ADHD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder affects approximately 4 to 6% of the American population and about 3 to 5% of children. About half of the children who suffer from ADHD will continue to have the disorder as adults. A child diagnosed with ADHD suffers from some of the following symptoms- Poor attention span (gets easily distracted and daydreams); Impulsiveness (often acts thinking things through); Hyperactivity (fidgety, runs all around, talks over others). Children suffering from ADHD generally have difficulty coping at school and in social situations. There are a number of home remedies that parents could try out in such situations. Changes in diet, natural supplements, implementing routines and checklists, are some of the ways that could help children suffering from ADHD. Parents should remove all forms of refined sugar (simple carbohydrates) from the child's diet. Eliminate junk food and any food that contains artificial flavors, colors, yeast, monosodium glutamate (MSG), or preservatives. Avoid carbonated and sugary drinks. Instead drink lots of water. Reducing sugar in the diet would help control hyperactivity.
Several studies indicate that adding protein to your child's diet is one of the most effective home remedies for ADHD in children. To achieve benefits, most children would need somewhere between 24 to 30 g of protein a day. Make a note of how your child behaves after eating certain foods. If you believe that a child is sensitive to a particular food eliminate that food immediately from their diet. Some experts also say that fish oil supplements, containing 1 g of omega-3 fatty acids, would help the child stay focused and also lead to better behavior. This could also lead to improvements in spelling and reading and you generally find results within about three months. You should learn to meditate and teach your child the same. Meditation itself helps to balance both hemispheres of the brain. It could have an immediate calming effect on your child and over the long-term would help the child in staying focused, thereby reducing your child's short attention span. Caffeine is also found to have similar effects to the prescription drug Ritalin. Coffee and chocolate contain caffeine.
Developing a routine with your child would be essential to sort out many of his or her behavioral problems. With a fixed routine, children suffering from ADHD know what is expected of them at all times during the day. Using checklists can prove invaluable in letting the child know what is next on the agenda.
Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.