HERBAL REMEDIES FOR ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER

Attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity are the plagues of our age, but current treatment is poorly insufficient. Although our society wages an ongoing "war on drugs," millions of children out there are hooked on "speed" in the form of Ritalin and amphetamines. Besides from severe and lasting side effects, these do not remotely deal with fundamental causes and can in no manner be regarded as a cure. In the other hand, herbal remedies for ADD and ADHD are an enormous natural alternative if you want your child to stay drug-free. Diagnoses like learning disability, hyperactivity and poor impulse control are generally ascribed to a ‘brain chemistry imbalance’. A better word might be "toxic brain syndrome" because the paramount factor is a constant bombardment of the child's nervous system with food additives, artificial sweeteners, vaccines, allergenic foods, mercury, lead, antibiotics, and pesticides.

Each of these factors has a profound impact on the developing brain cells and combines together with destructive effects. Herbal remedies for ADD and ADHD are free of chemicals and side effects.

A full-blown assault on these problems requires a holistic homeopathic, herbal and nutritional program to undo the developmental vous system with food additives, artificial sweeteners, vaccines, allergenic foods, mercury, lead, antibiotics, and pesticides.

Each of these factors has a profound impact on the developing brain cells and combines together with destructive effects. Herbal remedies for ADD and ADHD are free of chemicals and side effects.

A full-blown assault on these problems requires a holistic homeopathic, herbal and nutritional program to undo the developmental and biological damage brought about by persistent exposure to harmful toxins. Herbal remedies for ADD and ADHD have the immediate gain of relaxing and calming, whilst enhancing brain function and neurotransmitter production. Ultimately, nervine and adaptogenic plants can protect, detoxify and heal the nervous system—all without the considerable toxicity or side effects of drugs.

Herbal remedies

1. Bacopa-Brahmi/Bacopa monnieri

This powerful herb has calming and sedative properties. It equally improves attention deficit disorder and important for hyperactivity. Bacopa is known to improve intellectual capacity, acuity, clarity of thought and concentration.

It enhances memory, particularly in the elderly and similarly shortens learning time.

2. California Poppy-Eschscholtzia californica

California poppy is a gentle sedative that relieves psychological and emotional disturbances in children. It soothes and balances an overactive nervous system.  Similarly, California poppy reduces attention deficit disorder and tension in overactive states and decreases spasms.  This herb is effective for difficulty in falling asleep or repeated, regular waking.

3. Catnip-Nepeta cataria

Excellently Catnip relieves attention deficit disorder, restlessness, tension, stress, and hyperactivity. As a mild relaxant, it promotes soothing sleep. It helps diarrhea, headache, colic or stomachache due to stress.  Catnip balances mood swings and hysteria.

4. Ginkgo biloba

Ginkgo biloba is a powerful herb that improves focus, memory, cognition, knowledge retention and perception. It increases neurotransmitters and boosts the ability of the brain to use oxygen. In the vein, Ginkgo biloba is rich in nutritive antioxidants that protect the brain and nervous system from damage by numerous toxins.

5. Grape Seed Extract-Vitis vinifera

Grape Seed Extract is a reservoir of bioflavonoid with the most potent antioxidant effects known. It has the capacity to pass through the blood-brain barrier and directly protect the brain against a wide variety of toxins and damaging free radicals. Grape Seed Fruit also improves brain blood flow and strengthens brain capillaries.

6. Hops-Humulus lupulus

It is useful for nervous tension, excitability, restlessness, and irritability.

• Hops are an excellent herb for insomnia. It can be taken orally. It is good for soothing and improving the mood, but should not be used in depression.

Hops are known to strengthen and stimulate digestion and alleviate intestinal discomfort.

7. Kava Kava-Piper methysticum

This herb is very valuable for managing attention deficit disorder. It relieves attention deficit disorder without any cognitive or mental impairment and reduces insomnia, tension and stress. Kava Kava produces a sense of tranquility and softens violent feelings. It drastically improves mood, tension level, and sleep patterns.

8. Lemon Balm-Melissa officinalis

Lemon Balm is a gentle, safe and calming children's herb for depression and attention deficit disorder. It relaxes the nervous system and eases agitation. It is good for soothing digestion.

9. Oats-Avena sativa

Oats is a potent tonic for mental stress, nervousness, exhaustion, and weakness. It helps to improve mental concentration and focus.

Oats is reputed not only for easing stress, tension, depression, insomnia but also improving clarity. It is equally good for transitioning and weaning off neurological medications.

10. Skullcap-Scutellaria laterifolia

Skullcap is a powerful herb that helps attention deficit disorder, restlessness, crying spells, irritability, and nervousness. It is very useful as a daytime sedative, with no mental impairment or drowsiness. Its nervine action relieves recurrent headaches and relaxes muscular spasms.

11. St. John's Wort-Hypericum perforatum

It is herb for attention deficit or hyperactive kids.

• St. John’s Wort calms an agitated nervous system and it is also safe for long-term usage. It regulates mood and attention and alleviates feelings of sadness, apathy, low self-esteem, isolation, anger, and guilt.  It is perfectly good for nervous exhaustion.

12. Valerian-Valeriana officinalis

Valerian is perfectly good for relaxing and sedating, restlessness, nervousness, and improving sleep. It is should be taken for 2-4 weeks to improve mood and sleep.

It equally shows improvements in learning skills and minimizes aggressive behavior.

Reason for using herbal remedies for attention deficit disorder?

The prescription drug, methylphenidate (Ritalin) has become the foremost prescribed drug to tackle hyperactivity.  However, researchers are becoming aware that this medication has several potentially dangerous, long-term side effects such as decreased appetite, weight loss, insomnia, slowed growth, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, a period of increased irritability and intolerance at the beginning of use, and the possibility of developing Parkinson’s disease. Escalating adverse reports have been issued in recent times, warning parents of the likely side effects of Ritalin—with some reports even comparing it to cocaine and heroin.

Other prescription drugs usually prescribed include dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine, a stimulant that produces calming effects similar to Ritalin), pemoline (Cylert, a stimulant that has been limited by the FDA to use as a secondary medication because it can cause liver failure), methamphetamine (Desoxyn), amphetamine-dextroamphetamine combination (Adderall), and tricyclic antidepressants (if depression is suspected). For periods of extreme anger and aggression, a tranquilizer called thioridazine (Mellaril) may be prescribed, but it should be taken only as a last option. A range of side effects, some of them severe, have been documented with all of these medications. As a result of numerous harmful side effects of the medications available for ADD/AD-HD sufferers, an increasing number of parents and health professionals are turning to all or a combination of the following as a means to reduce, and even perhaps get rid of the symptoms of ADD/ ADHD: alteration of diet; vitamin and mineral supplementation; herbal remedies; counseling; and the love and support of family, teachers, and friends.

Excerpt From: Spencer Garret. “Alchemy of Herbal Medicine.” iBooks. 2017