Looking for alternatives to medicine

janetlp - I read somewhere that sensitivity to phosphate may be related to ad/hd type behavior, so I checked into it a bit further. It seems that the typical calcium to phosphorous ratio in the human diet, prior to processed foods was about 1 to 1. These days it is about 1 to 20, sometimes even higher! The foods with the highest phospates are the ones kids eat the most: hot dogs, processed cheese and peanut butter. I am convinced that there is something to this.

Anyway, I decided to try a low phosphorous higher calcium diet and do believe it helps. I think my sons behavior is noticably better on the days he eats this diet. Unfortunately, all his favorite foods are on the "do not eat list", and my husband thinks I'm a bit nuts and he won't stick to the diet so it usually only happens on the days I am home all day. It is alot of work cooking from scratch and finding foods without phosphate preservatives, but may be worth a try. Best of luck to you!

When I read your e-mail, I thought I wrote it myself. I too am tired of the side effects that the meds have. My 8 y.o. daughter has been on Concerta, Metadate, and most recently Adderall XR. I took her off the meds about a month and a half ago b/c she was an emotional rollercoaster.

She would cry at the drop of a hat. When she brushed her hair, her head was sensative and she would cry. She would cry b/c she thought that she wasn't spending enough time with her stuffed animals!

As to her eating - she wasn't. She was never hungry. She lost about 4 lbs in 6 months. Clothes that were at one time getting a little snug, were barely hanging on to her hips. She, me, and her stepfather hated it. She would cry b/c she was never hungry.

And sleep, that wasn't happening either. She would lay in bed for about two hours b/f she would eventually fall alseep. She would complain and get out of bed to tell us that she can't sleep. To add to all of this, she knew why this was happening. It was the meds and she hates them b/c of the way they make her not eat or sleep.

The benefit to the meds were that they did help her focus. And they helped tremendously but the side effects were something we can't handle. On the meds she really didn't laugh. She was more alert but almost in a trance behavior.

We are taking her to the doctor today to see what our options are. I would love to find either a med that doesn't have such dramitic side effects or an alternative. We had her in counciling earlier in the year but when she stopped talking to the psychologist, we stopped going. There was no point.

Since school has started, we have been struggling. Homework is difficult on us all. She has a hard time sitting still, focusing on the task at hand, being distracted by any noise, and needs consistant redirection. It is soooo frustrating.

Last Friday the teacher called me at work to tell me she bit another student on the play ground and also kick a boy in his private area. I hope the doctor has some answers for me today.

I don't know if I answered your question but I wanted you to know you are not alone in the side affects of the meds.

Janetlp - We've been where you are. There are other options, but none that are probably as immediately effective as meds so you need to determine that you are ready to deal with it. Homework will just get worse.

Anyway - search this site for Alternative - there is quite a bit of information on supplements. Excercise is also a benefit. Allergies and diet can be a huge factor, so look at the Feingold diet, and research information on allergies. Somebody on this site reported they are using the Handle Method, with uses an excercise program. We are using some diet restrictions, along with Dore Centers, which is also an excercise type of program, and we are seeing success. We are pretty optomistic at this point, but it is very expensive, so you need to research and do lots of homework before you make any decisions about something like this.

In addition, we use various activities to break up the day - walking/biking in the morning, shooting some baskets after school, karate, swimming - things that get some of that energy down. This seems to help with homework time for us.

Be your childs advocate at school. Find stratagies that work for your child and share them with his teacher.

It's not easy, but we think it's been good for our son. Muh luck to you - this is a very hard decision you have to make.

as krobb has said, there's alot out there in the way of alternatives. i'll add chiropractics and what we use, homeopathy.

some of the other members have found chiropractics adjustments very helpful. hopefully some will post and offer better info. than i can.

we also removed food dyes and some preservatives. this helped in the way of behavior and focus issues (some)

homeopathy has done wonders for my son. i'm happy to answer any questions you might have about this.

none of the alternatives will give immediate relief. some take awhile to work, but considering what your child has experienced with meds side effects, i think the wait will be worth it.

I work in the vitamin and supplement industry which lead me to do some research in this area. I often read articles promoted by the manufacturers but I wanted to double check. This message board is great and the support everyone gives each other is heartwarming.

Thank You all for your input I really appreciate it. I know sometimes its trial and error. We are all unique in our own way. I wish all of you success in your efforts. I have wriiten down a lot of your suggestions. If I find anything that really works I will be sure to share the info. We have been really exercising and I feel that's a win win situation, and anyone who exercises out there can testify how great we feel after a good run/workout. " the natural high "

I decided to try a natural approach because in my situation I tried a few differnt med's, some helped a tiny bit, but the side effects of not eating and sleeping I just can't live with, it doesn't seem healthy to me. I don't think it's a matter of right and wrong, but what works for each of us or our children.

