Allergies do cause ADD and ADHD symptoms in some people. These can be as unusual as tomato allergy or yeast allergy. If an allergy is the cause of ADHD behavior, then there is no ADHD after all.

The reason allergies are very controversial in the ADHD community is because the symptoms can appear sporadically. Food allergies are too complicated to be tested the way they are in ADHD tests. To find out if a child has an allergy, a standard allergy test is OK. But it is a very different matter to test if, when and how these allergies cause ADHD behavior.

There is a threshold level, below which the child does not react. This can fluctuate with the mood the child is in, its state of health, any deficiency in some significant nutrient or because of hormones, these changes making the child more, or less, sensitive. These thresholds vary from day to day and even within a day.

There is the add-on effect as well. The child may eat sweets with food colorants and not respond this time. Yet next time the child might eat the same number of sweets after eating a peanut butter sandwich, and the combined effect is a hyperactive reaction.

This is one of the reasons a parent can say something affects their child and be correct, despite of the lack of “scientific proof,” because the parent experiences the real life child. Observant parents are more likely to be able to find what is upsetting their children than clinical test.

The clinical test is necessary to confirm any suspicions.

However, there are different types of food allergy. The immediate to type 1 allergy is easily recognized because of the quick and dramatic symptoms. Hay fever is the most common type 1 allergy and can be diagnosed by allergy skin tests. Some food allergiesare also type 1 and show up on skin tests.

The second type is the delayed patterns food allergies, which are not so obvious and generally go unrecognized. Allergy skin tests, also referred to as an “IgE” response, do not show this allergic reaction. Symptoms are delayed many hours after eating foods and chronic disease is often the result. To spot this we need to know ourselves and our children.

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficite Hyperactive Disorder are characterized by the psychiatric profession as neurological disorders that tend to attack children producing the following symptoms: (ADD) cannot stay focused, cannot pay attention, easily distracted and (ADHD) same symptoms as ADD, but also hyperactivity and impulsiveness. These symptoms are generally observed in school.

Dr. Phil, on a recent show, outlined the cause and treatment plan, which included seeing a specialist, such as himself (licensed psychiatrist and or psychologist). The treatment plan was 1. Medication, in general: Ritalin (amphetamine, stimulant drug), Adderal (amphetamine), etc., 2. Counseling, 3. Therapy and 4. Training, including simple things (parents be clear and consistent, teach children to stick to a schedule, organize, etc.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) would diagnose the child, symptoms as poor diet and lack of discipline. There no diagnosis of ADD and ADHD in TCM and Ayurvedic medicine, both 5,000+ years old. Neither would define the symptoms as a neurological disorder. Nor would they recommend stimulant drugs, amphetamines to a child, unless it was a serious life threatening emergency, as the mususe of amphetamines can create neurological disorders and or drug addiction.

The Chinese physician would recommend the following treatment plan.

1. Better diet: Most inattention, hyperactivity disorders are caused by poor diet: too much sugar, starch: sodas, desserts, snacks, candies, cookies, cereals, etc.) and or too much or too little protein and fat. Protein and fat build and fuel. Too much overbuilds, over fuels creating hyperactivity, impulsiveness, etc. Too little under builds, under fuels reducing attention, ability to stay focused, becoming easily distracted, etc. The correct, daily diet, meal plan would be as follows: 1/3 protein and fat, 1/3 grain, 1/3 vegetables (3- 5, cooked, raw), spices, fruit (1), soup and or tea, two to three times per day, preferably breakfaat and lunch. For more info: read “Energetics of Food” on this blog.

2. Parents: more discipline, time spent with children, to make up for the lack of discipline, attention in today’s schools, overcrowded classrooms. Parents eat the same healthy diet.

That is it. No drugs, therapy, counseling, special diagnoses, etc, just common sense, good diet and mature, disciplined parenting. You do not need a specialist. You just need to eat better and spend more time in the kitchen and with your children.

The following case history is one example.

