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*This is an article by guest writer Jeanne Ball.  For more information, visit www.adhd-tm.org.

Summary: Parents and educators are searching for alternatives to the use of drugs for treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder—ADHD. The mind-body practice widely known as the Transcendental Meditation technique is being discovered to be an effective adjunct or alternative to ADHD medication. Peer-reviewed scientific research studies show that the Transcendental Meditation technique improves focus, attentiveness, memory and decreaseshyperactivity, anxiety and depression. It is easy to practice and results come immediately.

There is growing concern about negative side effects and long-term health outcomes associated with ADHD medications. Groundbreaking research is showing the effectiveness of the Transcendental Meditation technique as a non-drug approach to treating ADHD.

ADHD and the Brain

Neuroscientists and researchers tell us that an imbalance in brain functioning can cause ADHD symptoms. The brain is made up of millions of cells that continually talk to each other, sending signals across the gaps between brain cells. The messenger molecules that carry these signals are called neurotransmitters. The neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin regulate thinking, hyperactivity, impulsivity, inattentiveness, memory, emotions, and depression.

How Medications Work

The active ingredients in the most commonly used ADHD medications are amphetamines. As powerful stimulants, these amphetamines artificially increase the amount of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, speeding up brain activity. This is of great concern to medical researchers, doctors and parents. According to researchers, when the drugs flood the brain with these artificially produced neurotransmitters, the brain’s ability to produce these neurotransmitters by itself is diminished. This can potentially cause the brain to suppress the natural growth and development of the brain cells that create the neural networks. The young brain isn’t given the chance to develop on its own and mature in its own functioning. [1]

How Meditation Works           

Unlike drugs, the Transcendental Meditation technique doesn’t just treat the symptoms, it influences the cause of the disorder. This means that the technique doesn’t create just a temporary effect, but can improve the condition permanently by reducing stress and creating more efficient and orderly brain functioning. Scientific research studies published in such prestigious journals as the International Journal of Neuroscience [2]. Psychophysiology and others [3] have shown that the TM technique creates widespread “EEG coherence ” throughout all areas of the brain. Everything good about the brain depends on its efficient, orderly functioning. Scientists have found that this improved brain functioning through daily TM practice improves IQ , creativity, comprehension, memory and academic performance. People practicing the TM technique commonly report immediate relief from anxiety and hyperactivity, and greater ability to concentrate and focus in their daily life. Under supervision of their doctors, patients with ADHD are often able to reduce or eliminate their medications within 3-6 months.

How the TM Technique is Different 

The TM technique is unique—unlike all other forms of meditation, distinguished by its effortlessness, naturalness, and profound effectiveness. The technique is practiced for 15-20 minutes twice a day, while sitting comfortably with eyes closed. It doesn’t take years to master and can be easily learned by anyone, even children, in just a few days. The technique is non-religious and requires no change in lifestyle or belief—one doesn’t even have to believe in it for it to work. Because the practice is effortless, you don’t have to be able to concentrate or even sit still.<>The TM technique allows awareness to naturally settle inward, transcending the busy activity of the mind, to a state of restful alertness. During the practice, the body gains deep relaxation—much deeper than ordinary relaxation or other meditation practices. Over 350 peer-reviewed scientific research studies have shown the TM technique to be the most effective mind-body practice for decreasing anxiety and depression and promoting self-actualization.<>People with ADHD and other learning disorders are turning to the TM technique in growing numbers and finding relief from tension and restlessness within just a few days. Many of these people have tried counseling and other forms of meditation, without desired results, and with regular practice have been able to end their dependence on medications while thriving in school or work for the first time in their lives.
As concern for the long-term side effects of medication grows, it is worthwhile to become more informed about this healthy and practical alternative for managing ADHD. To view ABC, NBC and PBS video news clips on the use of the TM technique for treating students with ADHD, click here .
 

References

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ADHD Warning - Nutrition by Natalie

As the video above points out, the medical profession and food production industry have long disputed the idea that diet has any bearing on ADHD.  But a recent study published in the prestigious British medical journal, Lancet, and reported in a Time Magazine Article provides hard evidence that certain food chemicals do in fact increase ADHD symptoms. 

The video and the article linked to above go into greater detail.  For those of you who watch the video, the food that Natalie so eloquently refers to as “crap” includes the vast majority of processed foods, particularly those with bright colors intended to appeal to kids. 

