Is There an Alternative to Ritalin?
- Tuesday, 27 January 2009
Q. My son has ADD and is on Ritalin. He won't be able to stay on Ritalin forever, so now is the time to find another solution. Please help.
A: There are more natural ways to approach ADD besides Ritalin, but first you need to know exactly what you're dealing with. Food allergies and sensitivities are often factors involved in ADD/ADHD. Food colorings (e.g., red, yellow), sugar, additives and other substances can cause changes in neurotransmitters that affect behavior. Also, deficiency in omega 3 (DHA) fats can exacerbate ADD.
The first step is to take your son for allergy testing - not necessarily the conventional scratch test often conducted in doctor's offices, but electro-dermal testing to identify subtle allergens and allergic reactions. This test provides a short-list of possible causal agents. Many parents notice significant behavioral changes once these substances have been identified and removed.
Make sure he is also taking at least 2,000 mg of omega 3 fish oils (DHA) every day to support healthy brain tissues.
