My idea is don't look for alternatives. Herbal meds are just as strong as others and they are not all regulated. Read the meds on Dr. Amens web page regarding treatment....example: he recomends St. John's Wort...but says not to take it at all unless you are under the care of a doctor...and especially dont take it with any other antidepressant. He does recomend special diets though depending on the type you have...have your daughter take the free online test for ADD and then the free type test afterwords...when she is done there are a series of types listed you can click on the "more info" tab and see the description and what causes it such as frontal brain lob inactivity...etc....then he will say that that is due to say lack of dopamine therefore diet needs to be strong in bla bla bla...anyway you get the point ....but with all this stuff he still recomends stimulants...you might also see if your daughter needs anti anxioty pills etc...most of the time ADHD or ADD has a secondary problem with it....
My daughter and I both have ADD...me hyper and she daydream....
I wish my Mother would have known that I had ADHD when I was a child and had me on medication I would have had a better chance at a career and a better social life and better long term relationships....and not felt like a weirdo....all the time you waste on finding some drug that is alternative is precious time she could be on what is proven and she could have a better chance at life......not waste it.
Take it from one who feels like when I started meds I was all the sudden living...wake her up and lift the fog from her life...now!
I agree. If it's that bad, and she doesn't respond to a lower suger, higher protein moderate grain diet along with the few supplements that are recommended on Dr. Amen's site, then I would definitely seek treatment. I'm 29 y/o and was diagnosed at 27 although at that time, I just didn't believe I had it, I thought I was just dumb. My therapist put me on meds, and while I was on meds, I watched a tape called(I was procrastinating on watching this by the way) Where There's A will There's an A and with both combined, for the FIRST time in my life, I got a 97% on my chemistry test when I was used to getting mid B's and C's. But I gave the tape credit for it and went off the meds. Well, through the last year and so months, the symptoms were becoming overwhelming and now I've been on meds for exactly one week. I'm currently on Ritalin since it's known to be safe and has been out for SO long. I'm not sure if it's helping with my studies yet because I haven't took a test, but I do notice a difference in my focus. I used to STUDY TOO much just so I can remember cause if i didn't, I'd forget quickly. I wish you the best of luck, but like I said, I would try a better diet and the natrual way first but it surely didn't work for me which leads me to be skeptical about alternatives myself.It can't hurt to try multvitamins, calcium/magnesium/zinc supplements and various dietary modifications. Thorough allergy testing and elimination of artificial colorings and preservatives are worth trying to see if you get any results. These are of help to some people but not others. Good luck!My daughter had just been diagnosed with adhd. We are looking at alternatives to conventional medicine. Any ideas??????
[QUOTE=mom1]My daughter had just been diagnosed with adhd. We are looking at alternatives to conventional medicine. Any ideas??????
[/QUOTE]
I don't have any ideas I'm afraid, but I'm sure that there are those on this forum who will have.
What I will say is that if your alternatives don't work (and I'm sceptical about alternative treatments), please don't deny her conventional medicine. This section of the forum is about adults with ADHD, and most of us have had a very difficult life trying to live with untreated ADHD. Don't condemn her to the same fate - I most certainly wouldn't want any child of mine to have to endure the problems I have had.
Having said all that, I wish you success in your search for an alternative.
Mark -
[QUOTE=mom1]My daughter had just been diagnosed with adhd. We are looking at alternatives to conventional medicine. Any ideas??????
[/QUOTE]