Oakland, CA – Acupuncture and Herbs for ADHD

If you’re a parent of a child with ADHD, you know that it takes substantial time, energy, and emotional bandwidth to support your child and your family through this disorder. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurodevelopmental problem in childhood, with over 9% of children age 2-17 having been diagnosed. ADHD can take a variety of forms, with some children showing hyperactivity and impulsive behaviors, others showing inattentive and/or distracted behavior, and some children showing both. Children diagnosed with ADHD commonly have additional behavioral problems or anxiety or depression. While there is no silver bullet treatment, Chinese medicine can help to adjust the imbalances in the body that are creating behavioral and mood problems.

Quiet Calm is a tailor-made herbal formula for children with emotional hyperactivity

As an acupuncturist, I can examine your child’s subtle health conditions to determine what is creating or aggravating the symptoms your child is exhibiting. Children with ADHD often have one or several imbalances in their bodies, including digestive system imbalances, immune system insufficiency, and or nervous system disruption. By understanding your child’s symptoms as well as your child’s pulse and tongue, I can determine which of these diagnoses is most accurate. I will provide acupuncture and herbal therapy to address the underlying imbalances to reduce your child’s symptoms.

Many parents of children with ADHD know that certain activities and foods can aggravate ADHD symptoms. Increasing time outdoors in nature and ensuring at least an hour of exercise every day can decrease hyperactivity and improve focus. Furthermore, reducing sugar and simple carbohydrates in the diet can be helpful, and studies show that studies show that focusing on foods with essential fatty acids, amino acids, zinc, B vitamins, and supplementation with phosphatidylserine can reduce symptoms.

I recommend combining all of these approaches (dietary changes, lifestyle modifications, treatment with acupuncture, and if appropriate, herbal therapy) to provide your child with the best foundation of health to improve symptoms and your child’s ability to function well and thrive at school and at home.

Call me if you have questions about whether acupuncture and herbal medicine may be right for you!