| Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) has been one of the | | | | your child or student is exhibiting signs of ADD, get |
| most debated and controversial health issues | | | | them tested for food and environmental allergies. |
| affecting children in recent years with so many | | | | The most likely food allergy is a food your child |
| theories about its treatment and causes. Most | | | | always craves. When you know the trigger, teach |
| experts agree that there are a variety of factors | | | | your child to avoid it in his daily diet. Have a hair |
| that trigger ADD and most are linked with food | | | | analysis done to check for toxic levels of heavy |
| additives, the use of caffeine, lack of exercise, lead | | | | metals in the body. Also check for learning disabilities. |
| or other heavy metal poisoning, learning disabilities, or | | | | The child can also benefit from regular exercise and |
| an unstable home environment. If the mother | | | | the removal of all foods that contain artificial |
| smoked while she was pregnant, the child is most | | | | flavorings, conservatives, aspartame, nitrates and |
| likely to develop ADD.There are more boys suffering | | | | phosphates.Do not allow your child to take caffeine, |
| from attention deficit disorder than girls. They ratio | | | | especially chocolate, if he is prone to violent tantrums. |
| can be as high as 10 to 1. The disorder can also occur | | | | Eat fresh, whole foods, including plenty of fruits and |
| in adults but it is most associated with children. And a | | | | vegetables. Avoid prepackaged meats, processed |
| combination of the following symptoms may be a | | | | foods, butter, soft drinks and foods high in sugar like |
| symptom of ADD: problems sleeping, excessive | | | | apples and apricots. Doctors who specialize in allergies |
| nervousness, tantrums, poor grades that don't reflect | | | | have also discovered that artificial colorings and |
| the level of intelligence, frequent mood swings, | | | | flavorings in candy, baked goods, carbonated drinks, |
| self-destructive behavior, disruptive behavior, a short | | | | cakes, canned food and artificially preserved foods or |
| attention span and the inability to concentrate.The | | | | the most likely culprits that trigger hyperactivity in |
| most common treatment for hyperactive children is | | | | children. Skipping junk food and sweets can help |
| to use stimulants such as Ritalin and amphetamines to | | | | reverse this condition. Ask your physician if your child |
| curb and control they are unruly conduct. These | | | | can take two to three capsules of evening primrose |
| drugs also calm them and supposedly make them | | | | oil daily. This herb has been found to improve the |
| better able to learn. However, more and more | | | | conditions of hyperactive children and in some cases |
| doctors do not agree to this drug therapy and are | | | | provide a complete recovery.Since ADD is primarily a |
| turning to natural ways and supplements to control | | | | neurological problem, it is important to supplement |
| the root cause of attention deficit disorder. Many | | | | your diet with fatty acid supplements found in fish oil |
| believe that Ritalin only calms them physically but fails | | | | and flax oil. He can also undergo temperament |
| to cure underlying cause of hyperactivity. There are | | | | therapy. For highly emotional and temperamental |
| also the inevitable harmful side effects such as | | | | children, you may need to use alternative forms of |
| chronic sleeplessness, uncontrollable contraction in the | | | | discipline and refrain from physically punishing him |
| muscles and tactile hallucinations. The side effects can | | | | punishing them. Sometimes children with ADD can |
| even become worse when children quit using the | | | | also benefit from home schooling because they |
| drug. Other documented side effects of Ritalin | | | | simply might have a different learning style. Children |
| including anxiety, nausea, convulsions, hair loss, slow | | | | who also have learned to meditate have reported |
| growth and self mutilating behavior like chewing | | | | increased concentration levels and reduced stress |
| fingers and nails until they bleed.If you suspect that | | | | that lead to the complete elimination of ADD. |