With the number of cases of attention deficit disorder (ADD) - also called attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) - rising, it's no surprise that many students in the United States are taking medications such as Ritalin or Adderall to help them focus.
Recent findings suggest that ADD is up 43 percent over an 8-year period, and roughly 12 percent of teens today are diagnosed with the disorder. However, medication is just one possible treatment for the disorder - natural treatments can be very effective and produce great results.
"Through our work with over 20,000 ADD patients over the last three decades, using a powerful brain-imaging tool called SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography), we discovered that ADD is not a single or simple disorder; there are seven different types," Daniel Amen, a clinical neuroscientist and brain imaging expert at Amen Clinics, said in a press release. "In addition, many natural treatments can help all the ADD types. I always prefer to start with the least toxic, most effective treatment."
Although medication can be effective and is something necessary, there are several lifestyle changes and non-medical interventions that can be used to achieve the same kind of results in many people.
Nutrition
Before trying medication, parents should get their children on a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet that contains an adequate amount of healthy fats. This is a stabilizing diet that maintains blood sugar levels, which means less peaks and dips and more focused energy and concentration levels.
Exercise
Sitting around and watching TV all day isn't going to help your child's ADD. Exercise increases blood flow to the brain, which is very beneficial for those with the disorder. Furthermore, it increases the availability of serotonin in the brain, which helps decrease hyperactivity.
Meditation
Research shows that meditation can reduce stress and enhance brain function. Encourage your child to meditate regularly, first for a few minutes at a time and eventually for up to 10, 15 or 20 minutes at a time.
Neurofeedback
This specialized treatment uses computer technology and video games to balance and optimize the brain. Not only is it fun for the child, it also promotes brain strength and helps get it to a more balanced state.
Although Amen believes that the above treatments are very effective for many people, they shouldn't be used to completely ignore medication.
"Parents shouldn't automatically discount medication as away to treat children with ADD," he said. "But they also need to be mindful that medication isn't their only option."
