symptoms such as asthma, frequent ear infections or whatever health issues the individual may have when choosing the most suitable remedy for the child. Also very important, Homeopathic remedies do not produce any side effects if administered correctly.

Children with ADHD who undergo homeopathic treatment may experience results in a few weeks and will continue to experience improvement over time. Under Homeopathic treatment, children with ADHD will experience improved concentration, improved behavior at school and at home, better grades in school, and better social relationships. In addition, they will be less restlessness, less impulsive, and they will experience improved overall health and general immunity. However although improvements in behavior and health will be observed in few weeks, it may be necessary to continue the treatment for a year or two in order to obtain the complete, more long-lasting benefits of homeopathic treatment.

If the child is already on stimulants and Homeopathic treatment is being considered, the child can continue the stimulant medication while taking homeopathic remedies. The stimulants can be slowly reduced under the recommendation of the child's doctor.

DISCLAIMER: The information provided is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose or treat any health condition and is not a replacement for treatment by a healthcare provider.
 
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