ADHD in KIDS

2006-11-26T05:09:00.000-08:00

ADHD and Diet: Is there a Link Between Sugar and Hyperactivity? Is there Really an Effective Diet?

By Tess Thompson

Tip! Seat appropriate peer models next to ADHD child.

In the 1970's, Dr. Ben Feingold developed what came to be known as the "Feingold Diet" after he thought he noticed a link between certain foods and hyperactivity in children. The ingredients he flagged to avoid were mostly food additives which he thought were causing allergic reactions in some of his patients, but sugar was also on the list.

For years following, Dr. Feingold's theory grew in popularity and acceptance, but the theory was based only on his patient's testimonials, and a link between sugar and hyperactivity has yet to be proven in studies.

Tip! VAXA International's newly revised 'Attend' product. It is effective for 70% of ADD ADHD individuals, as measured by computer testing and parent scales.

While there is not overwhelming conclusive evidence that any particular food will cause or prevent hyperactivity, a well-balanced diet that is rich in a variety of brain-healthy foods will benefit anyone, and some preliminary studies have found certain food types to have a positive effect on children with ADHD.

Contrary to Dr. Feingold's theory, some recent studies have shown that large amounts of sugar can have a numbing effect on children and can actually induce tiredness. These days, most doctors agree that while limited amounts of sugar are acceptable in a diet, large amounts can be harmful in a variety of ways, even if sugar has not been shown to have a particularly negative effect on ADHD and treatment of it.

One study by the George Washington University School of Medicine found that children who ate a protien-rich meal performed as well or better afterwards in school than children without ADHD. Foods that are high in protien include meat, fish, milk, yogurt, beans, peanut butter and eggs.

There is also various research, including a study done by Oxford University in London, which suggests that including Omega-3 fatty acids in hyperactive children's diets will moderate their ADHD symptoms. Omega-3 fatty acids are often lacking in the average American diet, but can be found in salmon, mackarel, sardines and flax oil.

Tip! Don't talk to your ADHD child about his problems in front of his siblings. The exception to this would be at a family meeting when you're talking about issues related to fairness, equal treatment or helping the ADHD child cope with his disability.

Both protiens and omega-3 fatty acids should be a part of everyone's diets, and it is important to remember to moderate your child's intake of any one food group. In general, green vegetables, fruits, whole grains, protiens and healthy fats should all be included in your child's daily diet.

Removing as many simple and refined carbohydrates as possible from your child's diet could have a positive effect as well. These kinds of carbohydrates include candy, cake, white bread, potatoes, white rice, and pasta, and are broken down very quickly by the body, often causing surges and dips in energy. Instead of white bread and white rice, try substituting whole grain versions of the foods, and give your child fruit instead of cake or candy.

Tip! You want to help your ADHD child feel better about himself. Having ADHD is hard.

While it might be impossible to eliminate all of the suggested items from your child's diet, it should be possible to moderate them in favor of healthier foods. Although there is no specific diet proven to be an effective child ADHD treatment, a healthy mix of fruits, vegetables, omega-3 fats and protiens promotes general well-being and will also help eliminate the possibility of your child suffering from a nutritional deficiency that might be affecting his or her behavior.

Webmaster: You are authorized to reprint this article providing the author bio/resource box is left completely in tact - including all hyperlinks.

Tess Thompson is a Homeopathic Practitioner, Reflexologist, Certified Aromatherapist, and Herbalist who contributes regularly to Native Remedies - where you can find All Natural Homeopathic and Herbal Remedies for many health conditions including the natural treatment of ADHD and child ADHD treatment.

2006-11-25T05:08:00.000-08:00

Say NO to Ritalin! The Indigo/ADD/ADHD Child's Diet

By Lisa Whatley

Tip! Actively seek out a pediatrician or other doctor who is well versed in ADHD and is gifted in treating the condition. Make sure that he is willing to discuss your concerns without placing on you a false sense of guilt.

It's the dreaded Child Split Personality Syndrome - you've witnessed it but are you aware that you could possibly be the culprit of it all?! Unknowingly of course.

Let me set the scene.

Breakfast which consisted of bagels, with butter and jam, a bowl of sugary filled cereal and a glass of artificial fruit punch to wash it down, was finished only moments before. Your innocent, sweet, calm, cool and collected children have relocated to the wreck room and are sitting on the couch watching their favorite television show, giggling and playing cheerfully together. As you stand there observing your delightful bundles of joy you can not deny the feelings of love that wash over you. You are so delighted that you created these little holy terrors, I mean precious beings! It's so sweet that it's a Kodak moment!

Tip! Review the program for the party with your children before the big day so they know what to expect when. Children with ADHD can easily get lost when there are many things happening.

BUT you better have your joggers on to run for the camera quick because in a matter of seconds your beautiful, precious children will have been transformed into she and he devils! What was once a beautiful Kodak moment has now been transformed into a hellish nightmare of yelling and screaming, kids jumping from couch to couch, your ears are shocked with high-pitched screams of pain as your eyes witness a flying chunk of hair! Then a crash, with a smirk and no feeling "Sorry mom, broke your favorite lamp!" As this adorable child superflies through the air once again!

And just think, a few moments ago you were thinking how cute they were and how you should probably give them another sibling?! But because of what you are witnessing the impulsive thought has vanished! Now you hear yourself screaming, "I brought you into this world, I can take you out!"

Tip! You want to help your ADHD child follow home and classroom rules. Being in trouble all the time is a part of ADHD, and we all know being in trouble feels miserable.

Ok so maybe you didn't say it, but we all know you were certainly thinking it! � end of scene.

So what causes the fluctuation in our children's behaviour?

Today, we will look at their diet. This article will focus on some dietary interventions for Indigos/ADD/ADHD children. These children are very sensitive people, they are sensitive to their environments, what clothes they can wear and the food they eat. In order for children (and adults) to focus, they need to have nutritious food that enhances their energy and concentration. Most children start their day by eating simple carbohydrates such as waffles, muffins, donuts, pop-tarts, bagels, cinnamon rolls and sugary cereals. (By the way, these products usually contain MSG. A little addictive additive that no one should consume! But that's another article.)

It's no wonder the majority of kids are behaving crazy and can't concentrate in the classroom! They are bouncing from one end of the spectrum, high blood sugar levels, to the complete opposite of the spectrum, below normal blood sugar levels. This can be seen in their behavior. Simple sugars or simple carbohydrates stimulate the pancreas to secrete higher levels of insulin into the blood stream, causing the rapid absorption of sugar into the cells. This is the effect we refer to as a "sugar high." The consumption of simple sugars can contribute to their behavioral ups and downs including anger, distractibility, aggression, impulsivity, hyperactive etc. to the opposite end of feeling spacey, tired, confused and inattentive. Hmm? I wonder if a change in diet is better than drugging our children with Ritalin? I'm here to say YES, it is!

Dr. Allen Buresz - "In 1996 the World Health Organization warned that Ritalin over-use has reached dangerous proportions. Hopefully, by being armed with correct information, you may be able to avoid using Ritalin or other similar medications. Use of these drugs on a long-term basis is questionable. Safety of such long-term use is simply unknown, but many dangerous side effects have been increasing. Ritalin, for instance, may provoke seizures and suppress growth, or it may cause angina, blood pressure changes, depression or any of a very long list of serious side effects."

Dr. Robert Mendelsohn MD - "No one has ever been able to demonstrate that drugs such as Cylert and Ritalin improve the academic performance of the children who take them.... The pupil is drugged to make life easier for his teacher (and some parents) not to make it better and more productive for the child."

Tip! As parents, present a united front, with your ADD and non-ADHD kids alike. My husband and I don't always agree on everything related to our kids.

I believe that food can be used as medicine and that our diet does matter very much! It does the body and mind good to avoid eating simple carbohydrates - anything made from refined or white flour such as pasta, bagels, white bread and cereals. Stop eating chemically harmful processed foods and pre-packaged foods. Do you know what is in them? It is imperative to start reading the labels of the foods you are feeding your children and yourself. I know, now you are thinking, great so what do we eat? Well we go back to eating the way we did before we went grocery shopping - organic and natural! There is likely an organic store right in your area. Bigger grocery chains usually have a "small" section of organic products. You can also grow your own fruits and vegetables! Start your own garden outside or buy pots and put them in your window sills.

Tip! Be fair to all of your children. This means treating the ADHD child as equally as possible, of course.

It is also important to take a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement but beware of the dyes! Omega-3 oils, specifically fish oil, is probably the single most important nutrient for an Indigo/ADD/ADHD child to take. Dr. Stoll's book The Omega-3 Connection is a highly recommended read! A Purdue University study showed that kids low in Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids are significantly more likely to be hyperactive, have learning disorders, and to display behavioral problems. Omega-3 deficiencies have also been tied to dyslexia, violence, depression, memory problems, weight gain, cancer, heart disease, eczema, allergies, inflammatory diseases, arthritis, diabetes and many other conditions.

Here are some food choices to implement in your home. This change being made inside your family unit is a lifestyle change. You need to do your part, if you child can't eat something than your entire family should make the decision that neither can they. This will support your child in a very loving manner instead of making him/her feel like they are being punished. If your child feels that food is being withheld from them because they see you eating it, they will sneak the foods behind your back. How can you possibly tell a child that something is not good for them and you eat it?! You MUST lead by example especially with these kids!

Tip! Seek, join, and become active in support groups such as CHADD, CANHC, or others. These groups will help you to stay informed in changes in laws affecting ADHD in school and in the workplace.

The first most important substance that is required for the human body is water. Pure natural water and lots of it! Nutritionists recommend a minimum of 8 eight ounce glasses a day, more if you are active. That does not mean that you can consume eight mugs of coffee (for adults) or eight glasses of artificial juice and say well it's made with water so I got my intake. Wrong! Pure water. Simple. There's no way to get around it! It is best to avoid substances that dehydrate the body, like caffeine and alcohol. If you do consume dehydrating products than you need to consume even more water to flush out the toxins!

The diet will consist of protein, complex carbohydrates and fats. It is important to eat approximately every 2 to 3 hours, up until 3 hours before bed. This works out to eating approximately 6 times a day. Yes I know this sounds like a lot but really it isn't because of the small portion sizes. When meals are eaten in this manner it actually boosts the metabolism so you will burn more fat! Your body stays fueled with the proper nutrients and never has the chance to go into starvation mode where it actually stores fat and begins to cannibalize itself eating the muscles for energy!

Tip! Use rows for seating arrangement, and avoid tables with groups of students. Having groups at tables maximizes interpersonal distractions for the ADHD child when he is trying to do individual work.

It is also important for your child to get daily exercise. This is becoming increasingly rare with all the new technological advances being made. Children learn by example. If you don't exercise, in most cases neither will they. Start going for bike rides with them, or walks, swimming, skating etc. Make it fun! Life has become too serious. It's time to slow down and enjoy your children. They are only with you for a short time. Enjoy it while you can, you only have a few years to make a great impression as a parent. Always remember that what you teach your children, your children will teach their children!

Tip! Keep Your Home Organized. The more 'scheduled' you can keep your home, or the more 'organized' you can be at home, the better for your ADD/ADHD child.

