10 Ingenious Remedies for ADHD
If you, or your child, or maybe someone you know is diagnosed with ADHD, don’t be troubled. It does not puff the light and hope out of anyone. Many people are living with ADHD, and living it to their best potential following supportive care and treatment.
ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a brain condition that affects how a person behaves. It is characterized by hyperactivity, lack of focus, impulsiveness, forgetfulness, and inattentiveness. So, let’s find out more about the symptoms and how to manage them naturally.
ADHD Symptoms and How They’re Treated
Please note that restlessness in a child does not always point to ADHD. A young mind and body are normally active. So, it is not right to associate a normal phase of a child with a condition that only a trained professional like a psychiatrist can assess.
ADHD in adults can manifest with a distinct set of symptoms. Common signs include difficulties in sustaining attention, making it challenging to complete tasks or follow through on responsibilities. Adults with ADHD may struggle with organization and time management, often leading to a sense of disarray in their personal and professional lives. Impulsivity is another key feature, characterized by hasty decision-making without adequate consideration of consequences.
Additionally, restlessness and difficulty in staying still may be observed, along with a tendency to engage in multiple activities simultaneously. Emotional dysregulation, including mood swings and frustration, is also a common aspect of ADHD in adults. It’s important to note that symptoms can vary widely among individuals, and a comprehensive assessment by a healthcare professional is crucial for an accurate diagnosis and tailored treatment plan.
So, after the clinical assessment confirms ADHD, you expect doctors to prescribe medication, right?
What you should know is that these medicines, usually stimulants, do not cure ADHD. What they do instead is improve focus, listening ability and self-control. They enable the person to concentrate on tasks and become less fidgety.
The treatment for ADHD comes in a package. It means that for the remedy to be more effective, you should not leave one for the other. The treatment package includes:
Nutrition
Research studies have not put up clear evidence that ADHD can be caused by diet. However, a healthy and mindful plate is the best way to start the treatment. There might be trigger foods that should be avoided. Or, there may also be helpful food that can ease the symptoms.
A high protein diet, complex carbohydrates and omega-3 fatty acids create a balanced meal for ADHD. These types of foods help boost mood, increase memory retention and improve focus. Load up on whole grains, greens, nuts and seeds, oatmeal and fish for a healthy and balanced meal.
Sugar, artificial colors, flavors and preservatives should be avoided. These tend to increase hyperactivity and some may be sensitive to these ingredients. Soda, caffeinated drinks and energy drinks may trigger the symptoms and are best eliminated.
Exercise
Physical activities help channel the stored energy and bring a wide range of benefits to the body. Aerobic exercises can normalize the alert level and jumpstart cognitive functions. It makes someone with ADHD feel good, more motivated and focused.
Simple routine exercises like swimming, hiking and running are also good for children and adults alike. Martial arts and boxing are also helpful and may help with focus. Devote at least half an hour daily to some form of exercise.
Sleep
Sleep is quintessential in brain health, especially in the world of gadgets and distractions. Aim for at least 8 hours of sleep to around 12 hours for children. Quality sleep improves overall brain function and decreases irritability and hyperactivity the following day.
Manage screen time since it also disrupts quality sleep. Ditching gadgets can be honestly hard, but managing screen time like turning off screens 45 minutes before bedtime may help.
Therapy
Behavioral management can do so much in improving the behavior and overall outlook in life. Behavior management, coupled with positive parenting, helps children best. There are also cognitive behavioral therapies that are apt for teenagers.
You can contact your healthcare provider for the type of therapy that works best for the present condition. Take the stigma out of attending these sessions because these are proven remedies that work for ADHD and many mental conditions.
Herbal Remedies
The market is full of herbal supplements which claim to treat ADHD. But, you need to be careful of marketing fads and ploys. There is currently no proven cure for ADHD that comes in an easy-to-pop pill.
These supplements carry ingredients that are derived from plant extracts. That’s because these herbs indeed have a century-long history of alleviating symptoms related to mental problems. If you want a natural and safe approach, the herbs below are good starters.
10 Ingenious Natural Remedies for ADHD
Herbs are natural treatments. However, do not use them if you are currently taking any medications. Some of them may interact with the prescription and affect the effectiveness and safety of the drug.
Chamomile: A fresh cup of chamomile flower tea can resolve and tame extreme excitement. Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is a relaxant and sedative that eases hyperactivity. It also helps with insomnia to bring good quality sleep.
Gotu Kola: Also knows as Indian pennywort (Centella asiatica), is a nootropic herb that may help restore all brain functions. It can improve memory, cognition and attention. Gotu kola nourishes the brain for better mental well-being, especially in children with ADHD.
Korean Ginseng: Panax ginseng is a prized herb in folk medicine. It is considered an “all-healing” plant. A pinch of its root powder or an infusion of its dried roots is a powerful beverage for easing ADHD symptoms and other brain-related problems.
Lemon Balm: Melissa officinalis is a calming herb that can induce drowsiness. It relieves anxiety and stress and is one of the best herbs against ADHD. Lemon balm pairs well with other herbs that help boost brain functions.
⇒ The botanicals in Nicole’s Anxiety & Stress Tincture may also be beneficial. It’s formulated to help the body adapt to stress, calm the nervous system, and relieve anxiety, depression, and stress-related insomnia. It supports cognitive function, reduces inflammation for optimal brain health, and can be used up to 3 times daily, including at night for those struggling with anxious thoughts. For a sleep-focused option, check out the Sleep Blend Tincture.
