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Herbal &
homeopathic remedies useful in adults with Attention Deficit
Disorder (ADD)
Adult - Attention Deficit Disorder (Adult-ADD)
HEALTH HERBS & NUTRITION
- REMEDIES - Mental Health and Behavior - ADULT ADD
Although the exact prevalence of ADHD is unknown, studies thus far
reveal that the condition, marked by inattentiveness, difficulty
getting work done, procrastination, and/or organization problems,
according to epidemiological data, involves approximately 3% to 5%
of the U.S. population. It usually persists throughout a person's
lifetime; approximately one-half to two-thirds of children with ADHD
will continue to have significant problems with ADHD symptoms and
behaviors as adults, which impacts their lives on the job, within
the family, and in social relationships.
The conditions present in adulthood follow the same diagnostic
criteria as ADHD in children. The neurological basis of ADHD is a
lifelong condition. The prevalence in adults as a clinical disorder
is difficult to gauge because individuals differ in their level of
affliction. Those who seek treatment as children, and others, over
time, may develop coping skills which make the disorder less
noticeable; indeed, if the underlying conditions do not cause
functional problems in their lives, they may no longer meet the
diagnostic criteria at all. However, those whose symptoms continue
to significantly negatively affect their functioning in adulthood
can be labeled as having the adult version of ADHD. Although the
disorder may not have been diagnosed in an individual during
childhood, for adults to be diagnosed, the criteria require that
they must have had symptoms in childhood.
Adult ADD or AADD are alternate terms commonly used to describe
the neurological disorder attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD) when it occurs in adults. Clinically speaking, ADD and ADHD
constitute a single disorder. The ADHD label was an update to the
overall syndrome in the DSM-IV (the Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition); ADD (Attention-Deficit
Disorder) with or without hyperactivity is the older term from the
DSM-IIIR. Approximately 1/3rd of people with ADHD do not have
the hyperactive or overactive behavior component. This leads to some
preference for using the ADD and AADD terminology when describing
individuals lacking the hyperactivity component, and some clinical
professionals believe Adult ADD should be categorized as a separate
condition, even though it may have arisen from a childhood ADHD
diagnosis.
ADD and ADHD are somewhat difficult to diagnose as
symptoms can be present in adults, as well as children, in at
least 16 different ways.
It is also important to note that ADD and ADHD is not the same
thing. ADD stands for Attention Deficit Disorder.
ADHD stands
for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. ADD can be
likened a bit more to inattention, without the hyperactivity.
The people typically diagnosed with it are not hyperactive at
all. They typically miss important information, have papers
everywhere and are unable to keep things tidy, but many of them
are very calm and less hyperactive than those with ADHD.
(Actually, ADHD is the official DSM-IV umbrella term for what
are commonly known as ADD and ADHD, grouping both subtypes into
one more general condition).
The combined subtype of ADHD is characterized by symptoms of
inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity with childhood
onset, although the condition may not have been diagnosed in
childhood. Hyperactivity symptoms tend to be less noticeable in
adults than in children. Some adults do not exhibit
hyperactivity/inattentiveness and, rarely, adults exhibit only
hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms.
ADHD in adults can cause moderate to extreme difficulties in
functioning at work, home, or school. In adults the problem can
manifest as an inability to structure their lives and plan
simple daily tasks. ADD/ADHD can also lead to loss of
relationships, job hopping, or difficulty with people or work.
The difficulty is not due to the ADD person's direct behavior,
but usually more due to the simple things that the ADD person
will miss, especially when an adult of their age or experience
should catch onto or know.
Generally, symptoms may manifest themselves differently in
adults than in children. Adults with hyperactive-impulsive
symptoms feel extremely driven, sometimes restless. To calm
themselves down, they tend to stay constantly on the go and
attempt to do but usually fail to complete multiple tasks at
once. They are often perceived as not thinking before they act
or speak. Generally, the biggest problem is developing
self-regulation. The mechanism for self-regulation is delayed or
deficient in people with ADD or ADHD. This is what is treated
medically in the ADD/ADHD person. This lack of
self-understanding and what looks like a lack of control affects
an adult's ability not just to do tasks, but to determine when
and how they need to be done, as well as how other people
perceive them.