Every meal will consist of a protein, a complex carbohydrate and a vegetable. Eating in this manner requires discipline and planning ahead. Pre-cooking and pre-packaging for a few days really helps cut time down in the kitchen. The serving size of each will be the size of your palm. Example: You selected a piece of chicken for one meal, if you were to place the piece of chicken into your hand, it will not be any bigger than the size of your palm. The following lists are small helpful tools to get you started. They are by no means the only things you can eat!

Tip! Have a rule. My ADHD son WILL take his medication.

Healthiest Quality of Proteins: The first two listed are the best choices (in my opinion) the following if you must consume animal product. If your child refuses to eat, please don't force them! There are many other foods available that can provide the daily required protein intake.

� Protein Powder
� Soy-Based Products
� Egg Whites or Substitutes
� Low-fat cottage cheese
� Chicken
� Turkey
� Tuna
� Salmon
� Orange Roughy
� Haddock
� Crab
� Lobster
� Shrimp
� Lean Ground Beef

Tip! You want to help your ADHD child feel better about himself. Having ADHD is hard.

Healthiest Quality of Carbohydrates: ORGANIC products are the absolute best and should really be considered! Please don't load them with saturated fats!

� Baked potato
� Sweet potato
� Yam
� Steamed Brown Rice
� Steamed Wild Rice
� Oatmeal
� Barley
� Beans
� Whole-Wheat Bread
� Whole Grains
� Corn
� Strawberries
� Melon
� Apple
� Orange
� Pears
� Kiwi

Healthiest Quality of Vegetables: ORGANIC products are the absolute best and should really be considered! Please don't load them with saturated fats!

� Broccoli
� Asparagus
� Lettuce
� Carrots
� Cauliflower
� Green Beans
� Green Peppers
� Mushrooms
� Spinach
� Tomato
� Peas
� Brussels Sprouts
� Cabbage
� Artichoke
� Celery
� Zucchini
� Cucumber

Tip! You want to reduce the ADHD behaviors that cause problems. This goes back to following home and classroom rules, but it's more than that.

Healthiest Quality of Fats:

Despite popular beliefs, not all fats are bad. Saturated fats are bad while unsaturated fats, in moderate amounts, can actually be good for you. For example, one of the reasons fish is such a healthy food is because it contains essential fatty acids.

� Safflower oil
� Sesame oil
� Avocados

You are your child's earth guardian, change their diet and watch them blossom in every area of their life instead of poisoning them with drugs. It is time to take control of our lives and go back to the basics. Eat as natural as possible. You can find all sorts of great books our there with very healthy recipes. Do some research, your kids are worth it!

IMPORTANT: Use this information at your own risk. This information is not to be used in place of appropriate medical advice. If there are problems, always consult your physician.

If you have any questions please feel free to email me lisa@infinitylighthealing.com For more articles and healing tools, please visit my website. As always, keep smiling and play in love!

Tip! ATTEND often works really well when combined with other nutraceutical products to target specific symptoms, such as temper outbursts, or obsessive behaviors, or depression. This is discussed in detail both at the ATTEND page and at the TYPES OF ADHD page.

� Copyright 2004-2006 http://www.InfinityLightHealing.com Lisa Whatley, an Indigo/Crystal Adult, Master Energy Facilitator, Writer, Mother of four Indigo/Crystal children and Spiritual Ascension Life Coach interweaves body, mind and spirit into her work. Lisa's spiritual path and connection with God has lead her to a place of knowing that all things are possible! She has helped many people change their lives using the same self-empowerment teachings that helped to transform her own life, helping them find peace, joy and stability. She currently offers energetic sessions for Clearing, Healing, Balancing, Spiritual Growth and Enlightenment and Life Coaching. She resides in the beautiful countryside of Northern Ontario Canada.

2006-11-24T05:12:00.000-08:00

ADHD Nutrition

By Dennis Driscoll

Tip! You want to help your ADHD child do better in school. Most ADHD kids are very bright, and most ADHD kids are underachievers.

A Specialized ADHD Nutrition Plan Could Help Patients Focus

Currently one of the most widely accepted theories about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is that it is caused by nutritional problems. This theory really only applies to childhood ADHD and does not even account for all of the childhood ADHD cases, but when some dietary studies were conducted on ADHD nutrition plans for those with the disorder, there were some beneficial results. The whole nutrition and ADHD correlation emerged in nineteen ninety when an English researcher found out that certain artificial food colorings found in some foods could actually deplete the amounts of zinc in an ADHD patient's body. Later, scientists also found that those children suffering from ADHD also had lower levels of required sulfate molecules throughout the body. Studies which attempt to prove that ADHD and diet are not related at all, citing that only five percent of all ADHD patients have something wrong with their normal dietary intake. Whatever the case, putting your child on an ADHD nutrition plan may be one possible way to help alleviate the hyperactivity associated with such a disorder.

Tip! Be fair to all of your children. This means treating the ADHD child as equally as possible, of course.

There are several key aspects to an ADHD nutrition plan that any parent should keep in mind. The first and possibly most obvious of any diet is to make sure that your hyperactive child does not receive any sugary sweets or any candy. This should also include sodas and any other products which are high in sugar. By cutting sugars out of the ADHD nutrition plan, your child will not exhibit the hyperactive energy associated with ADHD. Also, make sure your child avoids caffeine, as caffeine has the same stimulating effect on the body as sugar. If you find that neither of these two ADHD nutrition changes affects your child, try taking any and all wheat products out of their diet. Some kids have an undiagnosed wheat allergy which can contribute to hyperactivity. Instead of the wheat products, switch to oats and rye. Finally, and this goes for any child (not just those with ADHD), make sure your child gets plenty of vegetables and fruits in their diet along with fish at least once a week.

Tip! You want to reduce the ADHD behaviors that cause problems. This goes back to following home and classroom rules, but it's more than that.

An alternative to just cutting out sugars and caffeine from an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder patient's diet was created by Dr. Benjamin Feingold. Aptly named the Feingold diet, this ADHD nutrition plan focused on the research which linked artificial colors and flavors to the loss of zinc in certain children's bodies. This diet has been the source of much debate over its effectiveness, but for those looking for a dietary way to combat the problems associated with ADHD, the Feingold diet may be a good method to check out.

The Feingold ADHD nutrition plan is currently a two step program with the first step requiring the elimination of all artificial colors and flavors from the child's food. The second step of the Feingold program requires that all aspirin containing products and natural salicylate containing foods should also be removed from the child's diet. While this method of ADHD nutrition may prove to be useful, there are actually certain claims which Feingold makes that are totally incorrect. Most importantly, certain nutritional experts have shown that in the Feingold diet cookbook many of the recommended foods are actually high in salicylates; a chemical which Feingold says can cause your child to be hyperactive.

Tip! Talk to all of your children about ADHD, not just the one who has it. My daughter was a toddler when my son was diagnosed with ADHD, but as she got older, we began talking with her about Jack's ADHD and what it meant.

There is much to be learned about ADHD nutrition and its effects on your child, for more on information on parenting and ADHD Nutrition please visit this author's website ==>Parental Advise

Tip! Seat appropriate peer models next to ADHD child.

Dennis Driscoll lives in Northern Michigan, and is the creator and a contributing author of several websites.

Nursing Resources
Self Improvement Tips

2006-11-22T05:12:00.000-08:00

Nutritional Support for ADHD

By Iris Chen MD

ADHD is a large problem in the US and the disorder can manifest itself in a number of ways, not all of them are obvious. Although there are a number of pharmaceutical options for sufferers, there are also many simple nutritional steps that can be taken to help remedy the situation.

It is startling to know that 3 to 7 percent of children in the US suffer from ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. This means it affects over 2 million children in America, that is, one in every class of 25 would have ADHD. This condition is usually diagnosed in the pre-school and early school years. Children with these symptoms are unusually fidgety and restless. They may have problems paying attention in school, waiting in lines or taking turns. Some children may express this in their aggression. ADHD is usually diagnosed more in boys that girls, but that could be because girls tend to be quieter and less aggressive than boys. In girls it could manifest itself as talkativeness rather than aggression.

ADHD Definition

The U.S. Surgeon General has defined ADHD as a metabolic form of encephalopathy. The disease weakens the release and homeostasis of neurological chemicals, reducing the function of the limbic system. Other relevant research however points out that some part of the brain could be involved. These are the frontal lobes, their connections to the basal ganglia, the central aspects of the cerebellum and the middle or medial aspect of the frontal lobe.

ADHD into Adulthood

Four types of ADHD types have been recognized. These are the Predominantly Inattentive, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive, and Combined Type of ADHD (hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive) and ADHD Not Otherwise Specified. As a person gets older, the symptoms of ADHD could reduce, but many children diagnosed with ADHD retain this disorder into adulthood too. It is then known as Adult Attention-Deficit Disorder or AADD. In adults, it manifests itself in the need to be physically busy all time, excessive talking, interrupting others, risk taking, speaking out without regard to the consequences and even daydreaming.

Tip! You want to help your ADHD child do better in school. Most ADHD kids are very bright, and most ADHD kids are underachievers.

Causes of ADHD

The research into the causes of ADHD has thrown up a number of issues. Primarily it seems that both genetic and environmental factors play a role in ADHD. Significantly, research has shown that many critical food deficiencies could cause the problem. These could be as varied as deficiency of essential omega 3 fatty acids, antioxidant vitamins like vitamin C, iron and even zinc.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Omega 3 deficiency may lead to behavioral problems that are linked with ADHD. Some children with ADHD show other symptoms connected with Omega 3 deficiency, such as dry skin and hair, thirst and even frequent urination. A trial in supplementing Omega 3 in children with ADHD revealed some surprising results. Over a period of time, fish oil supplements were given to a group of children and a placebo to another set. The children with fish oil supplements showed remarkable improvements in attentiveness and other attributes. Academic results were much better with better scores in reading, spelling, mathematics and other skills. No such improvements were seen in children given the placebo. Thus Omega 3 rich supplements such as fish oil could be a solution to help children with ADHD. Some researchers feel babies who are breast-fed have a lower chance of developing ADHD later because it is rich in Omega 3.

Tip! You want to help your ADHD child make more friends. Social skills are difficult for kids with ADHD, and they're often lonely.

Food and Environmental Allergies

Children with ADHD may also be more likely to suffer from food allergies. They could be losing vital vitamins, iron and even zinc because of their allergy to dairy products, wheat, corn, yeast, soy, citrus, eggs, chocolate, peanuts and artificial colors and preservatives. It has been seen that children with ADHD lose zinc when exposed to a food dye. In a study that eliminated these allergens in the diet of some children, the majority of the children showed lower levels of hyperactivity. Once these were added back to diet, the problems associated with ADHD once again returned.

Dietary Deficiencies

Research has also shown that iron levels are low in children suffering from ADHD. The children's serum ferritin levels were measured to determine their iron status. It was seen that one-third of the ADHD children had a very low range of iron levels. It was noticed that the lower the iron levels, the higher the severity of the ADHD symptoms. The researchers concluded that low iron stores might explain some ADHD cases. Iron supplements could be given but proper testing is required before doing so, because excess iron stored in the body can cause several other problems.

Supplements of zinc and zinc sulphate have proved successful in small trials. But more results are awaited. However in the mean time, a good idea would be to remove additives from the diet along with all foods that the child could be allergic to. This could improve the absorption of natural zinc present in foods.
Vitamin C could also be supplemented, because sometimes it is not easily absorbed from natural foods. However, once again it might be good idea to remove additives and allergy-causing foods from the diet. This would result in better Vitamin C absorption.

