Brain & Mental Health

Complementary and Alternative Treatments for ADHD

Attention-Deficit Hyperactive Disorder or ADHD is more common than you think. It affects a massive number of children and adult. People who have ADHD, face everyday challenges in doing simple things like listening attentively, focusing on something or concentrating, etc. It is a widespread neurobehavioral disorder(1). Apart from conventional therapies, there are a lot of alternative treatments for ADHD, which can help you to get rid of this problem.

In the year 1902, Sir George Frederick Still gave a significant recognition to ADHD as a defect of moral control.

Alternative Ways to Treat ADHD

Besides the conventional treatment of ADHD, several other modes can accelerate the recovery from the signs and symptoms of ADHD. Check out the alternative treatments for ADHD.

Yoga for ADHD

The mind of an ADHD patient is always busy with self-conscious thoughts, which cause mental turmoil and physical unrest. Yoga works by reducing hyperactivity and inducing peace of mind. The best thing about the yoga poses for ADHD is, almost all the poses are natural, and anybody can do it.

Why Is It Beneficial?

Focusing on the rhythmic pattern of breathing during yoga for ADHD helps to be present and grounded. It provides relief against stress and anxiety and makes the mind more attentive and stable. Practicing yoga with the humming noise, ‘Om’ is more beneficial for ADHD. That particular sound creates a vibration in vagus nerve that helps to calm the mind and relax.

[ Also Read: Natural Ways to Treat ADHD ]

Some Common Yoga Poses You Can Try

1. Mountain Pose

Image:ShutterStock

You have to stand up straight with your feet together to do the pose.  Straighten and stretch your legs without locking the knees. Push your feet on the ground and keep your head straight. Your hands should be beside your body with palms open and facing forward.

Why Is It Beneficial?

Yoga increases attention capacity and concentration, and attention span. Yoga also helps you to be more focused. Yoga poses include systematic breathing, which helps to get rid of anxiety and restlessness. Feeling the stretch in the arms or legs increases the awareness about the body. Kids learn to keep their whole focus and mind in one place at a time.

This pose accelerates self-control and awareness about balance. Mountain poses, or tadasana increase the concentration. Due to the optimum stretching, this pose is excellent for the overall nervous system. It helps to increase steadiness in breathing. Mountain pose also helps to create harmony between body and mind.

2. Roaring Lion Pose

This pose is one of the kid’s favorite poses. To do the roaring lion pose, you have to kneel on the floor with your hips resting on your calves. Place your palms on the knees and keep your spine straight. Close your eyes. Now open your mouth to stretch out your tongue outside as far as possible. Inhale and exhale with a forced roaring sound. Repeat it at least five times.

Why Is It Beneficial?

Kids gradually become confident about trying and practicing new things. Yoga is one of the best self-calming and self-control techniques. By learning these yoga poses, they usually become more interactive, aware, and confident.

Roaring Lion Pose deeply eliminates the tension and stress from the nervous system. The roaring vibration unclogs the nervous system and triggers the calmness. It helps to get rid of anxiety, overthinking, and absentmindedness.

3. Child’s Pose

Image:ShutterStock

This pose is effortless to practice. Kneel and sit on your feet with your spine straight. Your knees will remain together.

Now slowly bend forward and place your forehead on the ground in front of your knees. You can extend your arms forward in front of your head or put them back of your body. Your chest should rest on your thighs throughout this posture.

Why Is It Beneficial?

Daily practice of yoga helps the restlessness among kids. Practicing the same poses over and over makes them confident and disciplined. They learn to do mindful breathing while maintaining. Daily practice of yoga also helps to understand the effect of consistency.

Meditation for ADHD

Meditation is one of the most effective alternative treatments for ADHD. Research reveals that the mindfulness type of meditation is highly beneficial for calming the mind and improving cognitive abilities. It releases stress and anxiety and helps to slow down.

Unlike traditional treatments, the practice of mindfulness meditation for ADHD does not require a visit to the therapist or any specific guidance. Mindfulness meditation can be practiced through walking, sitting, and through yoga. It is like an exercise for the brain.

Why Is It Beneficial?

This meditation for ADHD works by strengthening the ability of the mind to control the power of attention and works upon thickening the pre-frontal cortex, which is the part of the brain that performs the functions like planning, thinking, focusing, and controlling impulses. It also helps in raising the level of dopamine production, which is essential for the cure for ADHD.

Here are a few tips on mindfulness meditation for ADHD

  • The first few sessions might seem tedious, but hold on to it with patience, and it will pay off.
  • Focus on your breathing if you are suddenly feeling anxious.
  • If you are feeling restless, try a bit of moving meditation while strolling and putting your body and mind to rest. You can try the same while sitting as well. If your attention strays away, bring it back by focusing on the sensations on the soles of the feet to enhance your concentration power and get rid of the restlessness.
  • Set reminders on your phone and clock in with sessions of mindfulness meditation at the right time for the gradual cure of ADHD.
  • Try to get hold of a buddy and practice the procedure of mindfulness meditation together to keep it from becoming tedious for you.

