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Dr. Karl R.O.S. Johnson's Chronic Condition Natural Treatment Blog

Intentional musings of a unique Shelby Township Michigan Chiropractic Physician dedicated to helping people find solutions to improving their health by rooting out causes to chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia, stubborn thyroid disorder symptoms, balance disorders, chronic knee & shoulder pain, migraines, sciatica, ADD/ADHD/ASD, back pain, peripheral neuropathy, gluten sensitivity and autoimmune disorders so they can Reclaim Their Life!

From the Desk of Dr. Karl R.O.S. Johnson, DC.....

Hyperactivity & Attention Deficit Disorder: Do We Have Options?

Posted by Dr. Karl R.O.S. Johnson, DC on Tue, Nov 26, 2019

Attention-deficit disorder affects a startling 17 million people and seems to be gaining ground every year.

As a parent of child suffering with this disorder... what are you to do?? Attention-deficit disorder is the most frequently diagnosed childhood psychiatric condition in America. In the past most medical journals described this disorder as minimal brain damage, hyperactive child syndrome & minimal cerebral dysfunction.

adhd-and-food
The common symptoms include brief attention span, poor concentration, difficulty keeping track of things, making careless mistakes, impatience, difficulty waiting or taking turns, blurting out answers when not asked, impulsiveness, hyperactivity, failure to finish things off, lack of perseverance & poor organizing. These characteristics are frequently associated with difficulties in school, in both learning and behavior. Task that require concentration are nearly impossible causing frustration, irritability, agitation and often recklessness.

There are three types of ADHD: Inattentive, predominately hyperactivity and combined type. Girls are more prevalent to exhibit the symptom of inattentiveness, whereby boys tend to be more hyperactive. As a child with undiagnosed ADHD becomes a teenager, he/she may become involved in drugs and crime and will commonly drop out of school. In adulthood the predominant features are failure to complete tasks, disorganization, difficulty paying attention and difficulty beginning tasks.

Conventional Medical Treatment

The conventional medical treatment for ADHD is almost always pharmaceutical drugs such as methylphenidate (Ritalin) or or the amphetamine Adderall. A review in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry notes that two antidepressants -- bupropion and venlafaxine -- are now being used as an alternative. "Talk therapy" is often recommended in conjunction with prescription medication for ADHD.

Alternative Medical Treatment:

The causes of ADHD are many and it would serve your child well for the parents to investigate the possible underlying factors that could very-well be causing the condition.

The Functional Medicine Approach looks at the triggers of ADHD. People with ADHD often have impaired digestion, environmental and food sensitivities, nutritional insufficiencies, heavy metal toxicities, fatty acid and amino acid imbalances, sensitivity to food additives and sucrose (sugar). Some studies indicate a possible genetic predisposition. Children with ADHD usually have histories of more ear infections (otitis media) than other children with learning problems.

It is unfortunate that many people who have children suffering with ADHD are not informed of all the options. I must agree that prescription medications such as Ritalin and Adderall can make a significant impact on the symptoms of ADHD. A child who once was inattentive is now focused and doing well in school. Who can ask for anything better?!! But, are you being told everything? What are the long-term health risk for your child?

Studies done on children taking Ritalin using a PET scan revealed that although the children had a reduction in their symptoms the PET scan was highly abnormal.

Most physicians are trained to treat ADHD with amphetamine-like drugs. But nutritionally oriented physicians have known for a long time that food allergy is a primary cause. The first major scientific study to show the link between food allergy and hyperactivity appeared in a 1985 issue of Lancet, a prestigious international medical journal. Dr. J. Egger, head of a pediatric university hospital in Munich, and Dr. J Soothill, London, England, studied the effect of food on 76 hyperactive children. 79% had clear improvement in their mental activity, emotions and behavior and 28 became completely normal. To prove their findings, the researchers reintroduced the allergenic foods to the children and their hyperactive symptoms returned.

The following have been linked to ADD:

  • Food sensitivities
  • Heavy metal toxicity especially lead has been linked to attention deficit and learning problems. Dr. H.L. Needlemen of the University of Pittsburgh Medical School has conducted scores of studies over the last 20 years clearly establishing the link between lead levels in children and specific hyperactive and attention deficit behavior traits. Follow-up studies indicate that these effects often persist into adulthood.
  • Fatty acid deficiency
  • Amino acid imbalances
  • Methylation dysfunction
  • Intestinal dysbiosis
  • to name a few

Dr. Grisanti's Comment:

I would have to say that I have not met a parent who did not want the best for their child. The parent who is struggling with what to do to help their child, faces a major dilemma. Should you medicate your child or take the road less traveled and identify the underlying cause of your child's problem. Realize you have two sides of this sensitive issue. On one hand you have your family physician who insist that pharmaceutical drugs is the only way to go and offers no real alternative. And on the other hand, the volumes of medical research is quite over-whelming in favor of looking for the root cause(s) of your child's condition.

The Brain Training Component

The article above is compliments of Functional Medicine University.  There are additional brain-based care recommendations that many clinicians around the world use. One very well researched procedure is known as neurofeedback. I have helped many children and adults with ADHD  with a combination approach utilizing functional neurology, functional nutrition and neurofeedback. 

In addition to the triggers identified above, brain wave training, also known as EEG biofeedback and neurofeedback have many scientific studies showing this unique form of assistance is helpful for reducing the negative behavioral effects of ADHD.  

MBH-Care-Model

WHAT IS NEUROFEEDBACK?

Neurofeedback is a computer-based system that corrects brainwaves safely while you watch a movie or listen to music. Irregular brainwaves are responsible for many neurological conditions such as ADHD, learning issues, anxiety, depression, insomnia, migraines, memory loss, and more.

The Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA) defines EEG biofeedback (also called neurofeedback) as:

“EEG Biofeedback is employed to modify the electrical activity of the CNS including: EEG, event related potentials, slow cortical potentials, and other electrical activity either of subcortical or cortical origin. Neurofeedback is a specialized application of biofeedback of brainwave data in an operant conditioning paradigm. The method is used to treat clinical conditions as well as to enhance performance”

Neurofeedback has over 50 years of research and case studies proving its effectiveness. It is used by thousands of health professionals worldwide, including the NFL and the United States Veterans Administration to treat concussions and brain injuries.

So, if you are looking for a drug-free strategy with plenty of clinical effectiveness, you just found one!

My hope for you is that you or your child can grow, develop and prosper in life. For more details, read my publication, "Successful Solutions for ADHD, Symptoms of ASD, Dyslexia, OCD and other Brain Based Issues in Children and Adults", by clicking on the link below.

Successful Solutions for ADHD, Symptoms of ASD,  Dyslexia, OCD, and Other Brain Based Issues in Children and Adults  [white paper]

 For more details about the natural approach I take with my patients, take a look a the book I wrote entitled: Reclaim Your Life; Your Guide To Revealing Your Body's Life-Changing Secrets For Renewed Health. It is available in my office or at Amazon and many other book outlets. If you found value in this article, please use the social sharing icons at the top of this post and please share with those you know who are still suffering with neurobehavioral issues or other chronic health challenges, despite receiving medical management. Help me reach more people so they may regain their zest for living! Thank you!

ALL THE BEST – DR. KARL R.O.S. JOHNSON, DC – DIGGING DEEPER TO FIND SOLUTIONS

Topics: Brain Health, Neurofeedback, nutrient deficiency, brain based therapy, attention deficit disorder, ADHD Treatments, Nutritional Help, ADHD Medication, drug-free ADHD Help

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