Tip! ATTEND often works better when combined with a good eating program. If you have ADHD, you have to eat very carefully.

Drug Interactions

Most ADHD children are on some prescribed drug or the other. Should drug interactions with dietary supplements be a concern? Generally, mixing supplements at low levels with drugs does not produce side effects but it is worth checking with your doctor just in case.

Most research indicates that a balanced diet rich in omega 3, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, free from toxins, would be beneficial to children suffering from ADHD.

References:

1. Physiology and Behavior, 1996 9: 915-920
2. 59th annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, Bellanti et al.
3. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, December 2004;158:1113-1115

Iris is a Canadian trained physician who has been involved in the nutritional world for over 15 years and has a major interest in traditional Chinese medicine. Iris currently works as a medical advisor to Mitamins, the custom made online supplements company.

Mitamins Health Directory
Informative health information and custom nutrition formulas for a huge array of health concerns from Allergies to Osteoporosis.

2006-11-21T05:10:00.000-08:00

ADHD - Are there Treatment Options?

By Julia Allworth

Tip! Make sure your ADHD child is doing what he's supposed to be doing, treatment-wise. If you've decided to take the medication route, set up a routine and make sure he follows it.

As an ADD coach I am often asked about the treatment options available for Attention Deficit Disorder. Generally when someone says "ADD" the first thing that will come to the layperson's mind is �Ritalin' or an image of a hyperactive "Dennis-the-Menace" type. Fortunately, there is a lot more to Attention Deficit Disorder than drugs and hyperactivity. Each individual is unique and therefore different people will respond well to different treatment options.

There are a number of treatment options available for children and adults with ADD. Let's explore some of the most common options.

Tip! You want to help your ADHD child make more friends. Social skills are difficult for kids with ADHD, and they're often lonely.

1) Medication - Medication such as stimulants (i.e. Ritalin, Dexedrine, Concerta, Adderall) is probably the most common treatment for ADD. Often antidepressants (such as Prozac, Paxil, Effexor, Wellbutrin) are used instead of or in combination with the stimulants. Some individuals will respond quite well to treatment with medication while others will see little to no difference. It is important to discuss the pros and cons of treatment with medication with your doctor.

Get Control Of Your Child's Adhd! Huge potential market. No adwords competition.

2) Counseling and Therapy - Many children and adults with ADD will benefit from counseling from a Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Social worker or other mental health practitioner. There is no one form of counseling - some professionals will focus on exploring events in the past or emotions while others will work with behavior modification techniques. Some professionals will use a combination of approaches depending on the individual.

3) ADD Coaching - Coaching can be conducted in person or over the telephone and focuses on the whole-person. An ADD coach creates a partnership with each client to explore treatment options for ADD while focusing on creating balance and satisfaction in each area of the client's life. ADD coaching is recommended for a period of 3-6 months for maximum effectiveness. Coaching utilizes regular communication, goal setting, personality and interest inventories and an extensive battery of tools to design an individualized strategy for each client.

Tip! Keep Yourself Alive! It takes a lot of energy to keep up with ADHD and spirited kids. You need to become your own energy source.

4) Biofeedback and Neurofeedback - Biofeedback uses monitoring devices to furnish information regarding autonomic body functions such as heart rate or blood pressure. The individual patient is therefore trained to gain some voluntary control over that function. Neurofeedback uses technology to train individuals to gain self-regulation of individual brain wave states so as to remain alert, relaxed and focused.

5) Nutritional Therapy and Natural Treatments - Naturopathic and Homeopathic Doctors, Dieticians, Nutritionists, Allergists and other practitioners stress the importance of the dietary treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder. These professionals can design a customized diet that will help to reduce the symptoms of ADD. Nutritional supplements and vitamins are often recommended to ensure a balanced diet and proper levels of essential vitamins and minerals.

Tip! Keep Your Home Organized. The more 'scheduled' you can keep your home, or the more 'organized' you can be at home, the better for your ADD/ADHD child.

6) Supplemental Education - Educational centres such as Sylvan Learning Centre and Kumon Math & Reading Centre offer educational programs for children who fall behind in the classroom. Current research indicates that an estimated 50% of children with ADD have a co-existing learning disability. Supplemental Education also exists for adults in the form of career-based training in facilities such as the Academy of Learning.

With all of these possibilities how does any ADDer know where to turn? Remember that no one treatment is a miracle! Often the best treatment comes from a combination of several of the treatments listed above. If you are struggling to find the treatment that is right for you we are here to help. ADDvocacy makes a commitment to presenting unbiased information on all treatment options available. Contact ADDvocacy to schedule a free 30-minute coaching session to explore ADD treatment options for you or a loved one. For more information please visit our website at www.addvocacy.com

Tip! ATTEND often works better when combined with a good eating program. If you have ADHD, you have to eat very carefully.

Julia Anne Allworth is the business owner of ADDvocacy, an organization designed to educate, serve and coach those with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). ADDvocacy works with adults, teens, parents, educators, organizations and medical professionals to shed light on the facts and positives about ADD, its co-existing conditions and implications for the future.

2006-11-20T05:13:00.000-08:00

Melatonin, Sleep Enhancement, and ADHD

By Anthony Kane, MD

Tip! Seek, join, and become active in support groups such as CHADD, CANHC, or others. These groups will help you to stay informed in changes in laws affecting ADHD in school and in the workplace.

Overview

Melatonin is a natural hormone, which is produced and secreted by the pineal gland. Melatonin plays an important role in the regulation of many hormones in the body. Among its key roles, melatonin controls the body's circadian rhythm, an internal 24-hour time-keeping system that controls when we fall asleep and when we wake up.

Melatonin is also a very powerful antioxidant. In one study, melatonin was 60 times more effective than Vitamin C or water-soluble Vitamin E in protecting DNA from damage. Preliminary evidence suggests that it may help strengthen the immune system.

There are numerous claims and theories concerning all the things that melatonin may do and as a result it has become one of the popular life extension and life enhancing supplements that are currently available on the market today.

Uses

The most accepted function of Melatonin is it role in sleep regulation. Melatonin supplements help induce sleep in people with disrupted circadian rhythms. Melatonin is significantly more effective in decreasing the amount of time required to fall asleep, increasing the number of sleeping hours, and boosting daytime alertness.

Melatonin is purported to be one of those miracle substances that has a hand in everything. This may be due to the fact that during the height of the antioxidant craze, Melatonin was found to be a more powerful and more universal antioxidant than both vitamin C and vitamin E. Whatever the reason, Melatonin ostensibly plays a role in numerous health conditions.

Tip! Have a routine. My son takes his ADHD medication when he brushes his teeth and before he puts on his shoes to go to school.

Here is a partial list:

Insomnia
Osteoporosis
Menopause
Depression
Eating Disorders
Breast Cancer
Prostate Cancer
Cancer-related Weight Loss
Sarcoidosis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Epilepsy
Sunburn
Viral Encephalitis
Heart Disease

Since a lot of evidence for many of these claims is rather light and since I am not trying to sell you melatonin supplements, I am going to focus only on its role in sleep enhancement.

Tip! You want to reduce the ADHD behaviors that cause problems. This goes back to following home and classroom rules, but it's more than that.

Insomnia

As many parents realize, drugs like Ritalin are not without side effects. One of the major complaints that parents have is that their children who take Ritalin can't fall asleep at night. Many parents report that their children, who may be only five or six years old, are wide awake until 11 pm or later.

Tip! Have a rule. My ADHD son WILL take his medication.

Melatonin may be able to help these children. Since it is the primary chemical in the body that helps to induce sleep, children who suffer from insomnia often find that Melatonin restores their normal sleep cycle and helps them to be more awake and alert during the day.

How to Take It

There are currently no guidelines as to how to take Melatonin. Sensitivity to Melatonin is an individual thing and doses that are ineffective in one person may be too much for someone else.

The best approach for any condition is to begin with very low doses and slowly add more until you get the effect that you are seeking.

In children, it is best to start with a dose of about 0.3 mg/day or less. Although current research suggests that even doses as high as 10 mg are perfectly safe, it is best to proceed with caution.

Tip! Review the program for the party with your children before the big day so they know what to expect when. Children with ADHD can easily get lost when there are many things happening.

In adults, 3 mg is usually a safe starting dose and you can increase it or decrease it as you see fit.

Availability

Melatonin is readily available in most health food stores in the United States and it is very cheap. In Europe it is a controlled substance. Most Europeans who wish to use Melatonin find it cheaper and easier to have it shipped from the US.

Adverse Effects

Melatonin is one of the least toxic substances known. In one extensive clinical trial, a high dose of 75 milligrams of melatonin per day was given to 1400 women in the Netherlands for up to four years with no ill effects.

The only consistent side effect of high doses has been drowsiness and a slower reaction time.

Tip! You want to help your ADHD child follow home and classroom rules. Being in trouble all the time is a part of ADHD, and we all know being in trouble feels miserable.

Other common complaints include:

Vivid dreams or nightmares
Stomach cramps
Dizziness
Headache
Irritability
Decreased libido
Breast enlargement in men
Decreased sperm count

These side effects were in healthy people. We also don't know how melatonin may affect people suffering from disease.

Possible Drug Interactions

Melatonin may interact or interfere with other drugs.

Tip! ATTEND often works better when combined with a good eating program. If you have ADHD, you have to eat very carefully.

These include:

Antidepressant Medications
Antipsychotic Medications: many of these medications are now being used in treating children with ADHD and Bipolar disorder
Benzodiazepines
Blood Pressure Medications
Blood-thinning Medications, Anticoagulants
Interleukin-2
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
Steroids and Immunosuppressant Medications
Tamoxifen

If your child is taking any of these things, you should consult with his doctor before giving Melatonin.

Also, caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol can all diminish levels of melatonin in the body while cocaine and amphetamines may increase melatonin production.

Tip! As parents, present a united front, with your ADD and non-ADHD kids alike. My husband and I don't always agree on everything related to our kids.

Conclusion

Often children with ADHD have a great deal of difficulty falling asleep. This can be due to the medications that they are taking or just be one component in the spectrum of their problems. When used properly, melatonin may be a safe and effective way to handle sleep problems in ADHD children.

Anthony Kane, MD
ADD ADHD Advances
http://addadhdadvances.com

Tip! You want to help your ADHD child feel better about himself. Having ADHD is hard.

Attention Publishers:
This article is available for your website or ezine.
For an ezine, send an email to: melatonin@addadhdadvances.com.
For a website send an email to: melatoninhtml@addadhdadvances.com

Anthony Kane, MD is a physician and international lecturer. Get ADD ADHD Child Behavior and Treatment Help for your ADHD child, including child behavior advice, information on the latest ADD ADHD medication help, and help with Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Sign up for the free ADD ADHD Advances online journal. Send an email to subscribe@addadhdadvances.com

2006-11-19T05:10:00.000-08:00

Is Provigil Effective for the Symptoms of ADD and ADHD?

By Jeannine Virtue

Provigil is an interesting drug. It keeps narcoleptics from falling asleep and it also appears to help people with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) stay focused.