In the past decade, prescriptions for Ritalin, a stimulant medication commonly used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), increased five-fold, with 90 percent of all prescriptions worldwide consumed in the United States. As many parents grow leery of the traditional medical approach to ADHD, doctors of chiropractic are offering promising results with non-drug treatments that focus on postural muscles, nutrition and lifestyle changes that affect brain activity.

Some children may simply have difficulty learning certain subjects, but the current system—in a sense—prompts school officials to encourage their parents to have the children diagnosed with ADHD, says Dr. Scott Bautch, past president of the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) Council on Occupational Health. "The higher the number of disabled kids in the school, the more funding the school can apply for," says Dr. Bautch.

Some teachers might also have difficulty with students who have a different style of learning, according to Dr. Bautch. If the child is a visual learner—and the teacher is not—perhaps the child is not being taught in a way he or she can learn. Before diagnosing the child with ADHD, Dr. Bautch recommends doctors talk to the child and the parents: "Is the child too active? Bored? Has dyslexia or a different learning pattern? It can be a behavior problem, problems at home, or frustrations with the teacher's style," explains Dr. Bautch. "If we went to a conference where the speakers taught in a way we can't learn, we would be frustrated and would misbehave—we'd get up and leave or chat to the person sitting next to us."

The traditional medical model, however, seems to follow the cookie-cutter principle. The diagnosis of ADHD is based on a questionnaire. But this is not enough, says Dr. Robert Melillo, a chiropractic neurologist. "True ADHD patients have other signs — tics, tremors, balance or postural problems, or unusual sensitivity to touch, movement, sights, or sounds." Unfortunately, although medications can keep ADHD under control, they don't cure it. Eighty percent of patients have ADHD features in adolescence, and up to 65 percent maintain them in adulthood.

Doctors of chiropractic and chiropractic neurologists offer a non-drug and non-invasive treatment alternative for ADHD patients that targets the underlying problems, not just symptoms. "Motor activity—especially development of the postural muscles—is the baseline function of brain activity. Anything affecting postural muscles will influence brain development. Musculoskeletal imbalance will create imbalance of brain activity, and one part of the brain will develop faster than the other, and that's what's happening in ADHD patients," says Dr. Melillo.

Chiropractic neurologists are trained to identify the underfunctioning part of the brain and find treatments to correct the problem, to help that hemisphere grow. "On every patient, we perform a brain function exam," says Dr. Frederick Carrick, president of the ACA Council on Neurology. "We test visual and auditory reflexes through, for example, flashing light in the eye, or asking patients to listen to music in one or the other ear."

When the problem is identified, patients are placed on a treatment program—and most of the therapies can be done at home. "Patients are asked to smell certain things several times a day ... or wear special glasses," says Dr. Mark S. Smith, a chiropractic neurologist. "We also focus on their individual problems. Some children, for example, have difficulty with planning, organization, and coordination—so they benefit from timing therapies. They learn to clap or tap to the metronome, perform spinning and balancing exercises."

Although currently no studies comparing chiropractic neurological and medical treatment for ADHD are available, chiropractic neurologists are compiling the data. "We test children before they start the treatment and then every three months," says Dr. Melillo. "Within the first three months, the children get a two-grade-level increase on average—which is pretty dramatic. With children on medications, the improvement in academic performance is short term and lasts only as long as they take the medication. Our programs change the brain function and the improvement doesn't go away."

While chiropractic neurologists have found success in treating ADHD and learning disabilities by providing the necessary brain stimulation, they also recommend nutrition and lifestyle changes that may help correct or prevent biochemical imbalances that cause ADHD. Parents are encouraged to:

Remove as many food dyes, sugar, preservatives, and additives from the diet as possible.
Focus on natural, mostly organic foods with as few pesticides or herbicides as possible.
Determine if there is an allergy—usually starting with dairy and gluten and try elimination diets.
Stop using pesticide sprays in the house.
Avoid taking medications, nicotine, alcohol, and other drugs in pregnancy that may harm the fetus.
Find ways to relax during pregnancy. Stress on the job may affect the unborn baby's health, as well.
Breastfeed. The first months and years of a child's life are critical to physical and psychological development. Breastfeeding mothers' diets are important as well.