[ Also Read: Complementary and Alternative Treatments for ADHD ]

Acupuncture for ADHD

Image: ShutterStock

Increasingly convincing discoveries of acupuncture for ADHD is making it one of the most effective alternative treatments for ADHD. The simplicity and inexpensiveness of acupuncture are the secrets behind its fame. This age-old therapy is trusted and time tested remedy for many ailments, including ADHD(2).

Why Is It Beneficial?

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which is a holistic framework, every patient is separate. That is why TCM explicitly addresses to their identity, issues, and bodies. Treatment of ADHD through acupuncture therapy and the oriental therapies are viewed much uniquely in contrast to western prescription, which considers ADHD to be a complex neurodevelopmental issue.

As per Chinese medication, ADHD is either because of inadequate sustenance of the soul, soul unsettling by some energy, or orifice block by congested blood or mucus.

Related Post

Acupuncture in specific pressure points of the meridians releases the blocked energy and restore the overall flow of the vital energy flow. In light of clinical research, both acupuncture therapy and Chinese herbs can be utilized as an elective treatment to cure ADHD.

An extensive program including both auricular acupuncture therapy and Chinese herbs may almost certainly fill in as a necessary treatment for mellow ADHD youngsters and as a subordinate treatment for severe cases to perhaps bring down the dose of a drug required and diminish the reactions.

[Also Read: Essential Oils For ADHD]

Homeopathic Remedies for ADHD

Image:ShutterStock

Homeopathy treatment kindles and triggers our body’s self-cure capacity and helps to restore the natural mental aptitudes. The best thing about homeopathy treatment for ADHD is, the medicines are administered in a small amount and generally does not have any harmful side effects. Homeopathy does not require lifelong treatment and does not suppress disease symptoms.

Homeopathic remedies for ADHD work wonders for the natural alleviation of the symptoms of ADHD. Some of the most effective homeopathic remedies for the natural treatment of ADHD include the following:

1. Cruda

The best part is that coffee cruda is perfectly safe for children and can help to cope with racing thoughts, anxiety issues, chronic sleep disorders, and fatigue. Medical research reveals that coffee cruda is way more effective than valerian, the drug for sleeping.

Why Does It Work?

These unroasted coffee beans made a homeopathic remedy is one of the effective ways to treat ADHD. The administration of coffee cruda helps to unwind the mind and revitalize it with new energy and spirits. This homeopathic medicine can combat sleeplessness and calms the mind of both adults and children

2. Synaptol

Synaptol is a homeopathic remedy that is specially made for two-year-olds and above.

Why does it work?

Synaptol is a liquid combination of green oats grass, skullcap, sweet violet, and other medicinal herbs that are highly effective in the improvement of attentive power, cognitive performance, and peace of mind.

3. Verta Alb

Verta alb is a plant extract that belongs to the lily family. The administration of the homeopathic remedy of Verta alb is highly effective for calming the nerves. The homeopathic treatment of Verta alb is suitable for children who suffer from comorbid anxiety and ADHD.

Why does it work?

It helps the children to control temper and emotions and become more focused and attentive. Verta alb is also helpful for the cure of mood swings, irritability, and other symptoms of ADHD.

However, you should avoid the excessive consumption of Verta alb as that can be harmful to the body and mind.

4. Stramonium

Stramonium is the homeopathic remedy prepared from the Datura stramonium plant. This homeopathic remedy is helpful in the natural treatment of violent and aggressive behavior in children and adults.

Why does it work?

This homeopathic remedy is administered for the natural treatment of comorbid oppositional defiant disorder and the alleviation of post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxieties. However, a hefty dose of this homeopathic medicine can trigger hallucinations and delirium and even cause death in rare cases.

5. Hyoscyamus

Image:ShutterStock

Hen-bane or hyoscyamus is a variety of nightshade which is close to the family of Datura stramonium. It is highly effective in the natural cure of ADHD and can cause sickness or hallucinations if taken in an overdose.

Why does it work?

Experts highly recommend hyoscyamus in minuscule amounts for the cure of fidgety behavior and restlessness in children.

ADHD is grappling at children and adults alike all over the world, and doctors are doling out a truckload of chemical medicines that are toxic for adults and children as well.

But how do you control the restless child throwing tantrums all over the place and staying up all night? Should you bombard the tender child with harsh pills or try the alternative and natural methods that are devoid of side effects? Alternative treatments for ADHD are incredibly useful and highly therapeutic.

These treatments calm the body and bring peace and tranquility to the mind. Embrace the alternative treatments for ADHD and lead a life of rest and serene peacefulness.

FAQs

1. What are the best natural remedies for ADHD?

One of the best natural remedies for ADHD is practicing mindfulness. It can be as simple as mindful walking, breathing, or eating. Apart from spending time outside, joining tai-chi are also some of the effective natural treatment for ADHD.

2. How does a child’s pose help in treating ADHD in children?

Daily practice of yoga helps the restlessness among kids. Practicing the same poses over and over makes them confident and disciplined. They learn to do mindful breathing while focusing on something. Daily practice of yoga also helps to understand the effect of consistency(3).

3. Can we treat ADHD without medicines?

Avoiding all the medication is an unwise decision. But that does not mean you need to depend on medicines only. Practicing yoga and meditation, taking homeopathy medicines can be a way out to avoid the side effects of excessive use of ADHD medicines.