ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactive disorder is a booming trend for the medical and pharmaceutical industries. ADHD medication sales have grown 8 percent each year since 2010 and are projected to gain 13 percent this year to $12.9 billion. Estimates continue to project growth over the next five years at an annualized rate of 6 percent, and take in $17.5 billion in the year 2020. This is a business worth billions.
The term attention deficit disorder was made in 1980, when it appeared in the third edition of the DSM (the label changed to ADHD seven years later) and stimulants were being widely prescribed. Subsequent DSM editions have steadily loosened the definition, and diagnoses have skyrocketed accordingly — from 7.8% in 2003 to 9.5% in 2007 to 11% in 2011 (ages 4-17). That’s one in nine children, two-thirds are boys, who are being diagnosed with this disorder. 70% of these children have been prescribed a stimulant.
Published in Pediatrics journal in 2012, the American Psychiatric Association (APA), which publishes the DSM, added detailed descriptions of adult ADHD symptoms for the first time, quelling any doubt that ADHD was only a childhood disorder. It also determined that only five symptoms from the DSM's symptom list need to be present to diagnose someone 17 years old or older, compared to six symptoms for children.
"Later start of stimulant drug treatment of attention/hyperactivity disorder is associated with academic decline in mathematics." Hmm? Always be sure to investigate who is funding the studies.
The fact that one of the doctors on the study received funding from a pharmaceutical company that makes drugs to treat ADHD is completely unethical. it should be outright criminal to have such conflicts of interest. How has medicine gone so far?
Medications have a multitude of side effects. Medications can cause irreversible damage, trigger auto-immune disorders or sepsis, cause insomnia... And yet, we see quotes like this: "There are obvious benefits of getting started sooner rather than later," J. Russell Ramsay says to Reuters Health; he studies ADHD at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine in Philadelphia.
From Natural News, In the Reuter's article, titled "Early ADHD treatment may ward off problems in school," they start off by suggesting that children will have trouble in school if they are not on drugs before the age of 11 or 12. ELEVEN OR TWELVE....One tries to be an "objective journalist" and just report the facts but at times like this it gets challenging.
Many ADHD diagnoses are actually other disorders that have not been recognized by the physician. For example, many children have auditory disorders, chromosomal disorders, boredom, are gifted or pervasive spectrum disorders.
If food is medicine, what about diet?
Children are bombarded by wheat, gluten, sugary drinks and candy in cafeteria meals and vending machines. Coincidentally we are also seeing an increasing incidence of autoimmune and leaky gut conditions in younger and younger generations. Refined sugar creates brain fog; fluoride is a toxin in our toothpaste, water, food, medicine; hormones and antibiotics injected into the meat supply; the pesticide cocktails sprayed on to the few fruits and vegetables we ingest...the list is just too long to make it possible for adults and children NOT have brain malfunction, anxiety, depression, or ADHD, just to name a few. Has anyone thought to try an organic, plant based diet and tossed out the GMO and sweets? There will not be studies performed on this as food does not make money for the industry.
The problems AND answers lie in food. Sadly, the pharmaceutical companies will do everything in their power to get the paid medical community to object. Beware as doctors actually believe they are doing good for the ill. They, unfortunately, are one of the worst groups of brainwashed Americans out there.
So what are some natural remedies?
1)Ditch the dyes
The Mayo clinic has labeled food dyes as potential causes of hyperactivity. Here are some examples:
Sodium benzoate
FD&C yellow No. 6, yellow No. 10 yellow No. 5 and red No 40.
2)Read food labels and look for potential allergies
Avoid chocolate, GMO, MSG, aspartame, refined sugar which definitely increases mood swings and brain fog, wheat, gluten, dyes and even foods containing salicylate a like berries, apples, grapes, cider, peaches and tomatoes. Also be on the look out for BHA and BHT which are toxins as well as minimizing milk and eggs, which are high on the list of potential allergens.
3) Try Biofeedback
EEG biofeedback particularly has been promising. The theory is to retrain the brain using fun tasks that require concentration and track the brain wave pattern. You can read about the success of the study here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3051071/
4) Try relaxation exercises such as yoga, meditation, tai chi or massages
A 2003 study in Adolescence journal showed that patients who received massage therapy for 20 minutes twice a week experienced improved mood in the short term and improved behavior over the long term.
In 2013, multiple research studies showed improved hyperactivity, mood and attitude in boys who regularly participated in yoga. Tai chi has also been shown to improve behavior and calm reactivity and anxiety.
ADHD is a disorder due to a vata imbalance according to ayurvedic medicine. Massage oils like olive, sesame or sesame are very grounding and will be beneficial.
5) Supplements
Certain supplements have been shown to improve mood and anxiety but always be sure to have the approval of your doctor or pediatrician.
Zinc
Vitamin B6 or pyridoxine
Passionflower
Chamomile
Magnesium
L-cartinine
Ginseng
Lemon balm
Skullcap
Valerian
6) Technology time out
Kids are so much more "plugged in" today than we were growing up! A break from electromagnetic radiation can really make a difference. Sleep disturbances, headaches, fatigue, memory problems, and irritability are all side effects of high EMF exposure. Not to mention, many parents are being parented by electronics nowadays so overwhelmed adults can have a time out themselves.
So there happens to be a number of alternative theories on ADHD.....
What I've explained above is the left brained, scientific answer for ADHD. There is also a right brained answer that science refutes. What is it? Well some opponents of ADHD say that it is nonexistent and a product of the pharmaceutical industry creating diagnoses to promote their drugs. Not only that, but do you know what an indigo child is? These are loving, warrior children that are being born more and more frequently on earth with the intention to "wake the world up" and bring positive love and change to the corrupt system.
Many of these drugs including Adderall and Ritulin actually block their magical ability to sense energies and know their purpose. If you are born with such a responsibility, then it is imperative that you are able to integrate higher frequency energies. The higher the vibration of the energy, the more you are able to perceive or sense things that are out of your normal vibratory zone as the everything is energy! Energy upgrades your DNA and also raises your own native vibration. Having so much energy integrated into a person can cause anxiety and ungrounding. Blocking this frequency with synthetic medications can take away a child's purpose and numb them to higher frequencies which are necessary for their awakening.
Please do your child a favor and get educated on ADHD. There are ways to deal with it non medically and still raise a magical, happy and productive child.
STAY ENLIGHTENED
DR J