By: Dr. Smith
The following ADD, ADHD and Adult ADD is organized in the following manner:
- General information including causal factors underlying the condition.
- Symptoms of attention deficit disorder, adult ADD, ADD children and ADHD children.
- Testing for causal factors underlying attention deficit disorder.
- Treatment and interventions.
- Monitoring and reevaluation of intervention success
The alternative medicine approach to ADD, ADHD and Adult ADD is quite different than what you will find in the traditional medical office. In the medical office, you will receive drugs such as Adderall or Ritalin. In alternative medicine, you will likely be tested for such things as food allergy and treated with non-prescription yet equally effective food supplements and dietary modification. Though Adderall and Ritalin have their place with attention deficit disorder, you will find them to be greatly over-prescribed as we will discuss below.
The adult ADD conditions are similar in nature to children and the principles you read below apply to adult ADD and adult ADHD persons as well as children.
If we were to subscribe to the current medical thinking, children who suffer from ADD symptoms are all deficient in Ritalin. Of course, we know this to be absurd. But, if they're not deficient, what is the CAUSE of this disorder? What is happening with a culture such as ours where prescriptions for Ritalin increased 600 percent in the decade of the 90's and in some schools 20% of the students are medicated with it? The US consumes five times more Ritalin that rest of the world combined.
The chemical composition of Ritalin is that of an amphetamine or "speed", very close in structure to cocaine. It has become an easily obtainable drug of abuse. It is in the top 10 controlled drugs stolen from pharmacies and doctor's offices. ADD children sell their medication to classmates who crush and snort it like cocaine. There is even some controversial evidence that prescription Ritalin use may contribute to long term juvenile delinquency and illegal drug abuse.
It is not our purpose here to discredit Ritalin but rather to put things in perspective. In some cases it is the only choice to control a child's behavior. However, there are excellent alternatives to Ritalin that most physicians are not aware of. Our purpose here is to stimulate your thinking to the possibility that our society is not correcting the cause of ADD symptoms but rather is simply drugging the condition into submission.
Unfortunately the typical medical protocol for attention deficit disorde is a little too simple:
A. Arrive at a diagnosis.
B. Prescribe the appropriate medication.
C. End of discussion.
Frequently the the cause of the ADD symptoms in both adult ADD and ADD children goes undetected. Or, said another way, ADD and ADHD children and even adult ADD patients are presenting a set of symptoms wherein the underlying cause may be completely overlooked! The hidden causal factors may not seem to be related to the ADD symptoms at all. Therefore, the use of prescribed medications goes on with no end in sight because the root causal factors of attention deficit disorder are not treated.
Symptoms of Adult ADD
- Difficulty staying focused on a task, reading or conversation especially if it is boring or stressful.
- Easily upset, annoyed or angered.
- Has a problem with speaking without thinking first. Outbursts or statements which are later regretted.
- Moody.
- Poor at planning and carrying out a plan.
- Hyperactive. Feels better when on the go or being occupied with something.
- Periods of highs and hyperactivity and also can have periods of fatigue and inactivity.
- Restless, desire to keep moving.
- Overactive mind. Brain will not shut down.
Symptoms in ADD Children
Note: These symptoms should have been persistent for at least six months in two or more environments, i.e.; school and at home.
- Does not pay attention to schoolwork and other activities.
- Quickly loses interest in a project or activity and will go on to something else.
- Does not pay attention when spoken to.
- Is unorganized and has difficulty organizing activities.
- Loses things easily.
- Forgetful.
- Easily distracted from a task.
Symptoms in ADHD Children
- All of the symptoms in ADD children listed above.
- Excessive talking or interrupting while others are speaking.
- Excessive amounts of motion, fidgety, investigating things or objects in the room or environment, inability to sit still or stay focused for any length of time.
- Has difficulty staying seated.
- Difficulty awaiting his turn.
Underlying Causes of Attention Deficit Disorder
It is very important to understand that ADD and ADHD are not necessarily in and of themselves specific health disorders. Rather, the presentation that we see in ADD and ADHD children is very commonly the result of one or more underlying causes which manifest themselves in ADD symptoms. When the underlying causes are identified and corrected, the symptoms frequently disappear. The bottom line is that these factors may singularly or in combination with others contribute to development of adult ADD as well as ADHD or ADD in children:
- Fatty Acid Deficiencies
- Food Allergies
- Yeast Overgrowth
- Poor Parenting
- Improper Diet
- Amino Acid Deficiencies
- Food Additives
- Social Factors
- Mineral Deficiencies
- Vitamin Deficiencies
- Lead Toxicity
- Antibiotic Overuse
- Over-consumption of sugar and junk foods
Of the list above, the most commonly overlooked by physicians, educators, and parents are food allergies, yeast overgrowth, antibiotic overuse and improper diet.
Testing for Underlying Causesof ADD or ADHD
For guidance into whether or not your child may be experiencing any of these problems, you may complete the online Autism Assessment. In our clinical experience the information gained from the assessment has been a valuable yet inexpensive way for parents to uncover hidden contributing factors in ADHD children. Note: we are not suggesting that your child is autistic. ADD and ADHD are part of the "autism spectrum" and many of the underlying causes of both conditions are the same. Therefore, the Autism Assessment will be very beneficial for you as you evaluate your child's ADD symptoms.
For persons with adult ADD, we strongly recommend the online Comprehensive Health Assessment which will help you identify the presence or absence of the factors we are discussing herein.
ADHD and ADD The Yeast Connection
Of all the causal factors discussed on these pages, yeast and food allergies are probably the most commonly involved with attention deficit disorder. If persons with adult ADD or children with ADD symptoms are found to have yeast overgrowth, termed “candidiasis”, correction of the problem will give excellent improvement in the ADD symptoms. Please see the Yeast pages of this web site for details on the yeast connection.