One of my customers came to see me about her eleven year-old daughter. Her school wanted to put her daughter (extremely thin) on Ritalin in addition to the drugs (4 months of Adderall and Dexedrine) she was already taking: She did not know what to do. I told her to bring her daughter in and let me question her. I had never counseled a child before but I did not think it would be any different from an adult. She brought her daughter in. I sat and questioned her. There was nothing wrong with her except for poor diet (under built) and lack of attention, at home and in the schoolroom: overcrowded classrooms. I told her mother to start feeding her more protein, building foods (red meat, hamburgers, eggs, chicken, etc.) especially for breakfast. She was already eating grains and vegetables. I also advised fish liver oil (capsules) in addition to greater personal attention. Months later she wrote me a letter thanking me saying that her daughter was now getting all A’s and one B (math) without the use of Ritalin or any other drug.

Author Resource:- Web: http://www.wordpress.com/richardheft, Acupuncture Physician (FL 1992- 2002), owner, operator, Food and Thought health food store, Hollywood, FL (1984- 2001), author, Hot and Cold Health (c) 2003

Article Republished From: Liberated Press Releases a web site that DOESN’T use Google Adsense text links in or around articles.

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Among the ADHD theories, there are some that have been widely accepted, in spite of wonky science. That some theory is accepted by “consensus science” does not imply that it is good science.

This has been amply demonstrated in the Global Warming science fraud at the University of East Anglia’s prestigious Climatic Research Unit (CRU), at the end of November 2009. This is explained in this article “Playing hide and seek behind the trees.” Besides “fudge factors” being placed in the CRU’s computer source code they saw that tree ring data showed the earth cooling at high latitudes after 1960, so they ignored this data from that date, and used other data (instrument data) that fitted their “theory.”

A divergence exists between measured temperatures and those derived from tree-ring study data after 1960. The existence of a divergence shows a potential serious flaw in the process by which temperatures are reconstructed from tree-ring density. This was not seen due to the scientists deliberately hiding the fact.

They even changed the database to wipe out the Medieval Warm Period beween 900 and 1300 to help emphasise the current global warming. Climate change has always been a part of our Earth’s dynamics. To reduce carbon polution is another issue which urgently needs to be addressed, but without hysteria.

The Medieval Warm Period - Little Ice Age - present warming period

Back to ADHD Theory

There is a seldom-mentioned disorder associated with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and that is the ADSD (Attention Deficit Science Disorder), which some scientists studying ADHD suffer from.

Some of the symptoms are:

• Paradigm blindness – when they are unable to accept another point of view.
• Criticism phobia – when they get arrogant and call critics unqualified.
• Careerism – when they make a career out of their personal theory.
• Conflicts of Interest – when bodies that benefit financially from their theory fund them.

The paradigm blindness can be caused by greed for financial gain and a pathological need for prestige. The result is that only one explanation fits the data results of a study, and that explanation supports the pet “theory”. There is a neurological deficit in their ADSD brains causing an inability to accept any alternative explanation. The brain cannot process any thought or concept outside their limited paradigm.

Criticism phobia is an unpleasant phenomenon when the sufferers brain blanks out and is unable to conduct a rational scientific discussion. Facts and interpretations of facts are not debated, but character assassination is used to disqualify the critic. Words such as unqualified, incompetent or ignorant are used.

Careerism and conflicts of interest tend to be driving forces in ADSD.

An inability to think critically makes us vulnerable to manipulation by academics with fancy titles who suffer from ADSD.

Serious science designs studies to test the paradigm and prevent logical fallacies, or fallacies in reasoning. Logical fallacies usually occur when explaining results that appear logical if you avoid looking from other perspectives than the ADSD sufferer’s own.

Science and maths (statistics) say specifically that correlation does not imply causality. Statistical correlation is not scientific evidence. Statistics can lie.

