ADD/ADHD
ADHD is just another word for fun, exciting, and adventurous.
Finally! A Natural solution to your child’s ADD/ADHD without the use of harsh medications: An Integrative Functional Medicine Approach.
ADHD and ADD are significantly on the rise. These conditions affect boys three times as often as girls, and are usually diagnosed by the age of 7.
According to the CDC website, in 2003, 7.8% of children were affected. By 2007, that number had risen to 9.5%, and in 2011, it was up to 11%. It has been almost five years since this last number has been published; I am unclear why there has been a lack of reporting in the last few years. (Update - according to the most recent polls done in 2016, the rates continue to hover around 10-11%. Unless you are a young African American boy; then your rates may be has high as 16%!)
ADHD has been shown to affect the areas of the brain that allow for and are involved in problem solving, planning ahead, understanding other’s actions, and controlling impulses.
The activity in theses areas of the brain is directly correlated to the primary symptoms that are necessary for the diagnosis of ADHD and/or ADD. The primary symptoms are hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and inattentiveness.
If you’re reading this page, my guess is that you already know the signs and symptoms of ADHD and you are looking for an alternative to the harsh drugs you or your child may be on. If so, keep reading.
Typical Treatment for ADHD and its Side Effects.
Chances are, if you have come to this page and are reading through it, you have a little one with the diagnosis of ADHD; and you know all too well the side effects that are often associated with the harsh drugs given to little kids in order to “control” their symptoms.
If not, let me give you a short rundown of the most common med groups that are given and some of the side effects associated with each group of drugs.
Our first contender is the oldie and the goodie Amphetamine. We all know this is a stimulant and is most readily know as “speed.” A less common one is Methylphenidate, which is another stimulant used for ADHD. It is also known as Focalin or Ritalin. The most common short term side effects are weight loss, irritability, and tics. Oh yeah! Later on you will read about how the FDA says that their use may increase the risk of heart and psychiatric problems. Not something that seems too helpful. Which is worse: the ADHD/ADD, or heart and psychiatric problems?
Coming in a close second is our non-stimulant contender, often known as Strattera. Sadly, the side effects can include sleep difficulty, anxiety, and last but not least, liver damage. On top of worrying about how your child is doing in school, now you have to be worried about damaging your kid’s liver, too. Coming in last for our most common drugs used for ADHD are our antidepressants. Wellbutrin is a common one. The long list of side effects includes, but is certainly not limited to, the following: sleep disturbances, headaches, seizures (that can’t be good), dizziness, dry mouth, and an increased risk of arrhythmias.
This is taken from WebMD.com:
“The FDA has issued a warning about the risk of drug abuse with amphetamine stimulants. FDA safety advisors are also concerned about the possibility that all amphetamine and methylphenidate stimulants used for ADHD may increase the risk of heart and psychiatric problems.
The FDA has also issued a warning about a connection between antidepressants (including the non-stimulant Strattera) and an increased risk of suicide in adults aged 18-24, especially in the first one or two months of treatment.
While these risks may seem alarming, keep in mind that experts generally consider these medicines safe when they are monitored properly by a professional. Serious problems are rare. Still, you should discuss the risks and benefits of these drugs with your doctor.”
I would like to question who it is these so called “experts” are that deem these medications as safe. In my experience, they tend to be the manufacturers of the medications or the sales reps for the drugs who are educated by the big pharma companies. The sales reps are then tasked with the job of “educating” physicians as to which drugs should be given to our kids.
Seems like a slight conflict of interest if you ask me. But what do I know?!
Why has there been such an increase in the rate of ADHD and/or ADD?
While the exact cause of the increase in the rate of ADHD is not very clear, it is clear that there are a few different issues that can contribute to the development of ADHD and ADD. This tends to be a very ambiguous topic. Depending on where you look for your information, you can always find something to back it up. I’ve done my fair share of research and digging. I tend to side with the people who have done the studies and don’t actually have anything to gain by publishing those studies.
During my 15 years of practicing alternative medicine and functional medicine in particular, it has come to my attention and the attention of many healthcare providers and parents that there are a few different categories of imbalances that have a great affect on the ADHD/ADD child and their brain balance.
The first issue that often needs to be addressed is intestinal balance. The intestines have a multifactorial affect upon the body, and the main way that intestinal health relates to ADHD is through the production of neurotransmitters. While impossible to measure exactly, it is estimated that up to 50% of all neurotransmitters are produced by the intestines.
To illustrate the importance of intestinal health, according to the CDC website and WebMD, multiple studies have found that children with ADHD and/or ADD are three times more likely to have constipation and six times more likely to have fecal incontinence than the average child. Keep in mind that many of the drugs used to treat these children often exacerbate digestion issues and create a worsening of the symptoms when not on medication, thus producing a vicious cycle.
What’s the Solution?
The second most common issue we see in our office and in children with ADHD in general is that they often have some level of heavy metal toxicity. A common question I get from parents is…”why does one of my kids have it but not the other?”
What most parents are asking is, “both of my kids are exposed to the same things throughout the day and I haven’t raised them differently, so what’s the deal?”
The answer often lies in a malfunctioning metallothionein (MT) protein. This is a protein within the body that essentially deals with heavy metal detoxification. It has potent metal binding and redox (reduction-oxidation reaction) capabilities. Many parents have one child that is simply unable to get rid of all of today’s toxins.
The solution: Reduce exposure and enhance MT (metallothionein) activation.
The third category can be part of number one or number two, or even a combination of both. These are fatty acid deficiencies and amino acid imbalances.
First, let’s address fatty acid deficiencies. There are many studies suggesting that fatty acids (EPA/DHA) improve cognitive function. If digestion is inadequate, you will not be able to absorb the necessary essential fatty acids. The fix: improve digestion and take fish oil supplements.
The other deficiency that can often happen is the amino acid deficiency, specifically tryptophan. It has been found that approximately 50% of kids with ADHD have low tryptophan levels.
Tryptophan is used in the body to produce dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin. Serotonin in particular has been shown to be linked with impulsivity. Tryptophan levels must be addressed, and it is important to see if the tryptophan is actually able to be transported across the cell membranes into the cells to be utilized.
Are you starting to see how Integrative and Functional Medicine is not just one simple fix? It is looking at the body as a whole and fixing all parts of the system to have a fully functioning body.
Dr. Craig Mortensen has been practicing alternative medicine for over 15 years. Over those years, he has developed a system and protocol for helping patients with ADHD eliminate or reduce the need for medications that patients are often on for life.