ADD Alternative Treatments

Other Approaches to ADHD Treatment than Medications Alone

For medical professionals and most newly-diagnosed people with ADD, the usual first choice and immediate treatment approach is to start medication with stimulants such as Ritalin. Stimulant medications have been shown in hundreds of studies, to be effective and safe for most children and adults with ADD. For some people, whether for philosophical reasons or because of problems with stimulant side-effects, ranging from heart or blood pressure problems, to undesirable emotional effects, stimulants are not an option.

There are many alternative treatments that are extremely beneficial in their own right and can be used independently or alongside stimulant medication. There is solid research that coaching, neuro-feedback, EFT, mindfulness, mediation and exercise have a significant impact on ADHD symptoms. Many NHS professionals promote CBT to help with ADHD, yet whilst I and many others have been helped by CBT for co-morbid issues of depression and anxiety, I have yet to meet anyone helped by CBT with thier core ADHD issues such as procrastination and focus!

Please note that I am not a doctor - you should check out and research my comments yourself:

Mineral and Vitamin Studies

Several double-blind studies have shown that ADD children may have reduced levels of key minerals such as Zinc, Iron and Magnesium and have demonstrated that supplementation with these minerals can considerably lessen ADHD symptoms. I tested very low on Zinc and Magnesium levels and now take these mineral supplements to helped with my mood and energy.

Our modern diet is seriously deficient in many vitamins and minerals, as intensive farming has severely reduced these nutrients. Our fields have been depleted of many minerals and fertilisers merely replace nitrogen and a few minerals only. Forced rapid growth of vegetables and fruits then early picking before ripening means they often do not have a chance to develop essential vitamins and enzymes. UK studies show carrots today have a quarter of the mineral levels that carrots had in the 1940s. Another problem is we do not all absorb and metabolise nutrients efficiently, particularly if there are digestive issues like IBS. "Five-a-day" is great in theory but I would recommend taking a multi-vitamin too and consider personal tests for specific deficiencies.

Many studies show that Omega Oils (found in oily fish and certain seeds) are beneficial for ADD. They are beneficial for everyone's neuronal connections. So do take some Omega Oil capsules but make sure they are a quality make with more Omega3 and Omega12 (we get plenty of Omega6 in our normal diet), make sure you take a high dose like 1000mg too, as recommendations tend to be too low.

Some useful eating tips

We are in effect, what we eat, drink and breathe, so a healthy diet leads to a healthy brain. Try to:

1. Drink lots of water which helps eliminate toxins and avoids dehydration which compromises the brain's effective functioning
2. Divide your meal plate between one half vegetables/salad, one quarter protein (oily fish, beans and white meats are best) and one quarter carbohydrates (pasta, rice, potatoes...).
3. Eat good amounts of high quality protein, preferably organic. Dopamine is created from protein and since people with ADHD mis-regulate dopamine make sure you eat protein at each meal not just carbohydrates. Start the day with an egg, meat or cheese. Note - there are no animal hormones or antibiotics in organic meat or milk.
4. Eat vegetables raw or briefly steam them, so as not to destroy vitamins or leach them all into the water. 
5. Eat organic vegetables and fruit if possible, they contain 40% more vitamins than normal, with no pesticides or chemicals on/in their skins. They taste much better too!
6. Avoid too much tap water as it contains chlorine and residual chemicals such as anti-depressants and female hormones from the pill. The water companies are unable to remove these as part of water processing. Drink bottled or filtered tap water if possible.
7. Do not eat too much tuna. Sadly despite oily fish being healthy, some fish have high levels of toxins particularly mercury and tuna is the worst.
8. Avoid artificial sweetners and sugar. There is a growing body of research that indicates that not only do poeple with a high intake of artificial sweetners end up more obese (as food cravings are affected), but also that these sweeteners may be neuro-toxins too. Stevia, a natural plant extract is the recommended alternative by many health advocates. Eating sugar, sweets, sugary foods and even white flour can set your body into glucose highs and then lows. The body "revs up" to digest the sugar but then over uses it and you are left without sufficient sugar to help your brain think.