But how effective is Provigil for ADHD? That depends entirely on which study you review since Provigil has shown mixed results in studies related to ADHD treatment. The results of one study published in July 2000 were so disappointing that the manufacturer of the medication, Cephalon Inc., decided to pursue other indications for the drug. Then, in February 2001, the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry published the results of a study that indicated potential benefit of Provigil (monafinil) as a once-daily ADHD treatment. The most recent research, performed by the manufacturer in an effort to gain FDA approval, showed "significant improvement" when compared to a placebo.

Tip! Have a rule. My ADHD son WILL take his medication.

Your body will be the best judge of Provigil's worth as an ADD and ADHD treatment. But before you run to your doctor's office asking for a prescription, there are side effects and warnings you need to be aware of.

Tip! Seat appropriate peer models next to ADHD child.

Provigil (modafinil) Side Effects:

_ Headache.

_ Blurred vision.

_ Dry mouth.

_ Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain.

_ Constipation or diarrhea.

_ Sleep disturbances/insomnia.

_ Loss of appetite/weight loss.

Get Control Of Your Child's Adhd! Huge potential market. No adwords competition.

_ Stuffy nose.

_ Back pain.

_ Confusion.

_ Anxiety and agitation.

_ Nervousness, aggression, hostility.

_ Unstable moods.

_ Depression.

_ Decreased sex drive.

_ "Pins and Needles" feeling.

_ Rash or itching.

_ Dizziness.

_ Widening of blood vessels.

_ Weakness or loss of strength.

_ High/increased blood pressure.

_ Alteration in results of liver function tests.

_ Chest pain.

_ Increased heart rate.

_ Drug dependence.

_ Allergic reaction.

Provigil may be habit forming and has the potential for abuse and dependence. You should discuss the abuse and dependence potential of Provigil with your doctor. This drug should not be taken by anyone who has been or currently is dependent on alcohol or drugs.

Symptoms of an Provigil overdose might include excitation, agitation, insomnia, sleep disturbances, anxiety, irritability, aggressiveness, confusion, nervousness, tremor, palpitations, nausea, and diarrhea.

Before taking Provigil, tell your doctor if you have;

_ Left ventricular hypertrophy.

_ Chest pain.

_ Irregular heartbeats.

_ History of heart attack.

_ High blood pressure.

_ Unstable angina.

_ History of mental illness.

_ Kidney disease

_ Liver disease.

Contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical attention if you experience any of the following uncommon but serious side effects:

_ An allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives).

_ Irregular heartbeats.

_ Low or high blood pressure.

_ Shortness of breath.

Provigil may decrease the effects of birth control pills as well as implantable formulations such as Norplant and Depo-Provera. Women should use a second, nonhormonal form of birth control while taking Provigil, and for one month after stopping Provigil, to prevent pregnancy.

Tip! Keep Your Home Organized. The more 'scheduled' you can keep your home, or the more 'organized' you can be at home, the better for your ADD/ADHD child.

Before taking Provigil, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs:

_ MAO inhibitors.

_ Tricyclic antidepressants.

_ Valium.

_ Other stimulant medications.

_ Seizure medications.

_ Rifadin, Rimactane.

_ Nizoral.

_ Sporanox.

_ Neoral, Sandimmune.

_ theophylline.

_ warfarin.

_ propranolol.

Currently about 20,000 people use Provigil off-label to treat the symptoms of ADHD. Doctors often prescribe drugs "off label,"meaning they prescribe the drug for a condition other than what was approved by the FDA. Though it is legal for doctors to prescribe drugs off-label, it is illegal for the drugmakers to market their drugs for off-label uses.

Tip! You want to help your ADHD child do better in school. Most ADHD kids are very bright, and most ADHD kids are underachievers.

Provigil's manufacturer, Cephalon Inc., has requested FDA approval for Attenace, a reformulation using Provigil's active ingredient, modafinil. By achieving FDA approval for Attenace Cephalon will be allowed to market modafinil for ADHD. Attenace is expected to hit pharmacy shelves in early 2006.

Jeannine Virtue is a freelance journalist who specializes in health topics. Visit the Attention Deficit Disorder Help Center at http://www.add-adhd-help-center.com for information about treating Attention Deficit Disorder without the use of Ritalin or other ADHD medications.

2006-11-17T05:18:00.000-08:00

A New ADHD Drug on the Horizon

By Jeannine Virtue

Tip! You want to help your ADHD child feel better about himself. Having ADHD is hard.

A new ADHD drug, Attenace, will likely hit pharmacy shelves in early 2006. This "new" ADHD drug isn't actually so new to the about 20,000 people currently taking Provigil "off-label" for ADHD. Attenace contains modafinil, the same active ingredient in the narcolepsy drug Provigil.

Modafinil is a stimulant drug that is chemically unrelated to the other stimulant ADHD medications. Although Attenace is a stimulant medication, it is not classified as a controlled substance under the Controlled Substance Act. This translates to the convenience of phone-in refills and less prescription hassles at the pharmacy.

Tip! Be fair to all of your children. This means treating the ADHD child as equally as possible, of course.

Attenace has a different chemical structure but it still poses many side effects consistent with the side effects of the other stimulant ADHD medications. There are also a few new side effects, like sexual dysfunction, that adults might find less than pleasant.

Before you knock on your doctor's door asking for a prescription, there are a few things you should know about this new ADHD medication.

First, it is not known how well Attenance will work or how it compares in effectiveness to the current ADHD drugs since the three trials conducted on Attenace only compared Attenace to a placebo instead of to its potential competitors. Cephalon conducted three 9-week double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of more than 600 children and adolescents between the ages of six and 17 with ADHD. Cephalon reports that Attenace "significantly improved" the symptoms of ADHD in children and adolescents, when compared to placebo, in three studies of the drug.

Tip! As parents, present a united front, with your ADD and non-ADHD kids alike. My husband and I don't always agree on everything related to our kids.

Secondly, Attenace (modafinil) has side effects ranging from mildly disturbing to potentially life-threatening. Given the relatively small test sampling to date, Attenace side effects are not fully known at this point. It can be assumed that Attenace will have similar side effects to Provigil since they are made from the same drug.

Below are a listing of common Provigil (modafinil) side effects.

_ Headache.
_ Blurred vision.
_ Dry mouth.
_ Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain.
_ Constipation or diarrhea.
_ Sleep disturbances/insomnia.
_ Loss of appetite/weight loss.
_ Stuffy nose.
_ Back pain.
_ Confusion.
_ Anxiety and agitation.
_ Nervousness, aggression, hostility.
_ Unstable moods.
_ Depression.
_ Decreased sex drive.
_ "Pins and Needles" feeling.
_ Rash or itching.
_ Dizziness.
_ Widening of blood vessels.
_ Weakness or loss of strength.
_ High/increased blood pressure.
_ Alteration in results of liver function tests.
_ Chest pain.
_ Increased heart rate.
_ Drug dependence.
_ Allergic reaction.

Attenace may be habit forming and has the potential for abuse and dependence . You should discuss the abuse and dependence potential of Attenace with your doctor. This drug should not be taken by anyone who has been or currently is dependent on alcohol or drugs.

Symptoms of an Attenace overdose might include excitation, agitation, insomnia, sleep disturbances, anxiety, irritability, aggressiveness, confusion, nervousness, tremor, palpitations, nausea, and diarrhea.

Contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical attention if you experience any of the following uncommon but serious side effects:

_ An allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat;
_ swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives).
_ Irregular heartbeats.
_ Low or high blood pressure.
_ Shortness of breath.

Before taking Attenace, tell your doctor if you have;

_ Left ventricular hypertrophy.
_ Chest pain.
_ Irregular heartbeats.
_ History of heart attack.
_ High blood pressure.
_ Unstable angina.
_ History of mental illness.
_ Kidney disease
_ Liver disease.

Attenace, along with all other ADHD medications currently on the market, is not recommended for children under the age of six since its safety and effectiveness has not been determined. Despite ADHD drug manufacturer's own labels warning against prescribing these powerful drugs to young children, doctors increasingly prescribe ADD medications to children under the manufacturer recommended age.

Get Control Of Your Child's Adhd! Huge potential market. No adwords competition.

A Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) article in 2000 noted a "disturbing" increase in the amount of stimulants and anti-depressants prescribed for children under the age of five. Parents should carefully consider the health effects of placing small children on powerful ADHD medications, even if the child's health care provider prescribes a medication for ADHD or ADD.

Tip! Seat appropriate peer models next to ADHD child.

People using ADHD medications know that these little pills are never the "cure-all" answer. Attention Deficit requires a multifaceted approach which requires many different tactics and combination of tactics. What works is highly individual, depending on individual needs.

Many people with Attention Deficit Disorder and parents of children with Attention Deficit Disorder find great Attention Deficit Disorder and ADHD success from diet supplementation - especially with amino acids and essential fatty acids - a shift in parenting tactics, modifying the home and school environment, biofeedback, neuro-linguistic programming, stress relief measures and exercise. The greatest successes are found by being bold and trying a combination of many measures.

Tip! VAXA International's newly revised 'Attend' product. It is effective for 70% of ADD ADHD individuals, as measured by computer testing and parent scales.

2006-11-15T05:13:00.000-08:00

ADHD: Three Tips for Avoiding Medicine Battles

By Angie Dixon

Tip! Review the program for the party with your children before the big day so they know what to expect when. Children with ADHD can easily get lost when there are many things happening.

I should start by saying my ADHD son is only ten, and the battle might start in earnest at any point, but so far we have not had major conflicts over taking his ADHD medicine. Twice he's spit it out, both times within about a month at about 8.5 years old. Both times I invoked some mild punishment and sat him down for a talk, and it hasn't happened since.

I have some tips that I think have helped in our house, and might help you with ADHD medicine routine problems.

1. Make sure your ADHD child knows what the medicine does. My son sometimes asks, when he's having a bad day, "Have I had my medicine today?" He knows the medicine controls his ADHD impulsivity and distractability and helps him focus and be sociable. We've discussed this many times, in varying degrees of complexity, since he started ADHD medicine four years ago.

Tip! You want to help your ADHD child do better in school. Most ADHD kids are very bright, and most ADHD kids are underachievers.

2. Have a routine. My son takes his ADHD medication when he brushes his teeth and before he puts on his shoes to go to school. We never forget it on a school day, because we have a routine. We even remember on Sunday, because we get up for church. But on Saturday, look out! His dad steps in and helps on weekends, because he knows I can't remember my own medication without a routine, let alone someone else's. Routine is key.

3. Have a rule. My ADHD son WILL take his medication. If he decides to try to fool me and spit it out, I will take away a privilege. If it happens a second time, I will take away two privileges simultaneously, and they will be gone longer. And so on. Deliberately not taking his ADHD medication has only been an issue twice when he decided to test me. I stood my ground, and it hasn't been an issue since.

If your ADHD child knows the medication helps, he will be less likely to avoid taking it. A routine helps prevent forgetting. And a rule makes it easier to enforce taking ADHD medication.

Angie Dixon is a writer and ADHD mom of an ADHD son, Jack. For a free report on helping your ADHD son, see Angie's site "That's My Son!" at http://www.Raising-the-ADHD-boy.com

2006-11-14T05:08:00.000-08:00

What You Should Consider About ADHD Medications

By Angie Dixon

I know some of my readers are up in arms that I even wrote this article. You think there is no question about ADHD medications. The funny thing is, some of you think there's no question that your child SHOULD take ADHD medication, and some of you think there's no question that your child SHOULD NOT take medication for ADHD.

