Alternative Treatments and Therapies

A person wearing a purple shirt gently pinching the bridge of another person's nose to stop a nosebleed.

Non-medical things to do to support ADHD symptoms - with or without medication.

It is certainly a big decision to start a long term medication for many parents, especially since there is not a definitive diagnosis or a test that "proves" it is the correct diagnosis. Many families hope that with behavior modifications, diet changes, or supplements they can alter behaviors.

It is reasonable to try behavioral modifications and dietary changes/nutritional supplements first unless there is a crisis situation as long as social, emotional, and educational goals are met. Reassess on a regular basis to be sure the treatments you're using are working or to discover what needs to be changed. It is recommended that people with ADHD see their healthcare provider every 3 months to do this assessment.

Most people with ADHD can benefit from the following:

  • Self care: eating well, exercise, and sleep
  • Skills training to improve organization, time management, and problem-solving
  • Psychological counseling to cope with stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem
  • Parent training in behavior management for children with ADHD
  • Teamwork among doctors, parents, teachers, caregivers, and the person with ADHD

GET SCHOOLS INVOLVED: 



Work with your child's school to see what they can offer. Seating changes, fidget items, weighted blankets, and more are sometimes found to be of benefit.

Schools will help with evaluations and behavioral management. You must ask in writing specifically for your request and they will evaluate to see what assessments must be done and what accommodations can be made. Check out Understood.org for information on federally mandated accommodations. The ADHD Toolkit from CHADD has suggested letters to give to school and many printables to help!

WORK WITH A BEHAVIORAL THERAPIST: 



If you are in need of a therapist to help with behavioral modification, start with your insurance company. Mental health professionals typically do not need referrals. Find out if the psychologist or clinical social worker sees children your child's age for the concerns you have.

Parent behavioral training is helpful and part of the ADHD treatment guidelines. If the therapist has a different area of expertise or works with a different age group, they will not likely be the best help.

Effective Child Therapy has information about what to look for in a therapist and links to search engines to find the best therapist for your needs.

Mindfulness



Mindfulness has been shown to improve focus and decrease anxitey. There are free apps, such as Smiling Mind and Insight Timer, that can help you practice mindfulness. They each have child-specific meditations as well as ones for adults.

WORK WITH AN ADHD OR EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING COACH


Coaching is not a regulated profession, but some have found it beneficial to work with a coach who teaches executive functioning skills. The ADHDKC spreadsheet has several local (and online) coaches (as well as local therapists) if you're interested. 

TEACH Me ADHD


Kids 8-12: Learn about ADHD and Executive Functioning through an 8-week class called TEACH Me ADHD. Learn more about the class and how you can become a Detective on TEACH Me ADHD.
Teens 13-18: Learn about ADHD, Executive functioning, and Emotional regulation through a series of workshops. The teen classes will be available weekly over the course of 10 weeks. Teens can take classes weekly or as they can make it, depending on the teen's needs and availability. Learn more on Teach Me ADHD.

SELF CARE


Exercise: Exercise is of course good for our body and overall health, but it also releases brain chemicals that can boost our mood and focus! These brain chemicals include dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and GABA.


People with ADHD are often low on these brain chemicals. Regular exercise and even short breaks to get up and walk around the room can help our brains work better with many executive function tasks. 


Going outside: Spending time outside, especially in a natural setting, helps to shift to involuntary attention - things like breathing and other automatic tasks we do without needing to think about it. After giving voluntary attention (all the things that require focus when doing work) a break, it may be better able to complete tasks that requires focus.

Sleep: Sleep problems are more common in people with ADHD and insufficient sleep can cause more problems with emotional regulation and focus. Talk to us if your child is not sleeping well, snores regularly, moves legs around a lot before or during sleep, or seems tired during the day.

Diet changes: Although it's a common thought that sugars and some additives in foods lead to hyperactivity, this isn't supported by research. That being said, no one benefits from these and limiting them in the diet can help us be healthier overall. You can limit refined sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, food with dyes and other processed foods in your home. Even if you don’t see a reduction in hyperactive behavior as a result, a healthy diet benefits everyone in the family

There is some evidence that people with ADHD are more likely to have food sensitivities. It is not wrong to make dietary changes to see if they benefit, but do not continue to limit healthy foods if you do not see changes. Talk to us or a Registered Dietician if you have concerns.

Kids with ADHD are often picky eaters. This can be related to sensory issues which may benefit from working with an Occupational Therapist. Talk to us if you're concerned about limited food types your child will eat.


Omega fatty acids: Some people with ADHD may have lower amounts of omega fatty acids. These fatty acids help neurons in the brain communicate more effectively, which can lead to problems with impulsivity and trouble with focus.


Foods like fish, nuts, flaxseed, and certain vegetables are high in omega fatty acids and can be encouraged. 

Omegas are also available in supplements. Research shows that people with ADHD who take omega fatty acid supplements had a small improvement in their ADHD symptoms.


The supplements can have side effects, including heartburn, nausea, constipation, and headache. They may increase risk of bleeding and should be stopped before a planned surgery. Talk to us if you're going to be using any supplement.

Supplements: For information on supplements, see the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.

Mindfulness: Mindfulness is a practice that encourages focusing on the present moment. There are many ways to learn mindfulness, and not all require sitting still so even hyperactive people can learn to be mindful. Mindfullness is a research-based effective treatment for stress management, ADHD, anxiety, and more. Learn it and practice it regularly for overall self-care.


ADHD alternative treatments NOT supported by research


There are other treatments you may have heard about that haven’t been found to be effective by research. These include:


Vitamin, mineral, and herbal supplements: You may hear that zinc, magnesium, iron, and other kinds of supplements can improve behavior and reduce ADHD symptoms. There’s no research to support these help ADHD. Supplements aren’t regulated by the FDA so unfortunately we are not guaranteed that the label accurately reflects what is in the bottle. Talk to us if you think your child needs a supplement and be cautious of any prescriber who is selling supplements if they insist your child needs them. For in-depth information about supplements, see the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.


Melatonin: Kids with ADHD often have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. Melatonin is commonly used to help kids fall to sleep, but should not be done lightly. Talk with us before starting this supplement. There may be other things that can help sleep without this supplement. Remember, no supplement is regulated by the FDA, so may not be what the lable states.


“Train the brain” games: A prescription-only video game called EndeavorRx has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat attention functioning. In general most of the train the brain games have not been found to increase attention in a sustained and generalized way. Kids may get good at playing the game (games are enjoyable which naturally raise dopamine levels, allowing sustained focus), but this does not translate to better focus with other daily tasks, memory, attention, intelligence, or other cognitive abilities. 


Chiropractic care: There is no research that supports any chiropractic maneuver will help symptoms of ADHD. There are many risks that can be shown with chiropractic adjustments. 


Essential Oils and Aromatherapy:  Research does not show benefit of essential oils or aromatherapy to help manage ADHD symptoms. There may be side effects, especially for those with asthma, allergies, or other sensitivities. There are also risks if children drink these, so please keep any products locked away from young children.


Want more?



Dr. Pahini Ross, a local pharmacist and board certified clinical nutritionist & functional medicine practitioner with training in pediatric integrative medicine, talked to the local CHADD group about integrative therapies in her talk Unlocking Potential: Integrating Natural Solutions for Improved ADHD Symptom Control.