How to Treat ADHD
A introduction on how Eastern Medicine can help treat ADHD, researched by world famous Dr. Liu who is currently the Vice Chairperson of the 2nd Board of Specialty Committee of Safety Research on TCM External Treatment Procedures of World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies. (From June. 2021 - June. 2026)
Most of us are aware ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Another term commonly referred to is ADD, known as attention deficit disorder. ADHD is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders of childhood. It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood. Children with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors, or can be overly active.
Currently, 6.1% of all American children are being treated for ADHD with medication. Some states have higher rates of treatment with medication than others. One in five American children who has been diagnosed with ADHD is not receiving medicine or mental health counseling for their disorder.
There are multiple treatments for ADHD today. Some choose the route of western medicine which includes prescription medication here's a brief list:
Ritalin, Mehylin, Metadate, Concerta, Daytrana (methylphenidate), Adderall (dextroamphetamine and amphetamine), Dexedrine (dextroamphetamine), Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate), Focalin (dexmethylphenidate), Strattera (atomoxetine), Aplezin, Wellbutrin, Zyban (buproprion), Intuniv, Tenex (guanfacine), Catapres (clonidine) and Quillivant. Ritalin is the most prescribed treatment for ADD/ADHD in the US.
These prescription medications however are known to cause serious side effects. Most people have experienced uncomfortable or harmful side effects. When these side effects become a problem doctors try to change the dosage and formula or change the type of medication your child is taking. Their goal is to determine what will give the patient the most benefit with the least side effects. Side effects can be both short term and long term. Here is a list of common side effects to the drugs listed above. It is not an exhaustive list and there are likely many more side effects.
There are of course alternative treatment options available. Those include:
- Acupuncture
- Meditation
- Acupressure
These alternative treatments are Traditional Chinese Medicine treatments (TCM) which treats ADD/ADHD using Acupuncture, Meditation, and Acupressure.
A brief history of TCM is from the foundation of disease pathogenesis of a yin and yang imbalance. An overabundance of yang due to deficiency of yin causes an imbalance between yin and yang resulting in phlegm and liver-wind and Fire. It is apparent that this imbalance involves the heart, liver, spleen and kidney systems. Therefore, the treatment is focused on regulating yin and yang, and relieving mental stress.
What this means is that those who are experiencing ADHD can have an unlevel dopamine chemical imbalance in the brain. At times they can experience depression, which means the body doesn’t produce enough dopamine. Another issue caused by an over production of dopamine in the brain is called Turrets.
Acupuncture
You may be asking “What is acupuncture?”
So glad you asked, the technique of acupuncture involves placing hair-thin needles in various pressure points (called acupoints) throughout the body. Stimulating these points is believed to promote the body's natural healing capabilities and enhance its function. Acupuncture has been an essential part of medicine for thousands of years. Scientific studies are offering real evidence that it can ease pain and treat ailments ranging from osteoarthritis to migraine headaches.
In addition to having acupuncture sessions, we recommend taking Sleep Deeply which aids in obtaining a deeper sleep. Getting a great night’s rest is very important to having balanced neurotransmitters. The more balanced we are the healthier we are.
Meditation
Has been around dating back to the 1st century and continues to present day. Falun Gong is a Chinese practice which combines meditation and qi gong exercises for better health. Meditation is a technique that helps transform and calm the mind, develop concentration, grounding and relax the nervous system. The benefits to mind body and spirit are noticeable with continued practice.
Here is an excerpt from WebMD.com
“One landmark UCLA study found that people with ADHD who attended a mindfulness meditation session once a week for 2 1/2 hours, then completed a daily home meditation practice that gradually increased from 5 to 15 minutes over 8 weeks, were better able to stay focused on tasks. They were also less depressed and anxious. Other studies since then have had similar results. Yoga has been shown to help improve ADHD symptoms, too, although most of the research has been done with children. Like mindfulness meditation, it ups dopamine levels and strengthens the prefrontal cortex. One study found that kids who practiced yoga moves for 20 minutes twice a week for 8 weeks improved on tests that measure attention and focus.” (1)
Speaking of Calm Focus. We have a product for that exact purpose. Calm Focus helps your memory by improving your focus and overall mental clarity. It will help relieve tension and promote calmness which results in increased levels of concentration so that you can easily get into a deep workflow. You simply take 2 vegetarian capsules per serving, twice a day to help balance those neurotransmitters to improve your ADHD symptoms.
Acupressure
Acupressure is one of the TCM treatment methods used to treat ADHD. The purpose is to encourage movement of Qi (chi) energy. Below is an image of an ear and where the acupressure points would be pressed. Freeing the energy can help in many ways. As energy is our essence, we need it to be free flowing because when it does, we feel happier in our daily lives. The same pressure points and meridians are used for Acupuncture, but Acupuncture employs needles, while Acupressure uses gentle to firm finger pressure.
Map of Ear Points to Press:
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Summary
Today in our world many people suffer from symptoms of ADHD and suffer the side effects from dangerous drugs created to “help” with the treatment of ADHD. We have found that a well-balanced mind and body can greatly decrease the symptoms of ADHD in both children and adults. Here at SOL Nutrition, it is our goal to spread the greatness of the products we offer. We know and have proof that our products help in many areas of life, ADHD is just one.
We look forward to helping you experience more calmly focused energy and deep sleep so that you can be happy day-to-day.
References:
https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/adhd-mindfulness-meditation-yoga#:~:text=One%20landmark%20UCLA%20study%20found,also%20less%20depressed%20and%20anxious.