The truth is, it's a very individual decision, and there are a lot of things to consider. First, just to be fair, let me say that my son takes ADHD medication and will as long as I have anything to say about it. For us, not medicating is not an option. It helps him handle his ADHD symptoms and he does better in school and at home. He stays out of ADHD-related trouble caused by impulsive behavior and gets better grades than before the ADHD medication. He also has more friends because he's easier to be around. That's why we decided to medicate Jack's ADHD in spite of side effects like lack of sleep and lack of appetite.

Tip! Review the program for the party with your children before the big day so they know what to expect when. Children with ADHD can easily get lost when there are many things happening.

When deciding not to medicate ADHD kids, a lot of parents talk about fear of side effects. This is a legitimate concern and one you should discuss with your doctor before deciding for sure against medications. Since ADHD medications affect different people in different ways, it's possible to mitigate side effects.

Some parents just don't want to give their kids medication for something that is "normal kid behavior." To this I would submit that if you're concerned enough about ADHD to be discussing medication, it might not be "normal."

Other parents really want to try natural remedies/diet/alternative therapies for ADHD first. Again, I would say do your research and know what really works in treating ADHD and what you're getting into.

Tip! Keep Your Home Organized. The more 'scheduled' you can keep your home, or the more 'organized' you can be at home, the better for your ADD/ADHD child.

Some parents believe every ADHD child should be medicated, and don't investigate very thoroughly what medication might work best for their child, but just go with the first thing the doctor suggests. I would suggest that ADHD medication is at best an art and not a science, and sometimes ADHD is very hard to medicate correctly.

My point in all this? There is no right answer. There is what's right for you and your child, and the best judge of that is you, once you've researched all the possibilities and are making informed decisions.

Tip! You want to help your ADHD child make more friends. Social skills are difficult for kids with ADHD, and they're often lonely.

For me, the informed choice is to medicate my son and myself. For you, there may be something that works better. But you need to do your homework first.

Angie Dixon is a writer and ADHD mom of an ADHD son, Jack. For a free report on helping your ADHD son, see Angie's site "That's My Son!" at http://www.Raising-the-ADHD-boy.com

2006-11-13T05:11:00.000-08:00

Millions Have Misused ADHD Drugs

By Jeannine Virtue

Tip! VAXA International's newly revised 'Attend' product. It is effective for 70% of ADD ADHD individuals, as measured by computer testing and parent scales.

A study released this week estimates that more than 7 million Americans have misused Adderall, Ritalin and other stimulant medications used to treat ADHD, and that 75,000 showed signs of addiction to stimulant medications.

This recent study, published in the online journal "Drug and Alcohol Dependence," culled data from a 2002 national survey of about 67,000 households. Research found that men and women were equally likely to abuse ADHD medications but that women seemed to be at a greater risk for dependency. Men, on the other hand, seemed to be at a greater risk of abuse.

Tip! You want to reduce the ADHD behaviors that cause problems. This goes back to following home and classroom rules, but it's more than that.

A surprising aspect of this study was in revealing who is most likely to misuse stimulant drugs. Most often, college students abuse Adderall and Ritalin in an attempt to boost their academic performance. A previous study showed that stimulant drugs are most commonly abused in highly competitive colleges, with B-average and below college students twice as likely to illegally use prescription drugs.

College student increasingly recognize that Adderall and Ritalin are much more effective than coffee or caffeine pills at helping them sit down, focus, get their work done - through the night if necessary - and still not interfere with their social lives. The drug use becomes a significant problem when college students start to abuse Adderall and other amphetamine drugs, becoming addicted to them or experiencing toxic effects.

Tip! You want to help your ADHD child make more friends. Social skills are difficult for kids with ADHD, and they're often lonely.

With approximately 1.5 million adults and 2.5 million children currently receiving prescriptions for ADHD medications, finding a friend or a friend of a friend willing to sell off their drugs is not very difficult for many people. Most students reported getting Adderall, the stimulant of choice due to its long lasting effects, from those that were diagnosed with ADHD. One Adderall pill can fetch $5, which makes selling off prescription meds a lucrative deal for those with access to the drugs.

Colleges and universities are also reporting a sharp increase in the amount of students making appointments at campus medical centers to obtain their own ADD diagnosis.

Not until recently have studies examined the abuse of prescription drugs. One study revealed that those who use prescription stimulants are more likely to engage in binge drinking, drunk driving, and using illegal drugs as well. Another study indicated that those from wealthier backgrounds were more likely to abuse both legal and illegal drugs.

In light of these past studies and the new study showing the high rate of abuse and addiction, some experts believe that the real focus of ADHD medication dangers should center on the abuse of Adderall and other ADHD drugs - not the side effects. Researchers point out that 75,000 people addicted to stimulants is more worrisome than the 100-200 adults who have had strokes as a result of using stimulant ADHD drugs.

Get Control Of Your Child's Adhd! Huge potential market. No adwords competition.

Earlier this month, the FDA advisory panel recommended that the FDA put Black Box warnings on all ADHD medications. This black box warning - the most severe of all FDA warnings - would state that stimulant ADHD drugs can cause cardiovascular events and even death, especially if there's a preexisting heart condition.

The FDA panel expressed a hope of curtailing what is seen as out-of-control over-prescribing of potentially dangerous drugs. Prescriptions for ADHD drugs have doubled over the past five years. The hope is that the black box warning will remind parents that just because a drug is legal does not mean it is safe. Ritalin, Adderall and Concerta are "Class B" drugs and are in the same drug class as cocaine. These drugs have potential for abuse, addiction and physical and mental harm - just as other drugs in this elevated classification do.

Tip! Review the program for the party with your children before the big day so they know what to expect when. Children with ADHD can easily get lost when there are many things happening.

Jeannine Virtue is a freelance writer who focuses on health related issues. For information about effective and natural treatments for Attention Deficit Disorder and Depression in adults and children, visit the Attention Deficit Disorder Help Center at http://www.add-adhd-help-center.com

2006-11-11T05:11:00.000-08:00

ADHD Medications - Do They Carry Risks for the Heart?

By Aslam M

Tip! Keep Yourself Alive! It takes a lot of energy to keep up with ADHD and spirited kids. You need to become your own energy source.

The cardiac risk of the drugs for ADHD have attracted interest recently following the recommendation by the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee of the FDA to include a black-box warning describing the cardiovascular risks of stimulant drugs used to treat this condition. However, this recommendation has subsequently been toned down by the Pediatric Advisory Committee of the FDA.

ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is a disorder mainly diagnosed in school age children. It is characterized by increased activity, an inability to concentrate and poor school performance. Stimulant drugs have been the mainstay of treatment of ADHD. These include amphetamine and related drugs like methamphetamine and methylphenidate (Ritalin).

Tip! You want to help your ADHD child do better in school. Most ADHD kids are very bright, and most ADHD kids are underachievers.

It is estimated that 2.5 million children now take stimulants for ADHD in the USA. A growing number of adults also take the drug, with a diagnosis of "adult ADHD", which has recently come into vogue. However, the numbers are quite small in Europe and elsewhere.

Now let us come to the crux of the matter. Why are these drugs supposed to cause heart problems?

These stimulant drugs belong to the class of sympathomimetic amines. Cardiovascular effects of these compounds have been well studied. They act by stimulating the sympathetic nervous system and increase heart rate and blood pressure significantly. One study with a commercially marketed formulation showed an increase in systolic BP by about 5 mm Hg in treated adults. Such a rise of BP, argues the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory committee, can cause definite adverse effects on long term therapy.

Tip! Be fair to all of your children. This means treating the ADHD child as equally as possible, of course.

The induced increase in heart rate also has well-described adverse effects on the heart. Persistent increase in heart rate may induce chronic heart failure as demonstrated in animal models of dilated cardiomyopathy.

The Committee also cites the examples of Ephedra (ma huang), marketed as a dietary supplement and phenylpropanolamine, an over the counter nasal decongestant, which belong to the same class. They have been known to have caused several well publicized adverse effects. Studies have reported that ephedra containing supplements accounted for 64% of the serious adverse reactions to supplements reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, although their sales represented less than 1% of all dietary-supplement sales. A 16-fold increase in the risk of stroke has been reported among women taking phenylpropanolamine as a weight loss drug.

Tip! You want to help your ADHD child make more friends. Social skills are difficult for kids with ADHD, and they're often lonely.

Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory committee studied cases of myocardial infarction, stroke and sudden death in children and adults taking ADHD stimulants which have been reported to the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS). This could represent only a tip of the iceberg as only 1 to 10 percent of serious adverse events are actually reported. Some had evidence of undiagnosed heart disease on autopsy and the documentation was frequently incomplete.

Despite these difficulties, the advisory committee decided to recommend strong preemptive action. Factors which the committee cited as the reason for the action included the tendency of these drugs to raise blood pressure and heart rate, the history of serious adverse effects associated with two drugs of the class (ephedra and phenylpropanolamine) and the rapid increase in exposure,particularly among adults. Though the committee noted important potential benefits of these drugs for certain highly affected children, they felt that the administration of these potent sympathomimetic agents to millions of Americans is inappropriate. The recommendations emphasize more selective and restricted use of these drugs while increasing the awareness of potential hazards.

Tip! Have a routine. My son takes his ADHD medication when he brushes his teeth and before he puts on his shoes to go to school.

However, FDA's Pediatric Advisory Committee was of the opinion that adding strong black-box warnings could cause more harm than good and may frighten patients. They, on the other hand, called for new information about health risks on the labels of attention deficit drugs. This would benefit doctors, patients and parents. They said that patients and parents should know about the reports even though it is unclear if the drugs contributed to the problems.

Now, the FDA has to decide on the difficult problem of how to communicate the potential risks associated with ADHD drugs. The FDA will consider both panels' recommendations before making a final labeling decision.

Aslam M is an expert in Cardiolgy. He writes about matters related to heart disease in his Heart Diseases Blog. He also writes a Drug Reviews Blog, where he reviews latest developments in the field of drugs and medical devices.

2006-11-10T05:10:00.000-08:00

Is it ADHD or is it Depression?

By Douglas Cowan, Psy.D.

Tip! You want to help your ADHD child do better in school. Most ADHD kids are very bright, and most ADHD kids are underachievers.

During the assessment process it is of great importance for the physician or clinician to consider other possible causes of inattention, impulsivity, or hyperactivity in your child, or teen, or yourself. In fact, this is probably the most important element of a good assessment. There are several possible causes of these behaviors, especially in children, and the clinician must have great certainty that these other possible causes have been ruled out before giving the label of "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder" to your child.

In this issue we will discuss the possibility that your child has depression rather than an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, lymbic type.

Tip! You want to help your ADHD child make more friends. Social skills are difficult for kids with ADHD, and they're often lonely.

When one is depressed several of the following symptoms will be noted. Someone with four or five of the following symptoms should probably see a physician or other professional to get a real assessment done.

The common symptoms of depression include: � Physical Hyperactivity, or Lack of Activity (Hypoactivity) � Change of Appetite, either Less or More � Change in Sleeping, either Less or More � Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities � Loss of energy, increased fatigue � Feelings of worthlessness, or inappropriate guilt � Difficulty concentrating � Thoughts of death or dying � In children and teens, depression is shows itself with increased aggression, irritability, or isolation from the family.