Other symptoms include inattention, impulsivity, and
restlessness as well as frequently accompanying behavioral
problems and learning disabilities. Growing up with all these
deficits often leads to emotional problems.
The Hallowell Center identifies the following indicators to
consider when ADD is suspected and recommends that individuals
with at least twelve of the following behaviors since
childhood—provided these symptoms are not associated with any
other medical or psychiatric conditions—consider professional
diagnosis:
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A sense of underachievement, of not meeting one’s goals
(regardless of how much one has actually accomplished). |
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Difficulty getting organized. |
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Chronic procrastination or trouble getting started. |
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Many projects going simultaneously; trouble with follow
through. |
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A tendency to say what comes to mind without necessarily
considering the timing or appropriateness of the remark. |
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A frequent search for high stimulation. |
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An intolerance of boredom. |
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Easy distractibility; trouble focusing attention,
tendency to tune out or drift away in the middle of a
page or conversation, often coupled with an inability to
focus at times. |
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Often creative, intuitive, highly intelligent. |
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Trouble in going through established channels and
following proper procedure. |
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Impatient; low tolerance of frustration. |
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Impulsive, either verbally or in action, as an impulsive
spending of money. |
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Changing plans, enacting new schemes or career plans and
the like; hot-tempered. |
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A tendency to worry needlessly, endlessly; a tendency to
scan the horizon looking for something to worry about,
alternating with attention to or disregard for actual
dangers. |
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A sense of insecurity. |
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Mood swings, especially when disengaged
from a person or a project. |
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Physical or cognitive restlessness. |
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A tendency toward addictive behavior. |
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Chronic problems with self-esteem. |
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Inaccurate self-observation. |
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Family history of AD/HD or manic depressive illness or
depression or substance abuse or other disorders of
impulse control or mood. |
Diagnosis of adult ADD
The diagnostic criteria for ADD in adults are identical to
those for children. It is important to note that adult diagnosis
requires establishing whether the symptoms were also present in
childhood, even if not previously recognized. Diagnosis must
also exclude other medical or psychiatric causes of symptoms.
The diagnostic criteria require multiple symptoms observed in
multiple settings (school, home, work, etc.) within the
preceding 6 months.
Assessment of adult patients seeking a possible diagnosis can be
better than in children due to the adult's greater ability to
provide their own history, input, and insight. The therapeutic
process may also see more benefit in behavioral solutions
because they can be designed more collaboratively with mature
individuals. BUPA says: “Aggressive or disobedient behavior can
get worse if ADD is left untreated, so early diagnosis and
management is important”.
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Chemical imbalance - People who have ADD may not be able
to produce enough chemicals in key areas of the brain
that are responsible for organizing thought. |
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Brain changes - Areas of the brain that control attention
are less active in adults with ADD than in people
without the disorder. |
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Genetic Factors - Studies show that there is a familial
transmission of the disorder which does not occur
through adoptive relationships. Twin studies indicate
that the disorder is highly heritable and that genetic
ADHD
contributes about 3/4th of the total ADHD
population. While the majority of ADHD is believed to be
genetic in nature, roughly one-fifth of all ADHD cases
are thought to be acquired after conception due to brain
injury caused by either toxins or physical trauma prenatally or postnatally. |
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Environmental Factors - The estimated contribution of
non genetic factors to the contribution of all cases of
ADHD is 20 percent. |
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Pre-Natal - The environmental factors implicated are
common exposures and include alcohol, in utero tobacco
smoke and lead exposure, believed to stress babies
prenatally. Complications during pregnancy and
birth - including premature birth - might also play a role.
