Judith Magee Ph/Fax (02) 6679 5855 0414 370 259 PO Box 301 UKI 2484, jmagee@westnet.com.au
(Adv. Dip Nat, Adv. Dip. Clinical Nut. Adv Dip, Herbal Med. Adv.Dip. Hom. Med, Hol. Couns, M. A.T.M.S., M.A.H.A MAROH.)
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
A diagnosis of ADHD is largely dependent on specific observed behaviours. These
include the following:
Criteria A1 -- Inattention
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Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes
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Has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities
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Does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
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Does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores,
or duties in the workplace
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Has difficulty organizing tasks and activities
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Avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental
effort
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Loses things necessary for tasks or activities
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Is easily distracted by extraneous stimuli
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Is forgetful in daily activities
Criteria A2 -- Hyperactivity-Impulsivity
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Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat
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Leaves seat in situations where remaining seated is expected
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Runs or climbs excessively in inappropriate situations (in adolescents or adults,
may be limited to subjective feelings of restlessness)
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Has difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly
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Acts as if "driven by a motor"
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Talks excessively
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Blurts out answers before questions are completed
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Has difficulty awaiting turn
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Interrupts or intrudes on others
Like most complex neurobehavioral syndromes, the precise reason behind why a child
develops ADHD is unclear. However, various factors are implicated. These include:
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Genetic factors as well as other factors affecting brain development during
prenatal and postnatal life are most likely involved. The use of functional
neuroimaging has led to identification of a number of consistent features in the
brains of ADHD children. These features include decreased arousal and glucose
metabolism and increased activity in both the frontal and subcortical regions
Judith Magee
© 2011
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Heredity: children with ADHD usually have at least one first-degree relative
who also has ADHD and one-third of all fathers who had ADHD in their youth
have children with ADHD (National Institute of Mental Health 2001)
Gender: ADHD is more prevalent in boys; the male-to-female ratio is 4:1 in
epidemiologic surveys and 9:1 in clinic samples
Abnormal thyroid responsiveness
Prenatal and early postnatal health: maternal drug, alcohol, and cigarette use
Learning disabilities, communication disorders (Kidd 2000), and tic disorders
such as Tourette's syndrome
Nutritional disorders, including allergies or intolerances to food, food colouring,
or additives
Oppositional defiant or conduct disorder (present in 50% of ADHD children)
Environmental exposures: chronic exposure to lead and other toxic metals have
been linked to a variety of neurobehavioral outcomes in children
Extreme stressors (such as family trauma or discord or parental
psychopathology
Complementary Medicine treatment approaches include:
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Diet. Like all children, those with ADHD need a well-balanced diet rich in all
the micronutrients essential for overall health, wellbeing and normal brain
development. It is also clear that many children presenting with the signs &
symptoms associated with ADHD respond to a diet plan which limits or
removes common problematic components. This needs to be assessed
individually, but can include additives, preservatives, colourings, flavour
enhancers, gluten, eggs, soy products, dairy and salicylates.
Supplementation with key nutrients can also be important. This needs to be
assessed individually but can include
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Vitamin B6 - Adequate levels of vitamin B6 (pyroxidine) are required
for normal brain development and are essential for the synthesis of
neurotransmitters including serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine.
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Magnesium – As a key nutrient in neurological function, magnesium
supplementation is generally considered as essential, especially as
magnesium deficiency is recognised as being fairly widespread..
Symptoms of magnesium deficiency include irritability, decreased
attention span, and mental confusion
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Iron – This micro-nutrient is evenly distributed in the brain and is
essential for normal brain growth and neurotransmitter metabolism,
including dopaminergic activity. Symptoms of iron deficiency, which
can occur in the absence of anaemia, include decreased attention,
arousal, and social responsiveness. It is recognised that deficiency is
common in childhood and adolescence.
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Zinc regulates the activity of neurotransmitters, fatty acids, and
melatonin, all of which are related to the biology of behaviour
Judith Magee
© 2011
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Melatonin - Melatonin is a powerful antioxidant with neuroprotective
effects. Although melatonin supplementation probably has no direct
effect on the primary symptoms of ADHD, it may be efficacious in
managing sleep cycle disturbances in children with a variety of
neurodevelopmental disorders, including ADHD (Jan et al. 1998).
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Essential Fatty Acids - Because they are the primary constituents in
neuronal membrane phospholipids, fatty acids profoundly influence
virtually all aspects of neuronal communication. Since the body cannot
synthesize essential fatty acids (EFA), they must be provided in the diet.
The two primary EFA’s, linoleic acid (omega-6 series) and alphalinolenic acid (omega-3 series), are implicated in many aspects of
neurotransmitter metabolism and receptor activity, but the omega-3 fatty
acids are highly concentrated in the brain and appear to be particularly
relevant to cognitive and behavioural function
Herbal medicine – key nervine and adrenal herbs can play a valuable role in
supporting a healthier, happier child and the signs and symptoms associated
with diagnosis. Individual assessment is essential, but herbal medicine has had
successful outcomes using daytime formulas to assist concentration, cognitive
function, calmness, mood etc and then evening formulations to assist sleep,
night-time neurotransmitter levels, etc.
Flower Essence therapy – various flower essences from both the Bach Flower
and Australian Bush Essence range are potentially useful in both short term
acute symptom support and longer term improvement of elements such as hyper
sensitivity and hyper reactive responsiveness.
Homoeopathy – Both acute and constitutional homoeopathic remedies have the
potential to improve overall health, well being and to support more centred,
stable functionality on all levels. Individual assessment is essential, with careful
attention to family health history, personal health history and the key
characteristics and traits present.
Family therapy – Working with a suitably trained and experienced practitioner
on developing consistent and effective parenting strategies can be an
enormously helpful and important component of improving your child’s
wellbeing – and the general health and stress of the family as a unit.
Judith Magee
© 2011