Chiropractic Care Can Help...
If you or your loved one is diagnosed with ADHD or has the symptoms, ask your doctor of chiropractic if he or she has experience treating patients with the condition. Doctors of chiropractic are trained to identify neurological problems and find individual non-invasive treatment modalities. They can also assess your nutritional status and help you find the diet that will help you manage your condition.

Chiropractic in Cyberspace...
For information on how to properly diagnose ADHD, the effects of stimulant medications, substance abuse problems related to ADHD, treatment of learning disabilities, ADHD causes and prevention, ADHD and diet, and other health and wellness topics, visit us today at www.acatoday.com or call us at 800/986-4636.

WATCH YOUR DISH WASHER SOAPS. LAUNDRY SOAPS. CONTAIN PHOSPHATES TOO.WE BUY MELALEUCA'S PHOSPHATE FREE. bUY YOUR PROTUCTS FROM WELLNESS STORES LIKRE THIS OR HEALTH STORES. BETTER FOR YOUR HEALTH. i BUY ALL MY PRODUCTS FOM THIS COMPANIES. TOOTHPASTE ALSO.HAIR PRODUCTS ALSO.

ELIMINATING IS A BIG EXPENSIVE BUT HELPED US ALL. tHE HARDEST ONE FOR OUR SON IS CHOLORINE. WE PLAN TO FILTER OUR WATER SYSTEM ALSO. WE ALSO HAVE A AIR PURIFIER/SANITIZER ALSO.

kppy, I would be VERY interested to hear more about the homeopathy!!! My daughter was just diagnosed with ADHD and my husband and I are very conflicted whether we want to put our almost 4 year old on such harsh drugs, so we're thinking homeopathy may be the way to start.

Of course, I've read tons of reports on homeopathy that say it's a waste of time, they don't work, they're made in unsanitary and safe conditions in foreign countries that aren't regualted, etc. Both seem scary, we're just trying to decide what the least scary way to help our daughter is. I do know though that we have homeopathic colic and teething pills that we bought at the regular drug store that had an AMAZING effect on our son. They're a miracle really!

Did you try homeopathy first or after you tried the drugs? How long did they take before you noticed a difference in his behavior? Did it take a few tries to get his contitutional right? How long has he been on the homeopathic meds?

Our daughter is VERY impulsive, hyperactive, getting more aggressive (esp. with her younger siblings), loud, talkative, doesn't listen, etc. They all sound likte typical toddler behaviors, but believe me it's different. She's been like this since she was born. And as she gets older, she doesn't seem to be outgrowing them...she only seems worse.

We're also starting Occupational Therapy to see if this will help too since she also has Sensory Issues.

Did you ever get hair, blood and urine tests to see if your son was allergic to preservatives, chemicals, dyes, etc.? If so, did your regular pediatrician order the tests? How do they know what to test for b/c it seems like there's so many out there?

We have an appt. on Tues. to see a homeopath who's also and MD. She charges $300 per visit though, so I want to make sure this is a viable path to go down.

It will give you multiple treatment/intervention options. The U.S. Office of Education also has multiple publications on ADHD, including intervention information.

Lastly, keep you physician informed of the side effects. They sound significant.

We found out by blood tests that my son has several food "sensitiviities" . I have seen some very good changes in his behavior since implementing a diet. THere have been some slips. Unfortunately, not a diet a 12 yo really wants to stay on. No yeast, wheat, dairy and there are 12 others!!. THey say we will prob be able to introduce.

We were at wits end. Fifth grade was horrible!! I still have him on stimulants. He eats well in the morning and evening. If his adhd is under control, his odd is min. I highly encourage anyone to look at the food sources. We had to pay 355. out of pocket but worth it for the results. I am still trying to find a "bread" he likes.

What kind of doctor did you see to get your blood tests? I asked our allergist about them and Doris Rapp and he thought she was basically a quack. I found her book to be very interesting though. I still think this is something to look into but I'm not sure who will administer such blood tests. Currently we're trying my daughter on her 2nd homeopathic remedy which doesn't seem to be helping at all yet, but I'm keeping the faith that it will eventually kick in.

My pediatrician ordered the tests. We were having a myriad of problems besides behavior including sinus infections. He has worked with many autism kids who have food sensitivities as well. THe lab we used was Immunolaboratories in Fla. I am an NP so I checked their validity out before we did it. They do have a web site. If you can't find a provider, they should be able to tell you who could do it in your locale. Most allergists test for IgA's but these are IgG's which are a delayed reaction. There is a big difference. Read about the kids with autism. It is fascinating the changes they see with them when they change their diet.

