A Northwestern University Medical study revealed that the number of children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has risen 66 percent over the past 10 years. Over 10.4 million children under the age of 18 have been diagnosed by their physician in 2010 compared to only 6.2 million in 2000.

While treatment for ADHD has been successful which children often being given Ritalin, a psychostimulant that has proven to increase their ability to focus, improve their grades and feel better about themselves, the overall safety effects of Ritalin and other ADHD medications has come in to question for overall safety and long-term health effects.

Common side effects of Ritalin may include insomnia, high blood pressure, nausea, loss of appetite, nervousness and more. Parents who are questioning standard treatment for their children have been digging deeper to understand exactly what ADHD is and finding solutions to treat the disorder without medication.

Is the environment to blame?

In 2010, Canadian researchers reported a link between air pollution and ADHD Additional factors for increased ADHD in children have been attributed to toxic exposure during pregnancy, food additives and lead. As research continues on linking the environment and its effect on children parents can do their best to create a prevention plan by eating holistically, checking their paint for lead, reducing their exposure of toxins during pregnancy and avoiding plastics.

The holistic approach to ADHD

There are several ways parents looking to naturally treat or manage their children’s ADHD can approach treatment with a holistic and natural approach that avoids medication and long-term health issues.

Here are three alternative treatments:

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3 Comments

  1. Sounds like great ideas. However typo in second graph. *witch*

  2. I love the emphasis on holistic healing but i noticed that this article purports whole grains to treat ADHD. You might want to explore the gluten connection as a cause/ aggravator of ADHD.

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