It has been observed that women who smoke while pregnant
are more likely to have children with ADD. This could be
related to the fact that nicotine is known to cause
hypoxia (lack of oxygen) in utero, but it could also be
that ADD women have more probabilities to smoke both in
general and during pregnancy, being more likely to have
children with ADD due to genetic factors. |
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Diet - Studies have found that malnutrition is also
correlated with attention deficits. Diet seems to cause
ADD symptoms or make them worse. Many studies point to
synthetic preservatives and artificial coloring agents
aggravating ADD & ADHD symptoms in those affected. Older
studies were inconclusive quite possibly due to
inadequate clinical methods of measuring offending
behavior. Parental reports were more accurate indicators
of the presence of additives than clinical tests.
Several major studies show academic performance
increased and disciplinary problems decreased in large
non-ADD student populations when artificial ingredients,
including artificial colors were eliminated from school
food programs. Professor John Warner stated,
“significant changes in children’s hyperactive behavior
could be produced by the removal of artificial
colorings and sodium benzoate from their diet.” and
“you could halve the number of kids suffering the worst
behavioral problems by cutting out additives”. |
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Social Factors - There is no compelling evidence that
social factors alone can create ADD. Many researchers
believe that attachments and relationships with
caregivers and other features of a child's environment
have profound effects on attentional and self-regulatory
capacities. It is noteworthy that a study of foster
children found that an inordinate number of them had
symptoms closely resembling ADD. |
ADD
is often treated using conventional prescription medications.
The most commonly used stimulants for the treatment of ADD
include Ritalin, Adderall and Concerta. There are
some difficulties in using stimulants to treat ADD in teens and
adults. Stimulants are controlled substances and it is not
uncommon for adults or teens with ADD to have or to have had
problems with substance abuse.
Short-acting stimulants may wear off quickly, and since adult
patients administer the medication themselves but usually have
problems with forgetfulness, consistency can be problematic with
multiple-day dosing.
Adults may experience significant difficulty in the evening
when they do housework, pay bills, help children with homework,
or drive. They may be tempted to use substances 'to relax',
which can lead to addiction and drug-dependency. Teens may sell
their medication to friends, or combine it with other
substances.
While there is a place for prescription medication in certain
cases of ADD, careful consideration should be taken regarding
possible side effects and cautions.
There are also alternative solutions for ADD and ADHD available.
Making simple changes in diet, sleep, exercise, and routine can
help. Even trying more involved approaches like incorporating
relaxation therapies such as guided imagery, meditation
techniques, or yoga can be beneficial.
There are also many herbal and homeopathic remedies which can
help maintain harmony, health, and systemic balance in the brain
and nervous system, without side effects or sedation. These
products are known for their supportive function in maintaining
brain, nervous system and circulatory health, and well-being.
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Centella asiatica (Gotu cola) is found wild in
moist areas throughout Africa and Asia. This herb is
traditionally used as a tonic to support a healthy brain
and nervous system. Centella asiatica is recommended to
maintain mental clarity, healthy brain function, and a
generally balanced mood. Centella asiatica is also a
favorite food of elephants and, as we all know,
elephants never forget! Recent studies have suggested
that Centella asiatica supports cerebral blood flow (CBF)
and circulation in general, thereby allowing oxygen-rich
blood to penetrate deep into the brain. Studies have
also suggested that this herb may be beneficial as a
mood tonic. |
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Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) - Both, its pale
blue flowers as well as leaves are used medicinally.
Rosemary contains many active constituents like
flavonoids which act as a stimulant and antioxidant.
