Ritalin

[Guest guest]

Dear Herbalists,

 

I came across this interesting article about ADD - here is a

definite alternative to Drugging our Kids......Please pass this on as I

consider that this should be more widely known.....Best Wishes Penny

Khaled

 

 

The Algae AD/HD Connection

 

Can Blue Green Algae Be Of Help With Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity

Disorder?

 

by Dr. John Taylor, Ph.D. Licensed Clinical

Psychologist

 

I have traveled throughout North America over the last

half

decade giving the MEGA

ANSWERS TO AD/HD seminar. In one jam-packed day I

survey

academic, psycho-social and

nutritional approaches to AD/HD for mixed audiences of

parents and helping professionals.

While having no connection with any company involved in

 

harvest, manufacture or marketing of

foods, medicines, or nutrients, I have been in a

position

to talk with thousands of parents and

professionals very frankly about AD/HD. And blue-green

 

algae is consistently mentioned to

me by parents as being of help for children with AD/HD.

 

Why? What exactly is the

algae-AD/HD connection? Attention Deficit /

Hyperactivity

Disorder is primarily a disorder of

the central nervous system, particularly of the brain.

The

answer to the AD/HD - algae

connection lies deep within the tangled web of 100 billion or so nerve

cells

(called neurons) in the human brain.

Let's examine what it takes to keep these large and delicate cells

functioning at their maximum level of efficiency.

 

Blood Sugar

A landmark study of adults with AD/HD showed that neurons throughout the

 

brain have sluggish glucose

metabolism (36). In other words, they suffer from an abnormally low

energy

supply. As a result they probably

aren't conducting their chemical reactions properly, including the

manufacture of key chemicals used in thought -

neurotransmitters. In fact, a low level of dopamine and norepinephrine

is

one of the most consistent findings in

research on brain processes in AD/HD individuals (2,16). My extensive

experience in this field has shown me that

anything that helps stabilize and normalize blood sugar level will help

AD/HD individuals become calmer and more

focused. Some of the components of blue-green algae seem to have this

kind

of stabilizing effect on blood sugar

level.

 

Freedom from Toxic Attack

There is a flood of research indicating that brain nerves, when energy

supplies are low, are more subject to

disruption of their functioning from toxic effects of various irritant

chemicals than when energy suppliers are normal

(3,17,25). The AD/HD child's brain is therefore probably more apt to be

 

disrupted than that of a child who has no

psychiatric or medical problems (10).

Some of the neurotoxic chemicals studied so far, that seem to be

especially

disruptive to low-energy-state brain

neurons are among 4000 chemical additives lacing foods and beverages

(1,3,9,15,17,19,20,21,22,23,24,26,28,29,33,34,35).

Some studies have actually created hyperactivity and related conditions

in

lab animals by exposure to these food

additives (15, 19).

Numerous research projects have verified that eliminating exposure to

these

potentially neurotoxic substances can

significantly improve the mental and behavioral functioning of AD/HD

children (4,5,7,11,13,14,18,30,32,35).

Blue-green algae is a natural food that is harvested rather than

manufactured, and is unlikely to be laced with

artificial dyes, preservatives or flavor modifiers, such as MSG or

artificial sweeteners.

 

Amino Acids

The neurotransmitters are usually composed of amino acids and are

manufactured on-site by the neurons. AD/HD

is ultimately a protein metabolism problem. Giving the brain plenty of

building blocks from which it can make more

neurotransmitters makes good sense. There is some research evidence

verifying that meals high in amino acids

help reduce behavioral problems from AD/HD children (10). The amino

acid

profile of blue-green algae closely

matches optimal profile recommended by the Food and Nutrition Council.

The down side of amino acids is that some of them are quite toxic to the

 

brain and must be kept out, or allowed to

enter only in very small amounts, by special protective mechanisms

within

the neurons. These protective

mechanisms demand cellular energy and will falter if energy supplies are

 

low. Neurons can become " flooded " -- or

attacked--by too much of any one amino acid (3). Examples are the

glutamate

component of the flavor enhancer

monosodium glutamate (MSG) and the aspartate component of the artificial

 

sweetener aspartame

(3,17,19,22,24,25,26,27,28,29). In AD/HD part of the problem is the low

 

energy supply to the neurons, and this fact

could explain the research finding that MSG is sometimes disruptive for

AD/HD individuals (5,35). Ideally, the

brain would select whatever amino acids it needs -- and in proper

amounts

--

from a wide variety available form the

bloodstream. A feature of blue-green algae proteins seldom mentioned

but

crucial for AD/HD brain metabolism is

that its amino acids are all in relatively balanced proportion to each

other. Thus the likelihood of toxic flooding is

minimal.

