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Herbal Treatments for Childhood ADHD

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) impacts millions of children who display symptoms such as trouble concentrating, lack of focus, inability to remain still, excessive talking and constant daydreaming. ADHD negatively affects children's school success and their self-esteem and relationships with others. Frustrated and exhausted parents often turn to a variety of doctors and psychologists for assistance in helping to get their child on track. While prescription medications combined with counseling offer an effective way to combat ADHD, a variety of herbal remedies can help control ADHD symptoms.

  1. Stimulants

    • Always consult with your child's care provider before beginning any type of herbal regimen to treat her ADHD. While derived from natural ingredients, herbs are strong medicine and can carry powerful side effects. Doctors commonly prescribe stimulants such as Ritalin to treat ADHD, since they improve attention span and concentration. While effective, prescription stimulants potentially carry powerful side effects such as appetite changes, weight changes, nervous tics and insomnia.

      Consider offering your child the ancient herb ginkgo biloba, which improves memory and sharpness by increasing blood flow to the brain. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, one study indicates that combining American ginseng with ginkgo might help improve some ADHD symptoms. Gotu kola, also known as Centella asiatica, can help improve your child's brain blood flow and help with concentration and focus.

    Calmatives

    • According to the alternative medical website altmd.com, herbal calmatives such as California poppy or linden might help settle and soothe a child suffering from ADHD. You can also offer calming herbs such as Roman chamomile, valerian root, kava kava, passionflower and lemon balm. Make a tea using 1 tsp. of the herb in hot water; steep tea for 5 to 10 minutes for leaves and flowers and 10 to 20 minutes for roots. Make sure you talk to your practitioner before using herbal remedies in combination with prescription medications, since serious drug interactions can occur.

    Chinese Herbs

    • Chinese herbal combinations, crafted especially for your child by an expert in Chinese herbal preparations, can help restore balance to the body. According to a theory in ancient Chinese medicine, a lack of kidney yin energy causes ADHD symptoms in many children. Chinese ADHD remedies commonly use a variety of yin energy herbs such as Polygala root, Phellodendron bark, Acori graminei root and Anemarrhena root. In order to boost the therapeutic effects of the medicine and to minimize side effects, Chinese practitioners generally combine herbs into a remedy rather than offering individual herbs.

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