This property of stimulating the circulation by
strengthening the capillaries and improving venous blood
flow is greatly harnessed in treating headaches,
improving mental concentration and also stimulating hair
growth. Its other constituents include rosmarinic acid
(a phenol) which is known for its antiseptic and
anti-inflammatory powers and is also considered an
excellent antioxidant. |
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Panax ginseng (Asian Ginseng) has been used in
Chinese medicine for more than 5000 years. Regarded by
the Chinese as the 'king' of herbs, it is one of the
most prized and expensive Chinese herbs. A 3-month
study showed a significant increase in subjective
"quality-of-life" scores among ginseng users. Soviet scientist, Dr. Brekham, identified it as a superior adaptogen,
supporting body functions, normal stress levels and
maintaining a healthy immune system. Further studies
demonstrated that mice fed with Panax ginseng were able
to learn tasks quicker, perform at a faster rate, and
make fewer mistakes. Panax ginseng should not be
confused with either Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus
senticosis) or American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius). |
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Kalium phosphate (derived from potassium phosphate)
is a biochemic tissue salt and a natural component of
all fluids in the body. It acts as a nerve nutrient, and
is naturally present in all brain cells and nerve
tissue. Kalium phosphate (also called Kali. phos.) is an
excellent nerve tonic and natural calmative, helping to
soothe nerves and lessen edginess. Kali. phos. supports
a healthy brain and nervous system, and can help relieve
occasional nervous tension in the body. |
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Natrium muriaticum (derived from sodium chloride) - Water is the medium by which nutrients and brain
chemicals are transported from the blood into the cells
and carried from cell to cell. The function of this
tissue salt is to maintain the body's water balance by
controlling the movement of water in and out of the
cells. Natrium muriaticum (also called Nat. mur.)
naturally and gently flushes the system while hydrating
tissues. Note: Due to the special manufacturing process
of tissue salts, Nat. mur. should not be confused with
salt, and may be safely used by people requiring low
salt diets. |
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Lavandula augustifolia (Lavender) - The essential
oil of lavender’s purple flowers appearing on the spikes
is rich in a lot of constituents having medicinal
properties, mainly linalool, terpinene-4-ol and linalyl
acetate. Lavender is a well known herbal remedy for
treating mental stress, depression, anxiety and tension
headaches. It is due to the calming and sedative effects
of its constituents. |
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Passiflora incarnata (Passion Flower) - All its
aerial parts; the stamen, three lobed indented leaves
and bright showy flowers that have white petals covered
over by pinkish violet filaments, have medicinal
properties. The main constituents are maltol, ethyl
maltol, indole alkaloids and various antioxidants.
Mainly maltol and ethyl maltol and to some extent the
antioxidants present impart the sedative property to
this herb for which it is quite famous. In effect it is
so effective yet gentle, that even children are given
preparations based on passionflower for treating
insomnia, anxiety and nervous system originated
palpitations and digestive problems. It is believed that
passionflower works by increasing levels of a chemical
called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. GABA
lowers the activity of some brain cells, resulting in
relaxation. |
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Focus ADDult
Helps maintain optimal mental focus,
concentration, attention span and memory
function.
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Brain Tonic
Promotes brain health and maintains
healthy concentration, memory and
balanced mood in all ages.
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PureCalm
Aids nervous system in stress resistance
for balanced moods and feelings of well
being
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MoodCalm
Homeopathic remedy temporarily calms
emotional outbursts and reduces mood
swings.
