ADD & ADHD Support...Naturally
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| So many of our little ones need support, and many of us aren't necessarily comfortable with the idea of medication. |
If you have been given a diagnosis for your child of
ADD or ADHD, or if teachers or caregivers have expressed concerns that your
child may have one of these, you may be like many parents and be hesitant to
place your child on a pharmaceutical medication straight away. Many parents are afraid that these diagnoses
are offered too frequently these days, and that medication is an immediate
recommendation.
In fact, most diagnosis processes (up to 80%) use
information gained from an adult outside of the immediate family, and 90% of
evaluations incorporate behavior rating scales, typically completed by a
teacher. Around 77% of the time, the
process results in a diagnosis of ADHD.2
I'd like to make a note here that of course there comes a point where a teacher sees a child for long hours of the day, and observes their peer interaction and their learning processes, so it makes perfect sense to me to consult a teacher for such evaluation processes. Further, our child's teachers have been exceptionally supportive, and simply having a diagnosis has helped me to have something to go by to support my child the way I see fit.
I'd like to make a note here that of course there comes a point where a teacher sees a child for long hours of the day, and observes their peer interaction and their learning processes, so it makes perfect sense to me to consult a teacher for such evaluation processes. Further, our child's teachers have been exceptionally supportive, and simply having a diagnosis has helped me to have something to go by to support my child the way I see fit.
Many of the medications that are recommended for ADHD
state that long term use can slow the growth of a child, and impair reaction
time and vision. Some of these
medications warn against stroke, heart attack, violent, aggressive, psychotic,
or suicidal behaviors.2
The concerns are valid.
I started reading about alternative support when my son was diagnosed
with ADHD and ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder). I looked into resources from expert
herbalists and aromatherapists prior to becoming a Master Herbalist.
Some of the essential oils that can help support those
with ADHD and ADD include: vetiver Chrysopogon zizaniodes, bergamot Citrus
bergamia, palmarosa Cymbopogon martini, rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis, ylang
ylang Cananga odorata, lavender Lavandula angustifolia, Lemon Citrus x limon, atlas cedarwood Cedrus atlantica and
clary sage Salvia sclarea. An oil blend
made with some of these can be made into a spray, put into a diffuser/mister,
or put into an aromatherapy inhaler.
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An aromatherapy inhaler simply holds the oil on a cotton wick inside.
You unscrew the bottom and hold the plastic "inhaler" near the nose, to inhale the scent of the oils.
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Once I was a
Master Herbalist, I sent my son to school with an aromatherapy inhaler, and
promptly received a phone call from the school nurse requiring a note from his
pediatrician. I called the pediatrician
and made an appointment, bringing in my research and my credentials, and he
wrote her a note. My son has to keep his
inhaler in the nurse’s office, but his behavior has much improved, and he
states that he feels it “calms him down," and "helps him focus.”
For me that is a big relief. Of course, this isn’t for
everyone. Some people opt for
medication. It was a big discussion in our
household. I said, “Let’s see if these
natural approaches help before we jump on board with pharmaceuticals.”
Of course, there are dietary concerns that should be
taken into account. Preservatives, artificial dyes, preservatives, artificial sweeteners and
high fructose corn syrup have all been shown to worsen symptoms in a child that does have ADHD or even create ADHD symptoms in a
child that does not even have ADHD in the first place.1 I find that limiting
sugar intake tends to help my son as well.
***
Please keep in mind that I am NOT a doctor or a dietician. Please take into consideration your primary
care physician's advice prior to taking any herbal remedies.***
1.
Christina. (2014, September 12).
Calm your squirrel - A DIY ADHD Aromatherapy blend. Retrieved February 28,
2017, from Aromatherapy, http://www.thehippyhomemaker.com/calm-your-squirrel-adhd-aromatherapy-blend/
2.
Ernsberger, M. (2016,
July 8). How to support ADHD naturally. Retrieved February 28, 2017, from
http://info.achs.edu/blog/how-to-support-adhd-naturally
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