Tip! Be fair to all of your children. This means treating the ADHD child as equally as possible, of course.

Sometimes really out of control emotional behavior is attributed to ADHD, but might really be the result of depression! Depression in children and teens often looks to a clinician, who barely knows your child, as ADHD.

One main difference is that depression has a "starting date" and ADHD has been present to some degree or another since birth. � Does your child seems very sad, or very grouchy or irritable? � Does it seem like nothing is fun for him, even things he used to like doing? � Does he seem bored most of the time and just sit around? � Has he gained a lot or weight? Or lost a lot of weight? � Does he seem to be sleeping a lot more than usual, and have lots of trouble waking up in the morning? Or does he have unusual trouble getting to sleep at night? � Does he seem unusually restless or agitated? � Is he having more trouble than usual paying attention to school work? � Is it harder for him to make decisions than usual? � Has your child/teen talked about suicide, or even make attempts, recently?

Tip! Make sure your ADHD child is doing what he's supposed to be doing, treatment-wise. If you've decided to take the medication route, set up a routine and make sure he follows it.

If three or four of these are true of your child/teen over the past six months, expecially the one about suicide, then we'd recommend that you have him checked out by a therapist, psychologist, or physician who specializes in depression. It is very common to mis-diagnose depression for ADHD, especially by inexperienced therapists and physicians. Learn more at the ADHD Information Library at http://www.newideas.net.

Get Control Of Your Child's Adhd! Huge potential market. No adwords competition.

Douglas Cowan, Psy.D., is a family therapist who has been working with ADHD children and their families since 1986. He is the clinical director of the ADHD Information Library's family of seven web sites, including http://www.newideas.net, helping over 350,000 parents and teachers learn more about ADHD each year. Dr. Cowan also serves on the Medical Advisory Board of VAXA International of Tampa, FL., is President of the Board of Directors for KAXL 88.3 FM in central California, and is President of NewIdeas.net Incorporated.

2006-11-08T05:10:00.000-08:00

ADHD and Depression -- More Common Than Thought

By Douglas Cowan, Psy.D.

"Thanks for Noticin' Me" says Eeyore. He walks slowly. He looks sad. He doesn't accomplish much. He's just glad to be noticed. This is Eeyore, the stuffed donkey who is so often in need of his tail being pinned back on.

Eeyore is a good picture of life is like for those who are impacted by the type of ADHD that includes sadness, or depression. It is estimated that as many as 25% of all those with ADHD have to battle depression as well. This type of ADHD is called "Limbic System ADHD" by Daniel Amen, and for good reason. SPECT scans show that when the brain is at rest, there is increased activity deep in the limbic system, in parts of the brain called the thalamus and hypothalamus. There is also a decreased level of activity in the underside of the pre-frontal cortex.

When the brain is placed under a work load, as during a homework assignment, we would expect the under-active pre-frontal cortex to increase activity and get to work. But instead, nothing changes. The over-active limbic system remains over-active, and the under-active pre-frontal cortex remains under-active.

Those with this type, or style of ADHD are often very inattentive to details, and are easily distracted by unimportant things. They have a chronic sadness or low-grade depression to deal with every day. They seem to be negative, or apathetic, and have low energy levels. They just do not seem to care. They often feel worthless, or helpless, or hopeless. As you can see this type of ADHD looks very much like a combination of ADHD and Depression.

Tip! Have a rule. My ADHD son WILL take his medication.

Our specific treatment strategy for Limbic System, or Eeyore style ADHD, begins with our recommended Eating Program. In addition, experts recommend DL-Phenylalyne (up to 600 mg per day for adults), 5-HTP, and B Vitamins and St. John's Wort (up to 600 mg per day for adults).

We think that best way to approach this problem is by using the nutraceutical medicines Attend, Extress, and Deprex, which are available over the counter. The Attend contains over 70 ingredients, including GABA, DL-Phenylalyne, Ginko, Pycnogenol and Grape Seed Extracts, 5-HTP, pregnenolone, DMAE, and more. The Extress contains GABA, DL-PA, 5-HTP, and St. John's Wort. Deprex contains more GABA, and just 2 capsules of DEPREX contain 320 mg of St. John's Wort and 420 mg of DL-Phenylalyne. When combined in a targeted treatment strategy like this, the individual with limbic ADHD can expect to see improved and stabilized moods, improved concentration, and improved memory.

2006-11-07T05:11:00.000-08:00

Indigo/Crystal Phenomena: ADD/ADHD Children

By Lisa Whatley

Tip! You want to help your ADHD child follow home and classroom rules. Being in trouble all the time is a part of ADHD, and we all know being in trouble feels miserable.

Who are these Indigo and Crystal Children? Am I one? How can I help my own child who seems to be one?

There are many things that we can do to help these new breed of children, but the most important thing to know is that the Indigo/Crystal phenomenon is the next big step in our human evolution. We all are, in some way or another, becoming more like the Indigo and Crystal people. The more one chooses to consciously work towards change, the faster the results will be for that individual. This new breed of children (which truly isn't all that new, just massive amounts now) have come to show us the way as we have forgotten. They are our mirrors. Which simply means they mirror what is inside of us, all that needs to change in order to evolve or raise our consciousness. They have come here to help change the vibrations of our lives and to create peace, balance and harmony.

Tip! Review the program for the party with your children before the big day so they know what to expect when. Children with ADHD can easily get lost when there are many things happening.

Therefore, the Indigos have emerged to knock down the old outdated systems! They are warriors and they are on a mission! They create chaos everywhere they go. They can sense dishonesty a mile away and are unable to conform to dysfunctional situations within their homes, schools and work places. Gone are the days of threatening "wait till your father gets home," or "you'll be suspended," the Indigos don't care! They have inner-lie detectors and will not be manipulated nor fall for hidden agendas. They are very head strong and do not like to be told what to do, nor do they want to do it your way. If we do not break out of our old control habits, threat habits or any other destructive behaviour, they will show us that we must learn new methods in order for peace to prevail! This is done through heart connections, with love. They simply do not have the ability to disassociate from their feelings and pretend that everything is okay. They respond the best to all situations when they are treated like a respected adult. If we are acting childish in a manipulating, hurtful way, they will mirror back to us our own behaviour. This causes more frustration within ourself than it does within them! Their goal is for US to change, not them. Their horns toot "Treat others as you would want to be treated!" They are not shy in letting you know exactly what they need. Watch them. They have no hidden agenda. They are our teachers!

Tip! You want to help your ADHD child make more friends. Social skills are difficult for kids with ADHD, and they're often lonely.

The Indigos are creating chaos with the end result being a peaceful, loving world. Many, but not all Indigos are labeled by the medical world as Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or more commonly known as ADD/ADHD because they can't be still, they can't focus, they bore easily, they are impulsive and they do things super fast. Giving them medication is not the answer! That is once again a control factor not to mention all the detrimental health problems including death that occurs from these types of medications. Indigo and Crystal children are extremely intelligent and need their minds stimulated with things they enjoy to do. They have amazing memories and are gifted souls with an evolved consciousness. They need to be taught in a different way, through subjects they love that stimulate their whole beings! We are moving beyond the mind and into the heart. These Indigo children will not conform to the old ritual text book teachings. This system is old and needs to be replaced. They are trying to show the teachers of the school systems that they need a new way of learning. This is beginning to happen.

Tip! Seek, join, and become active in support groups such as CHADD, CANHC, or others. These groups will help you to stay informed in changes in laws affecting ADHD in school and in the workplace.

How can you tell if you are an Indigo? A good way to "test" yourself is to answer the following:

 Are you always searching for your greater purpose in life but feel like the world isn't set up for your kind?
 Do you feel wise beyond your years?
 Do you have trouble conforming to the ways of society?
 Do you feel out of place in today's world?
 Do you perceive the world very differently than most people around you?
 Do you have strong intuition about certain things that most others do not?
 Do you often feel misunderstood when you try to talk to people about what's real?
 Do you feel like you were born to accomplish a special mission in life?
 Do you feel isolated and alone in your beliefs?
 Misunderstood by family? Perhaps the black sheep of the family?
 Do you feel anti-social unless you are with people of like mind?
 Are you emotionally sensitive?
 Did you have a difficult childhood?
 Do you often feel disempowered by too much authority?

If you can answer yes to these questions, then you are most likely an Indigo. If you want outside validation than you may want to find a person who has honed the gift of clairvoyance, the gift of seeing what most people do not. The clairvoyant person while looking at you or tuning into your energy field, will be able to tell if you are Indigo or not by the colour of your aura which is the invisible energy field surrounding your physical body. You can also have an aura photo taken to see for yourself your own colours.

Tip! Be fair to all of your children. This means treating the ADHD child as equally as possible, of course.

So what can I do to help my child?

Through my own experience, I have learnt that it is extremely important to have harmonious energy within our environments, to stay grounded and keep shielded. I believe if this small piece of advice hit mainstream schools it would make a huge difference in all the kids temperaments! I am an Indigo/Crystal and a single mom or four Indigo/Crystal children and know first hand that if the energy within our home is �off' the children are wild! They will be much more aggressive towards one another, more fighting, crying and very restless. They have more temper tantrums and mood swings and refuse any kind of authority! When the home is energetically balanced, they are much more relaxed, calm, gentle and peaceful. Ahh, normal kids!

Leaving our energetically balanced, sacred space to go out into public places, un-protected is a living nightmare! The change within my children's temperament is like watching Jekyll and Hyde! Onlookers or unaware people would perceive this to be children that are wild or have had way too much sugar or more commonly "the mother has no control." My oldest child especially is affected. He's ten and has been diagnosed as �ADHD.' When we finally get back inside our vehicle and start the drive home, they all will have begun to calm down. (I have adjusted the energy of our vehicle to be harmonious as well.) Not long after we have entered our house, usually they have begun to �crash'. It's similar to a sugar high, they are at their peak of explosion in public because of the denser energies and when they get back into their own frequency they start to burn out because of the chaos their bodies have experienced! Talk about detrimental to their health. I have provided a list of things below that work wonderfully well for us in creating our sacred environment and other things to empower my Indigo/Crystal Kids.

