People with attention-deficit disorder (ADD) or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have developmental disorders that make them incapable of concentrating and cause them to be easily distracted, with or without symptoms of hyperactivity. One of the criteria of ADD/ADHD is the manifestation of symptoms before the person reaches 7 years old with the symptoms resulting in the impairment of his/her academic or social performance. In school-age children, about three to seven percent of them suffer from ADD/ADHD; in adults it’s around 2 to 7 percent.
There is no clear pathology for ADHD. Some medical experts theorize that some parts of the brain associated with attention have very weak neural transmission. Neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine and dopamine are related with ADD/ADHD. Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrin) and methylphenidate (Ritalin) and other stimulants, are usually recommended for ADD/ADHD therapy. These medications cause typical short-term side effects including tic exacerbation in children, mood changes, headaches, weight loss, suppressed appetite, and significant insomnia. Side effects that are long-term include stunted growth especially with long-term use. Moreover, stimulants can be potentially addictive and ought to be painstakingly regulated.
Herbal Studies and Treatment
Based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, the diagnosis of ADD/ADHD is shen (spirit) with ascending liver wind disturbance due to deficiency in liver yin. Tonic and sedative herbs must be used together for treatment in order to regain the normal balance in the body.
To dissipate liver wind and soothe ascendant liver yang (shown in restlessness or muscle twitching), herbal remedies such as Ramulus cum Uncis Uncariae (gou teng), Cassia Seed (chue ming hsi), and Concha ostreae( mu li) are used. All these herbs aid in neutralizing mood. Plastrum testudinis (gui ban) and Carapax trionycis (Bie chia), help dispel liver wind and tonify liver yin. Inadequacy/deficiency is addressed with ophiopogonis root (mai men dong), rehmannia root (sheng di huang), peony root (bai shao) herbs. Bai shao can relieve stiffness, cramps and spasms (related to seizure or convulsion) by soothing the liver.
To alleviate shen disturbance heart fire should be calmed. To achieve this, Mai men is used. Two aromatic herbs, Rhizoma acori (zhi chang pu) and polygalae root (yuan hsi) are given to remove phlegm blocking the orifices as well as to bring back sensory and cognitive functions. These herbs are useful for concentration difficulties and forgetfulness. Curcumae root (Yu jin) dispels heart heat, promotes consciousness and opens orifices. Pseudostellariae root (Tai hsi shen) has neutral properties and is used to tonfiy both yin and qi. Rhizoma ligustici (chuan hsiong) boosts blood flow and alleviates pain and stagnation in the energy vessels that can be the result of longstanding twitching or stiffening of muscles. Glycyrrhizae preparata root (hsi gancao) harmonizes the entire formula and nourishes the heart. From the viewpoint of pharmaceutical medicine, these herbs boost learning capacities and improve memory and learning abilities as well as remove allergens or toxic substances that add to the likelihood of ADD/ADHD as well as relieve hyperactivity by balancing the central nervous system.
A study involving the use of shi tsang pu showed that there was a dose-contingent effect in boosting memory. Moreover, in one clinical trial, 30 children suffering from low IQ were treated, which resulted in mild to moderate improvement in performance in school with the use of an herbal remedy containing yuan shi and zhi chang pu. The treatment entailed the use of the formula two times each day for two weeks per course of treatment, which translated to a sum of three months of treatment.
The Merck Manual stated that food additive and toxic substance exposure is the major reason for ADD/ADHD and so it is vitally important to remove environmental toxins from a person’s life. Herbs are seen to specifically to enhance the detoxification of environmental toxins as well as protect the liver.
Glycyrrhizae preparata root is an herb used for thousands of years to successfully detoxify a person from environmental toxins. Lately it has been successfully proven to detoxify a number of poisonings, including food and drug poisoning. Moreover, curcumae root and glycyrrhizae preparata root possess hepatoprotective properties that can treat tetrachloride- or chemical- induced liver damage as well as liver cancer.
Herbs that balance/harmonize the entire body are used to treat ADD/ADHD because these conditions are seen as an imbalance of the neurotransmitters leading to disharmony of the entire body. Rhizoma ligustici, peony root, rhizoma acori, and rhizoma ligustici calm hyperactivity and balance/regulate the central nervous system. They have also been effective in reversing drug-induced excitation. Ophiopogonis root, peony root and rhizoma ligustici slows down blood pressure and heart rate and harmonize the cardiovascular system. Rehmannia root normalizes the endocrine system to enable normal release and production of endogenous hormones.
Cautions
All the aforementioned herbs are basically safe to use although caution is required in people with coldness or deficiency in yang. Moreover, use of the herbs needs to be stopped once the desired results are achieved or when the condition is stabilized.
Nutrition
The diet of the patient needs to have sufficient amounts of magnesium and calcium which can calm the patient. Cold-water fish, such as herring, salmon and tuna are rich in DHA or docosahexaenoic acid. This is a fatty acid required for the right development of a person’s brain. Likewise needed is more eating of complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, beans, vegetables and fresh fruits.
Exposure to allergens, food colorings or additives and to toxic substances that heighten the risk of ADD/ADHD development should be avoided at all times. Limit your eating of simple carbohydrates, such as grains, processed sugars, fructose and glucose and stay away from fried foods, foods with artificial flavor and color, junk food, candy and sugar as well as carbonated drinks, throat lozenges, cough drops and antacids.
Lifestyle Recommendations
For long-term treatment or complete cure of ADD/ADHD, psychosocial support is needed. This can be in the form of cognitive-behavioral therapy (self-reinforcement, problem solving plans, verbal self-instruction, self-monitoring), clinical behavior treatment (management by both parents and teachers), parent training, and contingency management (timeout and reward systems. Lastly, stimulate outdoor and reading activities, and avoid loud music, video games and television exposure.
Jamie Catlett is a licensed acupuncturist in Jacksonville, FL, and the founder and clinical director of Jacksonville Acupuncture Clinic.
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