Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (or ADHD or ADD) is a developmental disorder diagnosed when a child or adult shows signs of attention problems and hyperactivity. The symptoms must start before 7 years of age and persist in at least 2 different settings for at least 6 months for the diagnosis to be considered. ADHD is one of the most commonly studied disorders in children. Adolescents and adults with ADHD tend to develop coping mechanisms to compensate for their impairments. ADHD can cause problems in social, school and work functioning.
Treating ADHD with Natural Medicine
Conventional treatments for ADHD typically include stimulant medications. The side effects from these medications can cause difficulty falling asleep at night, loss of appetite, anxiety, and other symptoms. This can be difficult for many kids and adults to manage.
At Boulder Natural Health, we take a different approach to treating ADHD from conventional medical care. Naturopathic doctors believe that ADHD may be more than just a neurological condition or a learning problem. Often the adrenal gland, a gland that produces a hormone called cortisol and regulates the fight or flight response in the body, can be imbalanced in patients with ADHD. Treating any adrenal gland dysfunction with adaptogenic herbs like holy basil, black current, ashwagandha, ginseng, schisandra, rhodiola and bacopa can be extremely effective in addressing issues of focus, concentration and memory. Also, specific diet changes that eliminate foods that irritate the nervous system and imbalance blood sugar levels such as sugary foods, foods with high fructose corn syrup, high glycemic index fruits, and other potential food allergens such as dairy, wheat, eggs, soy, tomatoes and citrus fruits can have a significant impact on reversing ADHD symptoms. Amino acid therapy using specific amino acids like dl-phenylalanine, l-tyrosine, l-theanine, and others can greatly reduce issues of focus, attention and hyperactivity.
Every patient’s health symptoms are unique therefore we take an individualized approach to treating patients with ADHD. Depending on your specific symptoms, you will receive a specific naturopathic protocol including diet recommendations, lifestyle changes, and herbal, homeopathic, vitamin and/or nutrient supplementation, or amino acid therapy that work together to optimize the cognitive function. Naturopathic medicine can be extremely effective in improving symptoms of ADHD.
Contact us today for more information about natural treatments for ADHD. Check out our Conditions Treated page for information about other health conditions successfully treated using natural medicine.
My experience with Dr. Julie has been fantastic. I have had ADHD since childhood and was on medication for several years, even into adulthood. Dr. Julie helped me to transition to natural therapies, and I was able to get off of the medication almost seamlessly. I have also dealt with issues in the area of infertility and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Dr. Julie and I are working together to get my body back into its natural rhythm again. She has also helped me with my overall health. Dr. Julie treats the body as a whole, not as a sum of its parts. She truly understands and believes that the human body has the ability to heal itself if it is supported in the right way. It is great to have a doctor that looks at the patient's overall health, and does not just prescribe a pill to treat a symptom."
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