 BREATHE! Breathing moves energy. When they are frustrated, scared, hyper, etc. ask them to Stop and Breathe deeply. Inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth. Tell them to really exert the out blow, like blowing out your anger! Make it fun and do it with them.
 Smudge your home to help clear the distracting vibrations. This needs to be done immediately after a blow up of any sort and on a regular basis. Make it part of your house cleaning routine! I smudge a lot, sometimes daily depending upon what the kids have picked up from school. This truly makes an amazing difference!
 Staying �Grounded' is very important. There are many methods of how this is done. I personally like something that is fast and easy to do. Intention and visualizing are quick easy methods and can be done in a second at anytime, without anyone even noticing! The first thing I do is ask Gaia (Mother Earth) her permission for my grounding cord to enter the core of her being. Then I visualize a clear cord or clear rope coming from my root chakra (tail bone area) and entering Gaia. It grows in length, and continues to grow until it has been fully anchored into the core of Gaia. This grounding cord releases negative energy and also brings in positive energy. Set your intention to send all the negative energy down this cord, physically exhale, releasing it into Gaia. After the negative energy has all been released, with intention bring up the positive life-giving earth energy with a physical inhale. Thank Gaia and do not worry that this will hurt her, it doesn't! Have your kids make a monkey chain cord. It's the intention that works!
 Staying �Shielded' is also very important. Indigos and Crystals are extremely sensitive. Their highly tuned energy fields pick up negative emotions and environmental energy from their surroundings like a sponge which cause severe mood swings. Imagine being in a room where there are four depressed people, three angry people and the room itself has not been energetically cleared from all the emotional yuck for years! The Indigo unknowingly will pick up all this energy and take it on as their own! And people wonder why they are labeled as ADHD! Teach them to create and surround themselves with the "bubble of white light" protection every morning! This repels the negative energy around them but allows the positive energy to enter. The bubble would look like a soap bubble with them inside of it.
 EXERCISE. It is important for exercise to remain a part of all of our lives, but this also helps the Indigo/Crystal Children to rid themselves of excess energy as their nervous systems are wired differently than others. Excellent exercise outlets to release what they are holding in their emotional, mental, physical and spiritual bodies are: Martial Arts, Yoga, Karate, Tai-Chi, Dance Classes, Running, Skipping, Gymnastics: Anything they love that gets them moving!
 Bring nature indoors. Lots of beautiful plants, rocks, crystals, waterfalls, aquariums etc.
 A quiet space with no electrical equipment in the room. This is a room for them to just BE. Do whatever they love to do in their quiet time. Be it art work, read, puzzles, lego blocks, etc.
 Nightly baths in sea salt. Be sure to drink extra water as this pulls toxins from the physical body and also clears negative energies from the energetic body.
 Put sea salt on their names with their permission. The salt pulls out all the negative energies that no longer serve them. Let this sit for 24 hours, then dump the salt into the toilet.
 The removal of all artificial scents is a must! Use only the highest quality oils and unscented beeswax candles.
 Play dolphin, orca, and angelic relaxing music. Screaming chaotic music is only going to disturb their energy.
 Keep all electrical stuff out of their bedrooms. They simply can't tolerate the very dangerous electromagnetic waves these devices send out. This will help them sleep deeply and peacefully.
 Be honest with them at all times with no manipulation about all things, toning it down to their age level. If you don't you will have a war on your hands!
 Reiki Energy Healing, Sound Healing, and other alternative healing methods are recommended for healing, balancing, rejuvenating and empowering not just Indigos but all of us!

Tip! Keep Yourself Alive! It takes a lot of energy to keep up with ADHD and spirited kids. You need to become your own energy source.

We are moving into a wonderful new world where peace will reside! That's a beautiful thing.

Lisa Whatley is an Indigo/Crystal Adult, single mother of four Indigo/Crystal Children, an entrepreneur, writer and an Energy Facilitator. She resides with her four children in Northern Ontario Canada. She can be reached through her personal website http://www.InfinityLightHealing.com

Get Control Of Your Child's Adhd! Huge potential market. No adwords competition.

Special Request:
� Copyright 2004-5 Lisa Whatley http://www.InfinityLightHealing.com You may share this information in it's entirety with others freely, provided that this notice is included. You are free to copy, distribute, display, and perform the work under the following conditions: You must give the author credit, you may not use this for commercial purposes, and you may not alter, transform or build upon this work. For any reuse or distribution, you must make clear to others the license terms of this work. Any of these conditions can be waived if you get permission from the copyright holder. Any other purpose of use must be granted permission by author.

2006-11-06T05:10:00.000-08:00

ADHD Natural Remedies: Finding the Best Herbs for Hyperactivity

By Tess Thompson

Tip! You want to help your ADHD child make more friends. Social skills are difficult for kids with ADHD, and they're often lonely.

If you are like many parents, deciding how best to medicate your child for ADHD is not an easy task. Along with the increased prescription of stimulant drugs for children has come a heightened awareness of the risks these medications can pose, and more and more parents are searching for natural alternatives. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, the manufacture of stimulant drugs has increased by more than 500 percent since 1991, and over 50 percent of the prescriptions for these drugs are written by pediatricians. Unsurprisingly, these alarming statistics have raised questions about whether some doctors and parents are too quick to medicate children, and whether it might be worthwhile to try homeopathic remedies for ADHD before turning to stimulant drugs.

Tip! ATTEND often works better when combined with a good eating program. If you have ADHD, you have to eat very carefully.

The reason drugs like Ritalin and Adderall can be successful in treating ADHD is because they stimulate brain activity. While extra stimulation may seem like the last thing a hyperactive child needs, the heightened activity in fact helps the brain to focus and pay attention. There are several herbal ingredients which act similarly to stimulate the brain, and can be used as part of an effective child ADHD treatment plan.

Among these ingredients is Brahmi, an herb that has long been known to enhance cognitive function. Brahmi can help increase learning abilities, and according to research, it provides another healthful benefit of protecting the brain from damage from free radicals.

Ginko Biloba is well-known herb that is often found in natural medications. It is popular for it's ability to generate increased blood flow to the brain, as well as increased neurotransmitter levels, helping the brain to focus. Perhaps one of the best qualities of Ginko is the tendency of its positive effects to become permanent, eliminating the need for its continued use.

Tip! Make sure your ADHD child is doing what he's supposed to be doing, treatment-wise. If you've decided to take the medication route, set up a routine and make sure he follows it.

Centella Asiatica, which is also called Gotu Kola, is a natural ingredient that has been shown to reduce anxiety levels and enhance memory and brain function. Recent research has also suggested that it helps to increase blood flow to the brain and improve general circulation.

Siberian Ginseng is another natural brain stimulant that increases endurance and concentration. This particular herb also moderates the release of body energy and normalizes body function. Similarly, Panax Ginseng, a Chinese herb, has been shown to reduce stress and fatigue, strengthen the immune system, increase motivation and also normalize body function.

There are effective herbs for hyperactivity, and the herbs mentioned above have all been used successfully in treatment for ADHD. There are a wide variety of herbal remedies available that are created by experts in the field, and combine multiple ingredients that both stimulate and soothe for the best effect. Since many herbal stimulants have effects on the brain that are similar to the effects produced by prescription stimulants, the two types of medications should never be taken together. It is essential to consult a doctor before trying any new medication or before stopping any medication, and if you do ultimately decide to try ADHD natural remedies, remember to give them at least a few weeks to take effect. You might be among those who find it is a healthy and effective alternative to prescription stimulant drugs for your child.

Tip! Seek, join, and become active in support groups such as CHADD, CANHC, or others. These groups will help you to stay informed in changes in laws affecting ADHD in school and in the workplace.

Webmaster: You are authorized to reprint this article providing the author bio/resource box is left completely in tact - including all hyperlinks.

2006-11-05T05:32:00.000-08:00

Natural Medicine for ADHD

By Pam Brown

As ADHD becomes more widely diagnosed, the necessity to find a safe natural medicine for this condition has become a top priority for natural health advocates. Natural cures for ADHD offer a safe and reliable treatment alternative to such common prescription drugs as Ritalin, Concerta and Adderall while still providing the necessary calming capabilities of these conventional medications.

Some of the most promising natural alternatives include: gingko biloba, skullcap, chamomile, gotu kola, and avena sativa. With such a selection of different alternatives, the information provided in this article will hopefully help you choose the natural supplement for ADHD that works for you.

Gingko biloba stands as one of the most popular natural supplements on the market today, mostly due to its ability to benefit the circulatory and nervous systems. Recent studies have shown that the same properties of gingko biloba that benefit the nervous system can also enhance brain activity to act as a natural medicine for ADHD. It has been shown that while the herb can slow mental degeneration, it is also able to increase and optimize brain function. By controlling the nerves in such a manner, gingko biloba becomes a natural supplement for ADHD by allowing the brain to better focus, thereby eliminating the lack of attention associated with ADHD. This effective treatment comes with very few minor side effects (such as headaches), and is considered safe for long term treatment.

Skullcap is another natural remedy for ADHD, which focuses on soothing the nervous system. By slowing down and calming nerves in the brain, a person afflicted with ADHD is better able to control their thought process and focus on tasks requiring full attention. You can use skullcap as a sedative for pain and anxiety relief. There is also a possibility that certain doses of skullcap can help treat heart disease and cancer, but data pertaining to that study is still unproven. Skullcap is widely considered a safe natural supplement for ADHD, with few if any side effects.

Tip! You want to help your ADHD child do better in school. Most ADHD kids are very bright, and most ADHD kids are underachievers.

Another of the top choices is chamomile. This natural supplement's primary role is to promote relaxation, and give the mind an overall sense of calmness. This proves effective for ADHD treatment, as calming the brain allows someone who suffers with ADHD to be in more total control of their attention. Chamomile is one of the safest natural supplements available on the market today, and contains no side effects other than a possible allergic reaction.

Tip! Have a rule. My ADHD son WILL take his medication.

There are other herbs that have been proven to be effective in treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and, which promise to improve concentration and other symptoms associated with ADHD. To get a full list of herbs that are considered natural remedies for this condition visit http://www.yourbodycanheal.com/natural-medicine-for-adhd.html

Pam Brown is an editor at yourbodycanheal.com. To learn about natural treatments for ADHD visit: http://www.yourbodycanheal.com/natural-medicine-for-adhd.html
For information on natural health remedies for a wide range of conditions and to obtain a FREE report visit: http://www.yourbodycanheal.com

Tip! ATTEND often works better when combined with a good eating program. If you have ADHD, you have to eat very carefully.

** Attention Ezine editors / Site owners **
You can reprint this article in its entirety
in your ezine or website as long as you leave
all links in place, do not modify the content and
include our resource box as listed above.

2006-11-03T05:09:00.000-08:00

Adult ADHD Entrepreneur: Do You Have "Marketing ADD?"

By Tellman Knudson

Tip! Make sure your ADHD child is doing what he's supposed to be doing, treatment-wise. If you've decided to take the medication route, set up a routine and make sure he follows it.

So you have a website, email address, and you're getting your newsletter out there (well, at least a little bit). You've been to seminars, bought information about how to promote your site, and you're ready to implement.

You decide to start creating keywords for search engines. Then, someone tells you to do pay- per-click, ezine advertising, write articles, participate in discussion forums, start a blog, update your newsletter, write a salesletter, write a better headline, automate your mailing list, do joint ventures--Ack! This online marketing stuff is hard!

Even if you don't have Adult ADHD, when choosing an internet strategy for the first time, most business owners become overwhelmed with the amount of information and confused by the many choices and possibilities to extend their business online.

If you do have Adult ADHD, it can feel impossible...you do a little bit of work in one area, with little to no success, and then move on to the next, and the next, and so on, but just can't achieve the results you want. Or worse, ignore marketing completely and hope for the best--but the best doesn't happen that way, of course.

Even if you have severe Adult ADHD, You DO NOT have to fall into that trap.

Have you ever found yourself in these situations?

You can't decide where to begin.
You don't know what to do.
You aren't sure how to put the pieces together.
You have trouble staying motivated.

These are all ADHD symptoms commonly experienced by business owners with Adult ADHD, but all you need to overcome them is one thing...

In order to set a solid foundation to create marketing results that work, the key for people with Adult ADHD is having a clearly defined STRATEGY.

What's a strategy? In simple terms, a strategy is the direction you want to take. It forms the guidelines that help you decide what to do, when to do it and why it's important.

Tip! Seek, join, and become active in support groups such as CHADD, CANHC, or others. These groups will help you to stay informed in changes in laws affecting ADHD in school and in the workplace.

