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Treatment for ADHD

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a disorder that causes a person to have difficulty focusing and controlling his impulses. While there is no cure for ADHD, various treatments have proven effective in helping control the symptoms. Treatments can include dietary changes, physical changes, homeopathy and medication. Not every treatment will be effective for every person with ADHD.

  1. Dietary Changes

    • Many people have found success in treating ADHD with the Feingold Diet (see Resources below). The Feingold Diet removes artificial additives, artificial coloring, artificial sweeteners and preservatives from the diet. Instead, the Feingold Diet encourages the consumption of fresh organic foods. Adding Omega-3 (fish oil) to the diet has also been proven to help treat ADHD. For some people, making these dietary changes can be a successful treatment for ADHD.

    Physical Changes

    • For many people, getting the right amount of sleep can help alleviate ADHD symptoms. Keeping a structured schedule, including going to bed at the same time every night, can be an effective treatment for ADHD. Other physical changes that can treat ADHD include getting lots of exercise and engaging in martial arts. Yoga and meditation are good physical treatments for ADHD because they help to calm the mind and increase focus.

    Homeopathy

    • One treatment that is effective for many people with ADHD is homeopathy. Homeopathy seeks to find the imbalances in the body that are causing the ADHD and treats those imbalances by using natural remedies. A professional who practices homeopathy can examine the ADHD patient and tailor a homeopathic treatment for the ADHD. Alternatively, companies like Native Remedies (see Resources below) provide homeopathic treatments designed specifically for ADHD.

    Medication

    • Ritalin in its variant forms is the only prescription medication that successfully treats ADHD. Ritalin is a Class II drug, which is closely regulated. While the medication is often successful in treating ADHD symptoms, Ritalin has a number of side effects that can become problematic, the most common one being lack of appetite (resulting in weight loss) and insomnia. Children with underlying heart conditions should not take Ritalin.

    Considerations

    • The best treatment for ADHD is often a combination of the above treatments. Improving your diet and getting more exercise is a good idea, whether you have ADHD or not. It is best to begin your treatment plan with the least invasive treatments before moving to more serious treatments, such as medication. Some people can successfully treat ADHD without having to use prescription medication. However, other people will not respond enough to the other treatments to be successful without taking medication for ADHD.

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