Passionflower: Passiflora incarnata relieves anxiety, mood swings and nervous tension. It is also a natural painkiller that reduces inflammation to achieve better sleep. Although the most potent form of passionflower is its tincture, an infusion of its leaves is also potent.
Ginkgo Biloba: Ginkgo has the same, although less potent, calming and antispasmodic effect as the ADHD prescription Ritalin. Daily intake of Ginkgo Biloba reduces the symptoms of ADHD and with fewer negative side effects.
Lavender: Lavandula angustifolia is an excellent aromatic herb for people dealing with grief, anxiety and ADHD. Lavender is best used as an oil to massage the soles of the feet for immediate relief in a stressful situation. An infusion of lavender blossom is great for bringing calmness and mental clarity.
Skullcap: Scutellaria lateriflora is one of the best herbal remedies for nervous debility and ADHD in adults. Skullcap can control irritability and induce the body to rest and sleep. It can also control muscle incoordination and spasms that may be associated with ADHD.
Evening Primrose: Oenothera bienni, as an oil or tincture, can be used to improve the overall behavior of a child with ADHD. It decreases hyperactivity and inattentiveness to help kids think more clearly. Evening primrose oil, often in capsule form, is added to the diet at the recommended right dosage.
Hibiscus: Hibiscus sabdariffa, is a cooling and relaxing tonic that is taken to reduce irritability and anxiety. It helps relax the nervous tension to clear the mind and increase its clarity and focus. Tea made from any part of hibiscus is great for managing ADHD. But, the most powerful antidepressant part is the hibiscus flower.
ADHD Relaxing Tea
The combination of potent nerve and brain-supporting herbs creates this refreshing tea blend. Each of the ingredients contributes with their healing properties in every cup. If you are allergic to plants in the daisy family, just omit chamomile in this recipe.
You can prepare a batch of this tea blend and infuse it when needed.
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp lavender blossoms
- 1 tsp chamomile flowers
- 2 tsp shredded dried hibiscus flowers
- 2 tsp dried passionflower
- 2 tsp dried lemon balm
Steps:
- Combine the herbs in a jar or container and mix them well.
- Take a tsp of the blend and put it in a tea ball or tea bag. You can also use an infuser jar for it if you like.
- Place the tea bag or ball in a cup and pour boiling water over it. Cover and let steep for 5 to 7 minutes.
Take a cup of this calming tea before bedtime or anytime you feel the need to ease the looming symptoms of ADHD.
ADHD is absolutely not a “brain condition”….. there are no scientific tests for ADHD at all; it’s entirely subjective.
I take it that you can back this claim? You have some sort of medical background and can provide the research papers evidencing that ADHD is “not a brain condition” and is “entirely subjective”? Because I can most certainly provide plenty of scientific papers – both quantitative and qualitative – that disprove your bigoted, uninformed comment.
Please refrain from posting unhelpful comments about which (I suspect) you have little lived experience.
She did state that there is no scientific research backing the holistic approach to treating ADHD. No one is a one size fits all. Her suggestions are a list of things that are calming and the exercise to exert extra energy.
I think that just being a normal boy is now diagnosed as ADHD.
My partner was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, and has it pretty well managed most of the time. If there’s going to be a brainstorming session at the office where he does contract work, he’s asked to be notified at least a day in advance so he’ll know not to take his Strattera that morning, so there are ways to use it to advantage! Often, if the Strattera isn’t working well on a particular day, or if it starts to wear off, he’ll drink some coffee or Diet Pepsi, because the added caffeine will help his brain take a breather. Occasionally he’ll need to resort to cannabis, though I’m violently allergic so he won’t do that except as a last resort. Thank you for this information to add to our library of resources!
I have never been diagnosed with ADHD, but I think I have had it for the past 80 years. I have always been very active, and engaged in multiple activities of different varieties. I have trouble concentrating because there are at least three things going through my mind at the same time.
In my engineering career I worked in several different industries, and established myself as one who “thinks outside the box”. Most of the time, that is NOT considered GOOD in the corporate world. Most of my successes and accomplishments in life occurred when I was free to do my own thing. I have been consuming most of the ingenious remedies listed here for the past few years, since I discovered Nicole Apelian, and it has made me even more individualistic and non-conformist than ever, and I am not afraid or ashamed of it.
Thank you for helping me to understand the situation.
Thank you, Thank you for this article. I am mid sixties have gone through much trauma in my life. Never, never give up hope. For the most part, I have finished EMDR Therapy for trauma, Had one heck of a time learning in school. Had a brain scan at the Amen Clinic and it showed high on the ADD/ADHD scale.
I was looking for some natural remedies to help with focus, increase memory…I appreciate this article and would love to start making my own tinctures, growing my own herbs.
Blessings to you!
Where can I get all these ingredients that are not mass produced or have chemicals in them?? I need to have them mailed to my son so he can put these together and see what helps. He is 20 now and has fought ADHD all his life. I did not medicate him as I tried with diet and exercise to control it. But, he is struggling in the work force. He sees a doctor on the 25th for some medication. He says he needs help. I hope the tea or tinctures help him. Thank you for your help!
Hi Angela. I purchase dried herbs from Mountain Rose. I have been happy with the quality of everything I’ve gotten here and have already have most listed here. I haven’t verified but I imagine you can find them all here.
Can children age 6 or older use this tea recipe? And if so can it be used once in the am & once in the pm?
Thank you for your time