Diagnosis rates of ADHD are climbing higher each year. Health practitioners, teachers, and parents have a huge task in managing and supporting children who are having a difficult time focusing and staying calm in environments requiring attention. Many parents are unhappy with putting their young child on pharmaceuticals such as Adderall and Ritalin. Other parents have children who have tried Adderall or Ritalin but can’t tolerate the side effects.
Thankfully, Chinese medicine has a lot to offer in managing ADHD! The Chinese diagnostic system recognizes distinct imbalances in children’s bodies that can lead to difficulty with focusing, hyperactivity, and an increase in impulsive behavior. These imbalances can be addressed through acupuncture/acupressure as well as Chinese herbal medicine.
The Hyper Child
One common type of child who is prescribed Adderall is the hyper type – he or she is easily distracted, often hyper, and struggles with focusing in school because he or she is very easily stimulated. This type of child is more likely to become oppositional or edgy and may pick fights. For these children, stimulants like Adderall and Ritalin can provide some help with focus, but often create additional anxiety and stress and make these children feel generally unwell.
A Chinese medicine approach would be to use acupressure/acupuncture along with herbal therapy (if the parents are interested) to calm the nervous system and release the excess activity that is leading to hyper and edgy behavior. Feeling more relaxed, these children will then be more able to focus and not as provoked by all the stimulation in the classroom.
The Spaced-Out Child
Another common type of child diagnosed with ADHD tends to be more spaced out. These children lose focus and tend to daydream during class. It’s as though they literally do not have enough energy to focus clearly on the teacher or the task in front of them. These children are also more likely to be prone to digestive disorders, whether food allergies or periodic indigestion. When these children are unwell, they can be prone to excessive worrying. Stimulants for these children are more likely to be a successful therapy.
The Chinese medicine approach for spaced-out children provides natural digestive and overall health support to increase the root energy of the child. Treatment will include acupuncture and acupressure points that enhance energy along with Chinese herbs that are gently stimulating while managing digestive health and preventing anxiety.
Other Cases and Causes
In some cases, behavior that looks like ADHD may actually be a result of prolonged stress, poor diet, food sensitivities, allergies, anxiety, depression, fatigue, anemia, hearing problems, and/or other causes. A Chinese medicine practitioner will likely be able to sort out and address these health concerns as well.