Due to the research findings, the British government has issued an advisory to parents recommending that they limit the foods they give to their children that contain artificial colors and dyes and/or the preservative sodium benzoate.  I would take it a step further and recommend that parents eliminate these foods from their children’s diets altogether.  Kids being kids, they will probably still get such foods occasionally when at school or at the homes of friends, but if you eliminate them at home, this will minimize their exposure to these harmful food additives. 

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Magnesium is a widespread deficiency in the United States and being deficient in magnesium can have far-reaching health effects.  

Magnesium is needed for hundreds of biochemical reactions in the body.  It is critically important in muscle (including heart muscle) and nerve function.  It is involved in the functioning of the immune system and is necessary for healthy bones.  Magnesium is also important in blood sugar regulation and deficiency is likely involved in the development of Type II diabetes.  Magnesium acts through several mechanisms to protect cardiovascular health, such as helping to prevent congestive heart failure, preventing arrhythmias, lowering elevated blood pressure, and decreasing C-reactive protein (an inflammatory marker associated with atherosclerosis).  Deficiency is associated with ADHD and other behavior disorders.  Preliminary studies also indicate that magnesium helps prevent age-related memory loss.

 Good sources of magnesium include most nuts, green leafy vegetables, whole grains, beans, and some fish (interestingly, fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids also are high in magnesium).  Drinking water in some areas can also be a good source of magnesium, but because many people use bottled or softened water, the magnesium content is often reduced. 

Officially, the U.S. Recommended Daily Intake for magnesium is 420 mg per day for adult men and 320 mg per day for women, but many experts recommend at least 500 mg per day for all adults.  The exception to this rule would be those individuals with kidney failure, as they are unable to remove excess magnesium from the blood and toxicity can result (blood monitoring of magnesium levels in cases of kidney failure is advised). 

Certain health conditions and medications can increase the need for magnesium, and in these cases, supplementation is recommended.  In particular, individuals with Chron’s disease, celiac disease, and alcoholism, and those taking diuretic medications can benefit from magnesium supplementation.

 Stay tuned for more information from my natural remedies blog.
 

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ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is often found in association with other disruptive behavioral disorders and commonly occurs in association with aggression.  In conventional medicine, the common approach to these problems is to use drugs like Ritalin (methylphenidate) in an attempt to alter brain function and control the undesirable behavior.  In some extreme cases, the drug approach may be the only way to improve the situation, but in most cases there are natural steps that can be taken to normalize brain function and/or modulate behavior without risking the side-effects that can occur with the drugs.

Step one is to first identify if the child actually has a problem.  In my experience, some very normal children with very normal behavior may get labeled as having ADHD, when in fact what they have is a severe case of being a child.  Kids who are especially energetic and particularly those who are naturally inquisitive and intelligent can sometimes be behavioral challenges in classrooms and social settings.  It is important to distinguish between a child who has an inability to focus and behave “properly” and one who simply assimilates information rapidly, and wants to move on to the next thing and have fun.  My advice here is don’t automatically assume the worst when a teacher or school administrator tells you that your child has ADHD and recommends that you see about having him or her medicated.  In some cases, the kid may just be so far ahead of his peers that he’s bored with the school work and is needing more mental stimulation than the regular classes can provide.  While a brilliant child can definitely be a challenge to handle, it’s a very different situation than dealing with an ADHD child.  To help distinguish whether or not a child truly has ADHD, I recommend consulting with a child psychologist who will do an in-depth evaluation as opposed to going to your family doctor or pediatrician who may simply write a prescription for Ritalin.

Once you establish that your child does have ADHD, step two is to look at the possibility of nutritional triggers.  While the stereotypical food trigger of hyperactive behavior in kids is sugar, there are some other common food sensitivities that appear to make ADHD worse.  Dairy products, including milk, cheese, and ice cream can dramatically worsen ADHD related symptoms in those kids who are reactive to them.  Wheat and corn too can be big triggers in some kids.  In addition, certain food additives, such as artificial colors, “flavor enhancers” (the most familiar of which is MSG), and preservatives can set off extreme ADHD behavior in certain susceptible individuals.  Testing for food allergies/sensitivities can be done by means of elimination diets - in other words, removing suspected foods from the diet one at a time for a few days at a time per item and noting the changes in behavior patterns.  Another option is conventional allergy testing with an allergist who works with food allergy issues.  Finally, there’s the “energy medicine” version of allergy testing and elimination which is a bit strange to the uninitiated, but can be extremely effective and often works better and faster than conventional allergy treatment.