Often, business owners with Adult ADHD are so busy trying to implement the latest and greatest tactic that they've heard or learned about, that they forget where that tactic fits in helping them grow their business. This can result in increased overwhelm, frustration with unfamiliar technology, impatience with outsourcing and in the end, NO RESULTS.

Tip! Seat appropriate peer models next to ADHD child.

In order to avoid the no results trap, I'm going to share with you some simple methods for helping those with Adult ADHD choose the right strategies and tactics for you.

1. Ask yourself "What Do You Want?"

I call these the four words that will move you forward. Before you dive into the specifics of any marketing campaign, you must know first exactly what you want to accomplish with your efforts. It can be hard for those with Adult ADHD to back up to the beginning, but you need to. There are 3 major results you will receive with your marketing:

a. Visibility - Visibility is getting your company or product name out there to your marketing. One of the best ways to get visibility is simply to advertise.

b. Credibility - To get credibility, one must get an endorsement by another person or company. This result is most useful for independent service professionals who need to be known as an expert to get clients. Credibility can be easily produced through writing articles, speaking or press releases.

c. One-To-One Connection - Once you have prospects or customers, you will want to keep them up to date and informed of your products or services. One-on-one connection builds and maintains relationships with your prospects so when they are ready to buy, they come to you.

Choose your results first. Then:

2. Pick your strategies

Now that you know the results you want, you can go about choosing a strategy that will get you to those results.

Tip! Acknowledge the problem. Admitting to yourself that things aren't working is often difficult for people with ADHD.

When choosing an Internet Marketing Strategy, there are basically six strategies you can implement, all which have multiple tactics. If you have Adult ADHD, remember you want to choose a strategy you personally like so you will stick with it.

Get Control Of Your Child's Adhd! Huge potential market. No adwords competition.

Here are the six strategies for an Internet Marketing Plan:

a. Direct Communication: Making personal contact with prospects and customers
b. Social/Online Networking: Creating a pool of contacts to share ideas and referrals
c. Writing & Publicity: Becoming an expert in a subject matter
d. Speaking: Leading a group in a particular subject matter
e. Competition: Cooperative competition with other businesses
f. Advertising: Placing ads in popular media

3. Choose your tactics

Once you've chosen a strategy to achieve a particular end result, THEN you can start thinking about tactics. Doesn't this feel great? No more wondering "should I do pay-per-click, search engine optimization or send out a newsletter?" This focusing habit can be a livesaver if you have Adult ADHD symptoms.

Would you go on a roadtrip without a plan? Of course not! You would start with a clearly defined route so you knew that you would get to where you want to go with the greatest success possible.

Tip! Review the program for the party with your children before the big day so they know what to expect when. Children with ADHD can easily get lost when there are many things happening.

Sadly, that is not how most people work on the Internet--especially people with Adult ADHD, where the tendency to fragment is even higher. By choosing your end result first, and the specific strategies and tactics you need to achieve that result, you then can have a fast-paced marketing cycle working for you day and night.

To find out more about achieving marketing success with Adult ADHD, see below!

Stephanie Frank is an internationally known author, speaker and entrepreneur who has mastered ADD for success. She is the co-Founder of ADDGold.com, the foremost resource for entrepreneurs who want to learn to use the gift. To claim your one-time-only Free VIP membership to ADDGold (value: $127) go to http://www.adhdgenius.com.

Adult ADHD Tips: Double Your Money Today

2006-11-02T05:55:00.000-08:00

Tip! Have a rule. My ADHD son WILL take his medication.

One thing I hear people with Adult ADHD saying is, "I need to make more income."

Well, it's fine to say that, but what is "more"? You've got to be a lot more specific than that. Being specific is imperative, especially if you have Adult ADHD symptoms. Let's start with taking a look at your situation:

Where are you today in your finances?

How much goes out on a monthly basis?

How much comes in on a monthly basis?

Here's what you can do immediatley:
Take whatever you're earning today, per year, per month, per week, per hour, per day, whatever it is--and double it. Figure out what that comes down to per hour. Then, tell yourself, "Okay, I need to go out and get a job that pays this new figure per hour."

Tip! Keep Yourself Alive! It takes a lot of energy to keep up with ADHD and spirited kids. You need to become your own energy source.

Just think: there are people, at this moment, with or without ADHD symptoms, around the globe that are making that much and more per hour. It's your job to USE your ADHD symptoms to go figure out how to get a job that pays that much. Be inventive! Some people say, "Well I don't have skills in professions that pay that much." It's not true. You just need to think in larger terms. What CAN you do?

Your job, your task, as a problem-solving, ADHD Adult with a brilliant mind, is to say, "Okay, how can I solve this problem? I'm going to double my income this year by doing one thing, and I'm not going to work any more hours." You can actually put your ADHD symptoms of hypercreativity to work on this.

Tip! You want to reduce the ADHD behaviors that cause problems. This goes back to following home and classroom rules, but it's more than that.

The first thing is to start thinking of yourself as worth twice as much. For example: If you're a contractor, such as a construction builder, and you're used to getting paid $25 an hour working with your hands, it's time to get a job that pays you $50 an hour.

If you think you can't ask for more, listen to this story: Just reacntly, a friend of mine with Adult ADHD told me he had started a new business cleaning cars. He was (As many people with Adult ADHD do) complaining that he still wasn't making as much as he needed to.

Tip! You want to help your ADHD child make more friends. Social skills are difficult for kids with ADHD, and they're often lonely.

I asked him how much he was charging for his service.
"Twenty dollars an hour," he said. (Pople with ADHD symptoms chronically underrate their worth).
"Ok," I said, "Why aren't you carging twice that much? You're worth it--you do a an excellent job. You should get paid for it."
He replied that he didn't think people would pay twice that.
"OK," I said, "But why don't you humor me and just try it once."

Later that day, he called to say he'd quoted his next client at 40 dollars an hour, and the client said ok immediatley!

There you go: This young guy with Adult ADHD doubled his income, that simply. Could you? Don't sell yourself short, or underestimate your worth, as many people with Adult ADHD tend to do. It certainly doesn't pay!

Tip! Seek, join, and become active in support groups such as CHADD, CANHC, or others. These groups will help you to stay informed in changes in laws affecting ADHD in school and in the workplace.

Another thing people with Adult ADHD can do to double their income is: look at your hobbies, and your other areas of interest to find a job that will pay you twice as much. If that means for six months or a year, getting yourself a desk job and staying in shape and working out at a gym instead of working with your hands on a jobsite, that's exactly what you need to do.

Use your ADHD symptoms of creativity and love of change, have fun with it, and pick something that you are going to be able to stick with for a little while. The major point is to start thinking of yourself as worth twice as much, and go out and figure out how you can get a job that will pay you twice as much as what you're used to getting paid.

Many people with Adult ADHD may like the security
of having a job, and so that is where they will look to double their income...but many people with Adult ADHD symptoms don't do well with any job because they tend to get bored, and want to be self-directed.

If you're someone with Adult ADHD who wants to work for themselves, then great! Many, many of us with Adult ADHD symptoms make very successful entrepreneurs, because of our creativity and drive.

However, watch out! If you're thinking about being an entrepeneur, you MUST learn to focus, and focus on demand--something that can be hard for those with Adult ADHD symptoms...However, you can find out exactly how I trained my brain to focus on demand so I could succeed at running my own business--and how you can too. See below to find out more about how to focus with Adult ADHD!

Tip! VAXA International's newly revised 'Attend' product. It is effective for 70% of ADD ADHD individuals, as measured by computer testing and parent scales.

Tellman Knudson can help you learn to focus, beat distraction and accomplish your goals. Learn more about Adult ADHD Symptoms and pick up your free newsletter of ADHD practical tips and techniques to make your life better today!

2006-10-31T07:19:00.000-08:00

Has ADHD Put Your Career in Danger? 3 Steps to Get You Back on Track

By Sarah Jane Keyser

Tip! You want to help your ADHD child make more friends. Social skills are difficult for kids with ADHD, and they're often lonely.

"Roger, you must get those contracts completed for this month's sales and don't forget, we have a meeting tomorrow at 9:00. Don't be late again!"

Roger was a super salesman, but he risked losing his job because he was too busy rushing from client to client to get his paper work completed. He missed meetings and was disruptive when he did come. His boss saw how his energy and enthusiasm brought in clients, but considered him childishly irresponsible with him and his colleagues.

What Roger wouldn't admit and his boss didn't know was that Roger had Attention Deficit with Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD). The hyperactive part gives him lots of energy and enthusiasm to go go when doing what he loves doing: talking about his products, socializing with clients or meeting new people. The attention deficit causes his brain to disconnect when doing boring stuff like completing forms, attending meetings or dealing with colleagues.

Tip! VAXA International's newly revised 'Attend' product. It is effective for 70% of ADD ADHD individuals, as measured by computer testing and parent scales.

AD/HD is a neurological difference in the brain. The ADHD brain can be very effective when following a passion but shuts down when doing the daily grind. Medication is helpful for some but often not sufficient. Coaching provides positive support and guidance for anyone with ADHD but especially for those who don't want to take medication.

The difficulty for Roger was that he often forgot to get information or would lose the paper he had written it on, and he found the contract forms confusing. Through several coaching sessions and much prodding, Roger designed a form that was logical to him for collecting and recording all the data he needed and fixed a time in his agenda to complete each contract. He first resisted but with repeated support and encouragement he became adept at completing contracts.

Tip! Keep Yourself Alive! It takes a lot of energy to keep up with ADHD and spirited kids. You need to become your own energy source.

Once he understood that he was not just a "naughty boy", as he had been told so often, but that he had been struggling with a brain that was superbly creative when working with clients but just not designed for administrative work. To his surprise and joy, he was able to relax at home. He had never realized how unfinished business drained his energy and made him irritable.

While he found clients stimulating, with colleagues and family he had relational problems which are typical of those with ADHD. At first Roger was huffy; "People should take me as I am!" But once he mastered his contracts, he felt more relaxed and saw that it could be helpful to have a fresh look at his colleagues. Roger reviewed his social skills and decided that he needed to work on listening skills. Soon he was on a roll. Appreciation from his colleagues at work for the "NEW Roger" made all the difference.

Tip! You want to reduce the ADHD behaviors that cause problems. This goes back to following home and classroom rules, but it's more than that.

To most people the tasks Roger had difficulty with seem trivial and obvious, but they are typical of what makes life so difficult for people with ADHD.

If you feel your career might be in jeopardy due to problems like Roger's, here are three steps for you.

1. Acknowledge the problem. Admitting to yourself that things aren't working is often difficult for people with ADHD. Listen to your friends and family.

2. Get help. If you could do it yourself, you wouldn't be where you are today.

3. Prepare to change. You need to rethink your world view and your way of doing things.

Start today.

Sarah Jane Keyser worked for many years with computers as programmer, analyst, and user trainer, but her struggle with inattentive ADD kept getting in the way of her plans and dreams. Once ADD was identified and the great need that coaching filled, she added ADD Coach training (ADDCoach Academy) to complete her preparation for a new career as ADD Coach.

Learn more about ADHD at http://www.CoachingKeytoADD.com or sign up for Zebra Stripes, a free E-zine for ADHD at http://www.coachingkeytoadd.com/newsletter/newsarchive.html

ADHD or is it Depression?

2006-10-28T11:19:00.000-07:00