The more I know about this stuff the more I believe most of us are affected by our diet and environment. duh!! Anyway, it leaves me with new thoughts when I am taking care of my patients.

I do not work with a homeopath but have thought about it. We are doing an eval at learningrx this coming week, so my energy will be there as well as this diet.

Feingold would have been ok if the kid was young, but I was not going to put him on it. The blood tests told us what we needed to know. I don't notice any diff with the dyes. When we reintroduce foods in August I may find an offender. Kids with food allergies tend to crave the aggravator. My son would consume huge milk shakes almost nitely. That was his greatest sensitivity.

We're going to be in FL for 6 weeks from mid June until the end of July. Tampa. Would you mind giving me the name of your pedi and I can contact him if he's close enough. I live in the SF area and there's a DR. my daughter's OT recommended who also specializes with Autistic kids and I thinks she may do these kinds of blood tests too. She doesn't have autism, so we just went the homeopathy route first although I do suspect a dairy behavioral allergy after reading Rapp's book and observation. She definitely is INTOLERANT to sugar too. If you'd prefer to PM with the info that's fine too. I'd appreciate any help you could lend. Thanks so much!

My pedi is in Indiana, so I am sure that would not work for you. I would contact the lab and find a provider. My ped only uses this certain lab because of the reliability and the support they give the patients afterwards. If you do a google search, I am sure you would find them.

Have a great vacation. If you suspect a dairy allergy ... go for it!! The problem comes in deciding which intervention worked for you.

I'd be interested in something alternative, too. For four years we've run ourselves into walls over the med situation. He's had 13 changes (9 different meds). Most have caused tics or major weightloss and sleep problems and even extreme irritability.

A friend has mentioned something called "Juice Plus" for ADHD kids. They have some sort of gummies vitamins that apparently can help ADHD in kids after a few months of taking the vitamins. The website I saw had a little testimony given by Dr. William Sears. I tell you this, though, I'm SO leary of another change.

It seems every single summer I go through the whole, "Let's try vitamins, or no meds or something else for a while and see what happens at the start of the school year." Then school starts, the teacher quickly notes the major focusing problem my son has, we start meds back, and the teacher sees a big difference. BUT, the issues come back at LEAST twice during the rest of the school year despite medicine. I'm just spent. I don't know which way to turn. I'm going to try some of the websites you guys posted here.

Hi! My 9yr old son was taking Adderral XR. It seemed to help with his being able to focus in the classroom, but he became "zombie" like at school. No emotions. In the evenings, he would break down and cry over the smallest things. He also started to have facial and vocal tics. I missed my silly, sensitive,busy boy! I decided to take him off the meds and try something different. I am so proud of what he has been able to acheive since being off the adderral. He just passed his end of grade tests with flying colors, and he is doing better socially. He has to work hard, and we have a tutor to help him when he needs a little extra repetition. Here are some of the things we are having luck with-I pray everyday they continue to work-maybe they will help someone elses special little person!

! I make sure he eats a hearty breakfast with milk and oj and 2 pediactive tablets. He also eats alot of peanut butter,and red grapes throughout the day. Sounds strange, but a glass of Mountain Dew in the morning really does seem to make him more focused. When hecomes home from school, he has a good protein snack and red grapes along with two multi vitamins I found at GNC that seem to cover all the bases for the vitamins and minerals he needs. I am looking into starting giving him a n appropriate dose of omega 3 fish oil supplements each day. Still researching this. He gets his excercise every day, plenty of sleep, and we do anything we can to help him keep a positive attitude and help build up his self esteem. He has to work harder,but we try to come up with ways to keep his work organized(he keeps a steno pad in his backpack and writes down everything he needs to do for school) and we use lots of repetition to help him remember. Sorry for the long post-we are just so excited to see him doing so well and learning how to cope with the challenges add brings to him. I know there will be more to come! Good luck to us all!!!!!

Haley4, that's fantastic. My son is the same age, and I've been contemplating some major changes (including the vitamins and omega 3 capules which I bought not too long ago). I have terribly picky eater, but your success has given me just one more reason to give the change a try. I'm not at all against anyone giving their kids the medications they need. We've been on so many (and endured the same kind of reactions as your son.....and a few others), it's ridiculous. I just feel deep down that there's something I'm NOT doing (despite all of the meds, the therapy, etc.) that I should be doing. I am just praying for an answer in this. Thanks for sharing your success story.

I looked into the hriptc.org site - they got back to me right away but wanted $1500 to "evaluate" my child. seems a bit steep to me.