Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADD or ADHD) is defined as age-inappropriate impulsiveness, lack of attention, extreme excessive physical activity, or hyper-focus on certain things. ADD is associated with lack of focus, which could lead to learning difficulties. There is no objective criteria exists to accurately confirm the presence of ADD. We usually only think of children could have ADD or ADHD. However, adults could have it too. Many adults may have ADD and not even know they are impacted. Some people were born with it, but others may have developed at some point in their lives due to brain injuries. ADHD is a real medical condition that can affect both children and adults in serious ways. Adults with ADHD, the symptoms aren’t limited to the workplace. Their symptoms can impact them at home, and in social settings during their day.

An ADHD adult I know had shared his experience with me. He didn’t know he had ADHD, but he had noticed the trouble of focusing, especially with reading and learning things in the school. After spent four hours on reading a three pages of article, he still had no idea what the article was about. It would always be an effort for him to sit down to study. Every few minutes, he would want to do something else. He had trouble sitting in the class. It really affected his performance in the school. Then, he left the burner of the stove on after the cooking. For few times with couple weeks, he almost burned down the house. There were times he sat to start drawing, and he could be so focused without realizing the place was filled with smoke until the smoke detector went off. He used to think he was just forgetful and clumsy. Because of the frequency of left the burner on, he was scared one day he would burn himself. So he reached out for professional help. Later, he was diagnosed with ADHD.

The main drug treatment for ADD, Ritalin (methylphenidate), stimulates our central nervous system (CNS), and inhibits the re-uptake of dopamine and norepinephrine by blocking the receptors of their transporters, so dopamine and norepinephrine stay in the synaptic junction between the pre and post nervous synapses. Paradoxically, these types of drugs increase hyperactivity in adults but most often have a calming effect in those with ADD. There is not really been studies looking into how these drugs may affect children long term. But some parents and adult patients have concerns of the long term effects of such medical intervention. A variety of natural approaches to this condition have been investigated as alternatives to Ritalin.

Environmental exposure:

• Lead exposure
• Cadmium exposure
• Mercury exposure
• Prenatal exposure to lead or other heavy metals
• Consumption of non-organic food – usually by the schools

Common symptom pattern associated with this condition:

• Inability to pay attention
• Mood swings
• Unstable emotion
• Easily to get distracted

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) patho-physiology:

• Brain – in TCM. When the Heart is disturbed, all the other organs will be disrupted.
• Spleen – relates to the ability to assimilate, stabilize, and feel balanced and centered. When spleen is out of balance, it could manifest obsessive over thinking, trouble to concentrate, mental sluggishness, obsessions turned toward the past; fixed and rigid ideas.
• Kidney – houses the soul which governs the core vitality, expressive ambition and focus. When Kidney is out of the balance, it could manifest confused speech, feeling of discouragement, scattered thoughts, lack of will, negativity, and impatience.
• Liver – houses the ethereal soul. It expresses itself in nervous system and reflects emotional harmony and movement. When liver is out of balance, it manifests discontent, anger, pain, rigidity, inflexibility/stubbornness, impulsive behaviors, irritability, or even violence.

There could be different TCM pattern diagnosis involved in one or multiple of organs. I will highly recommend you to see an acupuncturist or TCM herbalist to get acupuncture or herbal treatments.

Lifestyle changes for parents:

• Avoid smoking or alcohol usage during the pregnancy

Dietary changes:

• Feingold diet – developed by Benjamin Feingold, M.D.,
  • Salicylates are chemicals similar to aspirin, which are found in a wide variety of foods. This chemical is an underlying cause of hyperactivity. But about 10-15% children may be sensitive to it.
  • This diet also eliminates synthetic additives, dyes and chemicals which are commonly added to processed foods.
  • If you are interested in this type of diet, you may want to contact National Feingold Associations for more information about which foods and medicines contain salicylates.

Nutritional supplements – highly recommend to consult with a nutritionist or a naturopathic doctor.

A deficiency of several essential fatty acids has been observed in children with ADD compared to unaffected children.

• Vitamins B Especially B6 and B3
• Fish oil: Omega-3 fatty acids or Algae Omega-3 for vegetarians
• High proteins foods
• Low sugar foods
• Vitamin C: 3gm. (for healthy children)
• Vitamin B6: 200–300 mg
• Niacinamide: 1 – 3 gm
• Calcium: 1 gm
• Magnesium: 500 mg

I will highly suggest having a food sensitivity test, so you know what foods to avoid. There are herbal formulas that could help with this condition, but it has to be prescribed by an herbalist. There is a book you can read about:

Food to avoid to eliminate hyperactivity because your body could be sensitive to:

• Coloring and preservatives
• Cow’s milk
• Soy products
• Chocolates
• Grapes
• Oranges
• Peanuts
• Wheat
• Corn
• Tomatoes
• Eggs
• Cane sugar, simple sugars
• Fish
• Oats

Foods chelating heavy metals

• Apples
• Seaweed
• Foods high in methionine and cysteine
• Garlic
• Beans

Other helps:

• Book “Healing the New Childhood Epi