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ADHD - Herbal Remedies

Tess Thompson

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is characterized by behavioral and learning disorders like learning disabilities, forgetfulness, impaired judgment, excessive talking/interrupting, short attention span and organizational difficulties. The basic cause is understood to be impaired neural coordination within the reticular formation (the complex neural network in the brain stem).

The brain chemical that is responsible for this lack of neural coordination is Norepinephrine. Norepinephrine is a brain chemical that carries nerve signals from one area to another to ensure that certain areas are activated while others are restricted. When this ability to coordinate is afflicted, the brain is unable to handle multiple stimuli from external (visual and sound) and internal (emotions and feelings) sources. In simple words the brain is unable to switch on to focus on one stimulus and switch off to attenuate the other to enable proper focus on one.

Besides genetic predisposition, oxygen deprivation at birth, smoking during pregnancy, lead poisoning and a deficient diet are considered to be the main causes of this neural impairment. Sugar consumption is another villain in the piece. Sugar inhibits the ability of the brain to respond to norepinephrine, which in turn hampers the general ability to coordinate, causing what is called ‘competitive’ stimulation.

ADHD is a complex condition that is not easy to diagnose. And this has led to a recent upsurge in the inclination to label all unexplained minor mental disabilities to ADHD. This has a higher implication for children since most brain disorders are usually detected during the early years and it is cruel to label children as ADHD patients without proper diagnosis. Care should be taken to ensure that all areas of investigation are carried out before the child is subjected to medication, especially if you are opting for conventional medicine.

Allopathic treatment of ADHD involves the use of psycho stimulants and antidepressants. In most cases ADHD mandates a long treatment schedule that can extend for life. Excessive use of antidepressants and stimulants can cause lethargy and depression. Practically all antidepressants and stimulants are habit forming.

Herbal remedies, on the other hand, are safe and more effective than the conventionalists would like to believe. Herbal remedies, on the other hand, are nature’s remedies that have been tested over time and are devoid of any side effects if taken in accepted dosages. Natural remedies have multiple benefits and are not restricted to a single action like the way conventional drugs are. Many natural and herbal remedies have proven efficacy in restoring the imbalance in the brain chemistry. They are also strong antioxidants that serve as scavengers for free radicals that cause harm. The antioxidant activity of such herbs affects changes in the veins and arteries to increase the blood flow to the brain. This helps in decreasing blood vessel spasms.

It is only judicious to confirm the ADHD diagnosis before you start a specific treatment. It is also advisable to opt for natural or herbal remedies so that you can take treatment for life without having to face the compounding side effects of conventional medicine.

References:

http://www.herbalremediesinfo.com/ADHD.html