ADHD and ADD Food Allergy and Attention Deficit Disorder
There are two sets of symptoms whereby allergies and specifically food allergies manifest themselves in children. The two sets are "tension" and "fatigue". Combined, they are referred to as the "Allergic Tension-Fatigue Syndrome".
The "tension" symptoms exhibited by some ADHD children include hyperactivity, clumsiness, poor dexterity, inability to relax, oversensitivity, insomnia, and sensitivity to light and noise. The "fatigue" ADD symptoms include tiredness, achiness, sluggishness, inability to concentrate and irrational behavior. These symptoms can all, in one way or another, be a result of food allergies.
The most common offending foods far ADHD children with food allergies are all dairy products, yeast, wheat, corn, soy, citrus, eggs, chocolate, peanuts, artificial colors, flavoring, and preservatives. Please see the Food Allergy pages of this website for all the details on this commonly overlooked problem.
Food Additives and Attention Deficit Disorder
The pioneering research relating ADD and ADHD symptoms to food additives was done by Dr. Ben Feingold. He found that in some cases food additives, preservatives and colorings will trigger symptoms in ADHD children. To investigate this problem you must read packaging labels and eliminate all additives from your child's diet. Watch to see if there is an improvement. If you observe improvement after four or five days, you can then add back the additives one by one, one day at a time and see which one(s) causes a return of ADHD symptoms. There are thousands of additives and not all are clearly identified which makes your job of identification really complicated. Sometimes the food label will simply say "coloring" or "flavoring". This makes your job of identification more difficult. Otherwise, look for terms such as "yellow no. 5", "BHA" or "BHT". Any big word on a label which you don’t recognize is probably a chemical additive. If you find additives to be a problem you may want to see a physician who specializes in desensitizing children of allergies of this type.
ADHD and ADD Connection with Lead
Lead can contribute to the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Surprisingly, even in this day of lead free paint and gasoline, lead is still a common toxic metal in our environment. In fact, some states even recommend that all children be tested for lead. Children put things in their mouths and we sometimes don't recognize the potential lead exposure. The main sources are:
- Paint applied before 1977.
- Auto exhaust in areas near highways.
- Soil near highways.
- Galvanized water pipes in older homes (This is a MAJOR source of heavy metal intoxication, not only lead but cadmium and others).
- Industrial sources such as battery factories, lead smelters, etc.
- Metal jewelry of all types contain surprising amounts of lead.
- Hobbies utilizing lead such as fishing sinkers and bullets.
- Clothing of parents worn home from on-the-job industrial exposure.
Long term lead toxicity can be tested by a simple hair analysis. Lead poisoning is detected by urine or blood testing. Any alternative medicine practitioner will know how to do these tests for you. It is important to know that urine and blood testing are only accurate in cases of more recent lead exposure. Only the hair will disclose longer term toxicity. Many traditional physicians don't understand this difference so you may have to see an alternative medicine physician to have a hair analysis performed. Confirmation of heavy metal toxicity is done by what is called a "challenge" test. Please see the Toxic Metals page of this site for further details.
Attention Deficit Disorder - Diet and Food Supplements
Omega 3 Fatty Acids (Fish Oil or Flax Seed Oil)
There have been several studies showing that ADHD children have low levels of omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids are a form of fat found primarily in ocean fish oil and flax seed oil. Other studies found that when supplemented with omega 3's ADHD children improved in their symptoms.
Multiple Vitamin and Minerals
Diets low in allergenic foods and supplemented with calcium, magnesium, zinc, and vitamins, especially vitamin B6, gave a favorable response in ADHD children as reported in the Lancet medical journal. Below you will find recommended supplements which contain these ingredients. However, don’t neglect to pursue the yeast, food allergy and toxic metals as triggering factors of attention deficit disorder.
Chemical Imbalance
There is emerging scientific evidence that "chemical imbalance" can be a problem. This involves the neurotransmitters of the nervous system including serotonin and others. If there is a neurotransmitter problem it can be treated with non-prescription amino acid therapy. Ask your alternative medicine physician about this if everything else fails.
Resources
Looking to find out if your child has ADHD or ADD? The Autism Assessment is an excellent screening tool for children on the autism spectrum which includes ADD children and ADHD children. We are not suggesting that your child has autism. Rather, the assessment tool is designed for all children on the autism spectrum which includes ADD and ADHD children.
The online Comprehensive Health Assessment is an excellent appropriate self-assessment tool for persons with adult ADD. It will give you invaluable assistance in determining whether factors such as yeast or food allergies are playing a role in your adult ADD. We strongly recommend this assessment. In fact, the questionnaire or parts of it are used with every patient who comes to our clinic seeking help through alternative medicine.
Recommended Books
Why Your Child is Hyperactive, Ben Feingold, Random House
No More Ritalin, Mary Ann Block, Kensington Publishing Corp.
Biological Treatments for Autism and PDD, William Shaw, order at 913-342-8949
Biomedical Assessment Options for Children with Autism and Related Problems, A manual for physicians available from the Autism Research Institute www.autism.com/ari
Books by Dr. William Crook
Yeasts and How They Make You Sick
Ritalin Alternatives
The Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, A Compendium. This is a collection of scientific literature published on the subject available from the International Health Foundation, Inc., Box 3494, Jackson, TN 38303-3494. Cost $25.00
Recommended Supplements to Support Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder
Multiple from Kirkman
EPA/DHA Liquid
UltraCare for Kids (Ask for the Parent's Guide to be included)
Multigenics Chewable
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