 

Trace Minerals

Neurons require numerous trace minerals to support the incredibly large

number of chemical reactions they must

conduct. Children with AD/HD have been found to be low in zinc (9).

Their

blood copper levels have been found to

be abnormal (6). They are at risk for poor metabolizing of trace

minerals

and could probably benefit from a

consistent source of numerous easily-assimilable trace minerals.

Blue-green

algae harvested from a pristine

source, such as a mineral-rich lake, is likely to contain a variety of

trace

minerals in assimilable form.

 

Protection from Oxidative Stress

The brain is an expensive organ to run. It uses a lot of oxygen --

about

1/5 of what the person breathes in. It uses

about 1/4 of all the calories obtained from food. Whenever a

considerable

amount of oxygen is metabolized (in the

brain, for example), several electron pairs from the oxygen atoms break

their bonds and become unconnected or

unpaired. They are said to be " free " , and the resulting bizarre molecule

is

called a " radical. " The unpaired

electrons instantly seek out new electrons to pair with, grabbing them

from

a neighboring molecule. The unstable,

unpaired electrons are now stable, but they have changed the neighboring

 

molecule into a " free radical " ; that is, a

modified molecule with one or more unpaired electrons in their outer

orbits.

These chain reaction of electrons

taking new partners from neighboring molecules can proceed unchecked

into

any body tissue and is called oxidative

stress. It has been found by recent research to contribute to various

disturbances is body function and to some

disease conditions (3).

Our interest, however, is in oxidative stress through free radical

damage

to

neurons. The brain has its protective

mechanisms, chief among which is a special donor of electrons, Vitamin

C.

This interesting substance (known

chemically as ascorbic acid) provides new partners for unpaired

electron,

thus preventing the need for grabbing

elections from neighboring molecules within the nerve tissue.

Everyone's

brain hoards Vitamin C, most probably

for this purpose. Anything that prevents or reduces oxidative stress

would

be desirable for any person with

stressed neurons or neurons low on energy and protective mechanisms (3).

 

Vitamin E, and to a lesser extent

beta-carotene, perform a similar function. Blue-green algae contains

several components, including the pigmented

carotenoids, that are considered helpful in reducing oxidative stress.

 

Vitamins

If minerals are the soldiers for neurons, vitamins are the generals.

They

determine the distribution and activity of

trace minerals within nerve tissue. The trace minerals thus facilitate

and

carry to completion the actions of the

crucial vitamins for the human brain -- A, B, C, and E.

Vitamin A is best delivered in the form of beta-carotene, because the

body

can make exactly the amount it needs

from beta-carotene.

All of the B vitamins facilitate functioning of the nervous system in

general, and neurons in particular. In a

fascinating research project featuring a direct scientific comparison

with

generic Ritalin (methylphenidate), Vitamin

B-6 was found to produce to more consistent and longer lasting helpful

effects on behavior of children with AD/HD

(8).

Vitamins C and E are important especially for their free radical

quenching

properties, but also have other useful

functions within neurons.

Blue-green algae contains all of these vitamins and is an especially

concentrated source of beta-carotene and

Vitamin B-12.

 

Essential Fatty Acids

Neurons are composed of nearly 50% fatty acids. These large molecules

also

facilitate many of the ongoing

chemical reactions conducted by the neurons. Children with AD/HD have

been

found to be abnormally low in

essential fatty acids (9,23,31). Also some research projects have

involved

direct treatment of AD/HD with EFA's ,

with encouraging results (9,12). While it contains both Omega-3 and

Omega-6

EFA's, blue green algae is relatively

rich in the much harder to find Omega-3.

 

The Connection

What is the connection? Is it the presence of easily assimilable trace

minerals such as zinc? Of beta-carotene and

Vitamin B-12? Of Omega-6 and especially Omega-3 essential fatty acids?

Of

numerous amino acids in balanced

amounts? The answer, of course, is " all of the above, " and provided in

a

natural way, free of questionable artificial

additives.

 

For More Information

Obtain a catalog of over 80 resource materials (including various FREE

forms

and checklists) to assist with

AD/HD and related conditions from FACT'R, P.O. Box 4326, Salem, Oregon

97302. Write, call 503-371-1035 or

e-mail to factrmedia.

Dr. Taylor's 1998 seminar itinerary is rapidly expanding and includes

major

cities across North America.