The other aspect of nutrition to be considered is nutrient intake, so step three is to try to improve the child’s diet to be as nutritious as possible.  A healthy diet for a child is the same as it is for an adult.  A diet that is rich in fresh produce, moderate amounts of meat, fish, poultry and eggs, and some whole grains and nuts will supply a good nutrient intake, especially if you go with organic products as much as possible.  But getting adults to eat that way is tough, and getting kids to eat that way can be next  to impossible.  Instead of trying for “perfect”, I suggest focusing on minimizing processed foods, trying to get kids to eat some kind of fresh vegetables and fruit, minimizing the amount of refined carbohydrates (sweets, bread - especially white bread, cereal - especially cereal with a lot of sugar and/or artificial ingredients, chips, and pasta) in the diet, and working on keeping sodas and “juice drinks” (the ones that have almost no actual juice in them) to a minimum. 

Because the perfect diet is rarely achieved, step four is to use good quality nutritional supplements to ensure adequate nutrient intake.  Considerable research over the years has shown that several nutrients can have a big impact on ADHD and related behavioral disorers.  In particular, deficiencies of chromium, zinc, iron, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids seem to be associated with childhood ADHD and/or aggressive behavior.  While many parents tell me that they give their kids vitamins, usually the quality of the supplements that are being used is poor at best.  In fact, many of the popular brands of children’s vitamins on the market are little more than marginally nutritious candy.  Yes, the vitamins need to taste good enough to get the kids to actually take them, but why bother with them at all if they aren’t going to do any good? 

In my practice, the children’s vitamin I recommend is called Mighty Mins, made by a doctor’s nutrition company called Nutri-Spec.   Mighty Mins was actually tested some years ago with regards to its effects on children with ADHD and behavioral problems who were participating in the Prevention Program of the Mountain View Community Medical Association in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania.   The participants in the study were 27 children, ranging from  to 10 years old.  The children were evaluated prior to implementing the supplement using the Pediatric Behavior Scale that measures impulsiveness, compulsiveness, learning difficulties, inattentiveness, temper bursts, mood swings, and social problems on a scale of 0 to 3 (with 0 being none and 3 being very high or very often).  The children were then re-evaluated within 12 months of beginning supplementation.  The mean (average) test scores on the PBS criteria were reduced by approximately 50% or more on all seven criteria following the implementation of Mighty Mins.   Furthermore, of the 17 children who had been medicated for their behavioral issues prior to and during the first part of the study, all but 2 were able to completely stop their medication after several months on the supplement. 

To my knowledge, no other supplement has ever been tested specifically with regards to its effects on children with ADHD and behavior problems.  And since Mighty Mins is strictly a multi vitamin and mineral supplement, I strongly suspect that the study findings would have been even better if it had been combined with an omega-3 fatty acid supplement such as the Complete Children’s DHA/EPA by Nutriwest (not to be confused with Nutri-Spec, the company that makes Mighty Mins).  You may be interested to read the full details of  the Mighty Mins study.  Nutri-Spec only sells through their registered doctors.  If you wish to have your doctor order them for you, or if you would like to order them through my office, feel free to contact me for details.

Finally, step number five may come as a surprise, but you might want to have your child checked by a chiropractor and/or a Cranio-Sacral Therapist.  There is a growing body of research and case studies that indicate chiropractic treatment is helpful in many cases of ADHD and other behavioral disorders.  Chiropractic can be administered by means of a wide variety of techniques, including some that are extremely gentle, and most kids enjoy getting their chiropractic adjustments.  The mechanical joint corrections of chiropractic can often help to normalize neurological functioning, including that of the brain.  Likewise, Cranio-Sacral Therapy reduces tension on soft tissue structures that surround the brain which can make a dramatic improvement in ADHD.  The improvements in some ADHD children from these and other bodywork approaches can be incredibly dramatic and are certainly worth investigating. 

Stay tuned to this blog for additional information on natural ADHD remedies.

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