There are many good sincere scientists, doctors, psychologists and ADHD coaches who have their feet firmly planted on the ground and deal with the reality of ADD and ADHD on a daily basis. Among them there are many theories on ADHD. We need to look at the ADD-ADHD critically with an open mind. This is a serious subject, too serious to be entrusted in the attitudes and motives of the ADSD afflicted.

Medical professionals and parents have been concerned for some time about the lack of clear, evidence-based information to assist the many people affected by this condition.

Professor David Forbes, Chair of the RACP’s Guidelines Working Group, said a multi-modal approach is recommended for treatment of ADHD.

He said, “Treatment may include education, psychosocial strategies, behavioral management and changes in nutrition and medication.

“If the draft Guidelines are followed by practitioners, children with ADHD will be carefully assessed, families will be informed of risks, benefits and options and children will receive individualised therapy.

“What’s important is that it is likely fewer children will be prescribed medication, and that more children will have school and home based programs that assist their parents in managing their symptoms,” said Professor Forbes.

“I am pleased that we can finally provide this more up to date information on ways to identify and care for those in our community who may be suffering from ADHD,” said the Minister for Health, Nicola Roxon.

The updated draft on the Australian Guidelines on ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) was released by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) and National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)

The RACP conducted a thorough and careful process to develop these draft Guidelines. They utilised a panel of independent experts to review the scientific evidence, and an independent scientific writer to prepare the draft document, with the work overseen by an expert working group. The panel produced an initial draft of the Guidelines in 2008, which was issued for public comment in July 2008.

Finally the weight of evidence is changing official views.

ADHD medication does have a place in ADHD treatment, but they are not a panacea. Stimulants do have their negative sides and have only limited benefits. Alternative treatments, from learning coping strategies to diets and supplements have a longer lasting effect without side effects.

To many, getting the diagnosis ADHD feels at first like a life sentence. To then have comorbities added sounds like a death sentence.

But there might not be any comorbidity. The so called “comorbid” condition could be the reason for the ADHD like behavior and there might not be any ADHD at all. A young child with anxiety or depression can act ADHD like, and hyperactivity or inattentiveness can both be the result of the thyroid gland not functioning as it should.

There are various conditions, physical, medical, mental and emotional which have some symptoms that mimic ADHD behavior. The usual ADHD checklists and the ADHD DSM-IV diagnosis (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) do not differentiate between ADHD and ADHD behavior. In fact the definition of ADHD is by behavior, which also shows up in bi-polar, autism, anxiety, depression, foetal alcohol syndrome, allergies, abuse, neglect, etc., etc.

ADHD has evolved over the last century from a single condition, with variations of names based on various morbid moral defects, through a couple of brain damaged defects until it was split into ADD (attention deficit disorder) and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Then in 1994 it reverted to one condition, but with three subtypes. This taxanonic revolution has not stopped. A new adjustment is due in two years time. . .

Over the last decade huge advances have been made in our understanding of neurobiology and the working of the brain. What has not kept pace with our understanding of biological and electro chemical processes is our common sense.

Reviewing the latest literature on ADHD, there are some excellent papers which have been published, but unfortunately most are stuck in some oversimplified model, digging frantically for the imaginary treasure of a magical ADHD cure. This idea that there is one or only a few causes for ADHD and therefore a simple cure, preferably a magical pill defies common sense.

The BAD NEWS is that ADHD is complex. If it were not, then we would have solved these questions some time last century.

The GOOD NEWS is that if we accept the fact that it is complex, then paradoxically it becomes easier to find a cure.

The reasoning is that it is easier to find a cause in a list of 50 or 100 possible causes, than to search for a figment of some academics’ limited imaginations devoid of common sense.

ADHD Causes are mostly treatable in some way. Medication is great for a tempoary fix, but a lousy cure if the real problem is lack of self esteem, diabetes or early onset bi-polar disorder.

Studies by the American Medical Association have shown that stress is the primary factor in over 75% of all illnesses medically treated today. Stress causes ADD ADHD like symptoms