Natural Approaches Toward ADHD

 IADHD is a subject close to my heart. I am passionate about natural approaches toward health. So when it became apparent that my young son was struggling with ADHD symptoms (and sensory processing issues, and learning disabilities, and sleep problems), I delved deeply into learning all that I could to be able to help him.

Today, my son is a teenager. He has never been medicated. He lives to his highest capacities by maintaining a lifestyle that supports his needs. He does this with consistency and compliance because he has the awareness that if he does not, he will suffer and struggle in school and life. The approach we use is not about fixing or curing something; it is about resolving the causes of unwanted symptoms and preventing the symptoms from returning.

There are factors that affect children's brains and bodies that lead toward the development of ADHD and other conditions, many of which can be controlled. These include exposures to toxins, such as heavy metals and chemicals (including medications, antibiotics, pesticides, herbicides, synthetic additives and preservatives in foods and vaccines, and household cleaners, fragrances and body products), eating an unhealthy diet without adequate nutrition, and exposure to drugs, smoking and alcohol. It within our abilities to remove as many of these toxins from our environment as early as possible to help our children to be healthy. However, if they have already been exposed and affected by them before birth or afterward, it becomes necessary to take these steps:

#1 Remove all of the toxic elements that you can control from your home and keep them away for good.
#2 Begin a healing protocol to repair damage that has already occurred.
#3 Once the healing protocol has had time to work (likely over a few years time), a maintenance diet and lifestyle will need to be in place as the child grows.

The healing protocol will involve several factors, including diet, detoxification, and physical repair. Most children who are affected need to do a gut healing diet such as GAPS or SCD in order to repair damage to their digestive systems from toxins. The toxins must also be removed from their bodies, so a detox protocol will be implemented. The body can heal itself when the proper parameters are set up for it. So once you use the diet they need for healing, and work to detoxify, the body will begin to heal. Additionally, in order for the brain to heal, it needs to be protected from extreme stimulation such as video games.

Children who are affected by ADHD are often very sensitive. They will most likely have food and chemical allergies and sensitivities. Certain foods will need to be eliminated from their diets and remain out for good. Their bodies cannot fully heal if they continue to be exposed to elements that harm them. Therefore, every child with ADHD needs to be tested for food allergies and sensitivities as a first step. No matter what the tests show, children with ADHD benefit greatly from maintaining a diet that eliminates all grains, sugars, caffeine, artificial colors, artificial flavors, and synthetic preservatives. All of these can contribute to hyperactivity and injury to the gut and brain.

People often ask me how my son handles peer pressure at school regarding food and video games. The answer is simple, he just says, "No." He tells me consistently that it doesn't bother him to eat different foods. He doesn't care when they have a pizza party because he knows that I will make him a pizza that he loves and can eat whenever he wants. He knows what toxins are and he has no interest in ingesting them. When he sees kids eating candy, he has no desire to participate. He enjoys the foods he brings from home and even more, he enjoys how good he feels because he eats them instead of junk foods. He knows that everyone is different and has different needs to be able to thrive. He enjoys being successful in school because he is able to focus and get his work done.

We worked hard to heal his body, and the payoffs have been beyond what most people can believe. His learning disabilities went away and he is in honors and gifted classes, his hyperactivity is non-existent, he is the best sleeper in the house, he rarely gets sick, and he has no issues with sensory processing anymore. To the best of our abilities, we maintain a natural, healthy lifestyle that works the best for him.

If your child has been diagnosed or is struggling with symptoms of ADHD, never give up hope - there is so much that you can do to help him or her. And if you are consistent and teach them as you go along, they will be able to maintain their health and live to their highest capacities once they grow up.

Lastly, and very importantly, there has been much more research about natural  detoxification and healing for autism than ADHD. Read and learn about what people are doing to help their children with autism to heal. Some of these protocols are very important for ADHD as well. I will list just a few here that you can consider and look into:

• Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment
• Brain Balance
• Brain Gym
• Homeopathic
• Vitamins and Mineral Supplements
• Omega Fatty Acid Supplements (mercury free fish or krill oil)
• Epsom Salt Baths
• GAPS Diet
• Candida Cleanse
• Probiotics
• Body Talk
• Energy and Spiritual Healing