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In 1982, the NIH had determined, based on research
available at that time, that roughly 5% of children with
ADD could be helped significantly by removing additives
from their diet. The vast majority of these children
were believed to have food allergies. More recent
studies have shown that approximately 60-70% of children
with and without allergies improve when additives are
removed from their diet, that up to almost 90% of them
react when an appropriate amount of additive is used as
a challenge in double blind tests, and that food
additives may elicit hyperactive behavior and/or
irritability in normal children as well. These allergens
include synthetic additives, dyes, and chemicals, which
are commonly added to processed foods. The yellow dye tartrazine has been specifically shown to provoke
symptoms in controlled studies of ADD-affected
children. |
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Magnesium - Symptoms of magnesium deficiency
include irritability, decreased attention span, and
mental confusion. Some experts believe that children
with ADD may be exhibiting the effects of mild
magnesium deficiency. Foods rich in magnesium are whole
grains, leafy green vegetables, millet, figs, meat,
fish, Soya beans, bananas, apricots, milk, pulses. |
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Vitamin B6 - Adequate levels of vitamin B6 are
essential
for the synthesis of essential brain chemicals including
serotonin, dopamine and nor epinephrine, the chemicals
affected in children with ADHD. |
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Zinc - Zinc regulates the activity of
neurotransmitters, fatty acids, and melatonin, all of
which are related behavior. Several studies have found
that zinc may help improve behavior, but the effects
were modest at best. Higher doses of zinc can be
dangerous, so talk to your doctor before giving zinc to
a child or taking it yourself. Foods rich in zinc are
meat & offal, eggs, milk, oysters, lentils, wheat germ,
nuts, crab, chicken |
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Essential fatty acids - Fatty acids, such as
those found in fish and fish oil (omega-3 fatty acids)
and evening primrose oil (omega-6 fatty acids), are
"good fats" that play a key role in normal brain
function. Omega-6 and omega-3 essential fatty acids are
also helpful in maintaining and repairing the central
nervous system. Omega-6 is derived from linoleic acid
and found in vegetable oils such as olive and sunflower
as also almonds and walnuts. Evening primose oil is a
worthy substitute as well. Daily requirement of omega-6
acid is nearly 4g, equivalent to a handful of almonds or
walnuts. Omega-3 is needed in smaller quantities
(usually 2g is enough) and a handful of walnuts should
be sufficient. It is also present in adequate percentage
in rapeseed oil and herring. Basically, oily fish like
herring, mackerel, salmon and sardines, all are rich in
omega-6 and omega-3 acids. |
Alternative solutions for ADD and ADHD including being proactive and
taking initiative to find the best possible treatment plan. Be
positive. Here are a few tips.
Tips for you as an ADD Adult:
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Set aside a few minutes each night to schedule the
following day's events |
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Organize needed everyday items so you know where things
are |
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Use diaries and notebook organizers |
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Don’t be too hard on yourself or set unrealistic goals |
Activities to Pursue:
While there is no single activity that guarantees teens
with ADD instant success, certain types of activities tend to
reap more positive results.
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Look for activities with a singular focus, such as
sports that center attention |
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Consider activities that involve movement, providing an
appropriate and controlled physical outlet |
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Learn to play a musical instrument |
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Seek activities that offer individualized instruction |
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Explore activities that result in tangible rewards |
Activities to Avoid:
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Those that involve a lot of down time |
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Those that require too much divided attention |
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Those that require fine motor skills |
Special Advice for Managing Teens with ADD
Tips
for you as a parent to help your ADD teen:
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Maintain as much routine and consistency as possible |
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Try to avoid major or frequent changes |
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Ensure that family relationships are stable |
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Be very consistent in your discipline and keep all rules
the same |
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Speak often to your teen's teachers |
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Engage in activities that promote concentration and
listening skills |
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Use frequent eye contact when speaking to your teen or
giving instructions |
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Keep directions simple and set simple house rules |
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Provide a structured outlet for hyperactivity |
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Teach using as many of the senses as possible and make
learning interactive |
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Review your expectations for your teen |
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Reward positive behavior immediately |
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Anticipate situations |
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Make sure your teen is supervised at all times |
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Learn and understand the symptoms of ADD |
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Schedule tasks and reminders |
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Organize needed everyday items |
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Use homework and notebook organizers |
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Set a homework routine |
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Focus on effort, not grades |
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Make a special effort to highlight positives in your child |
Remember, you should never try to:
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Use physical punishment |
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Put too many expectations on your teen |
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Focus too much on the areas your teen is struggling with |
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Focus ADDult
Helps maintain optimal mental focus,
concentration, attention span and memory
function.
|
|
|
Brain Tonic
Promotes brain health and maintains
healthy concentration, memory and
balanced mood in all ages.
|
|
|
PureCalm
Aids nervous system in stress resistance
for balanced moods and feelings of well
being
|
|
|
MoodCalm
Homeopathic remedy temporarily calms
emotional outbursts and reduces mood
swings.
|
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