Confirmed locations include: Denver, Detroit, El Paso, Harrisburg,

Philadelphia, Portland (ME), Reno, San Diego,

San Francisco, Stroudsburg (PA), Syracuse, Toronto, and Windsor (ON).

 

Editor's Note: John F. Taylor is a prominent authority on AD/HD. His

book,

" Helping Your Hyperactive ADD

Child " , is the most comprehensive parent guide in print (over 1500

topics).

His " Answers to ADD: The School

Success Tool Kit " with over 125 techniques described and illustrated, is

 

the

most comprehensive instructional video

on classroom and home-based techniques to assist children with AD/HD.

His

Answers to ADD series is the most

comprehensive audiotape library on this topic (12 tapes).

 

 

 

REFERENCES

 

1. Augustine & Levitan: Neurotransmitter Release from a Vertabrate

Neuromuscular Synapse Affected by a Food Dye.

Science, Vol. 207, Mar 1980

2. Barkley: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. New York:

Guilford,

1990, p. 104

3. Blaylock: Excitotoxins, The Taste That Kills. Santa Fe, NM: Health

 

Press, 1994

4. Boris & Manel: Foods and Additives are Common Causes of the

Attention

Deficit Hyperactive Disorder in Children.

Annals of Allergy, Vol 72, May 1994

5. Breakey et al: Dietary Trement for Hyperactive Children. J

American

Dietetic Assn., Vol. 92, May 1992

6. Brenner: Trace Mineral Levels in Hyperactive Children. J.

Pediatrics,

Vol 94, 1979

7. Carter et al: Effects of a Few Foods Diet in ADD. Arch Dis

Childhood,

Vol 69, 1993, 564-568

8. Coleman et al: A Preliminary Study of the Effect of Pyridoxine.

Biological Psychiatry, Vol. 14, 1979

9. Colquhoun & Bunday: A lock of Essential Fatty Acids as a Possible

Cause

of Hyperactivity in Children. Medical

Hypotheses, Vol. 7, 1981

10. Conners: Feeding the Brain, How Food Affects Children. New York:

Plenum, 1989

11. Conners et al: Food Additives and Hyperkinesis, A Controlled

Double-Blind Experiment. Pediatrics, Vol. 58, 1976, 154

12. Duvner: Gamma-linolenic Acid as a Treatment in AD/HD, from 6th

European

Conference of Neurodevelopmental Delay,

Stockholm, 1994 reported in Hyperactive Children Support Group J, Vol.

48,

1994

13. Egger et al: Double Blind Study Demonstrates Yellow No. 5 Triggers

 

Hyperactivity in Majority of Diagnosed Children.

The Lancet, March 9, 1985.

14. Egger et al: Controlled Trial of Hyposensitisation in Children

with

Food-induced Hyperkinetic Syndrome. The Lancet,

Vol. 339, May 1992

15. Goldenring et al: Effects of Continuous Gastric Infusion of Food

Dyes

on Developing Rat Pups. Life Sciences, Vol. 27,

1980, 1897-1904

16. Goldstein & Goldstein: Managing Attention Disorders in Children.

New

York: Wiley, 1990, p. 40

17. Iversen et al: Neuroprotective Properties of the Glutamate

Antagonist

MK-801, in Pharmacology of Cerebral Ischemia (j.

Krieglstein, Ed.) Boca Raton: CRC Press, 1988

18. Kaplan et al: Dietary Replacement in Preschool-Aged Hyperactive

Boys.

Pediatrics, Vol. 83. 1989

19. Klingberg et al: Long-term Effects on Behavior after Postnatal

Treatment with MSG. Boimed Biochem ACTA, Vol. 46,

1987, 705-711

20. Lafferman & Silbergeld: Erythrosin B Inhibits Dopamine Transport in

 

Rat

Caudate Synaptosomes. Science, Vol. 205, July

1979

21. Levitan: Fluorescein Dyes Affect Membrane Permeabiity of Molluscan

Neurons. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts,

1976

22. Mattson et al: Outgrowth-regulating Actions of Glutamate in

Isolated

Hippocampal Pyramidal Neurons. J Neurosci, Vol.

8, 1988, 2087-2100

23. Mitchell et al: Clinical Characteristics and Serum Essential Fatty

Acid

Levels in Hyperactive Children. Clin Pediatrics, Vol.

26, 1987

24. Murphy et al: Arachidonic Acid Metabolism in Glutamate

Neurotoxicity.

Ann NY Acad Sci, Vol. 559, 1989, 474-477

25. Novelli et al: Glutamate Becomes Neurotoxic via the NMDA Recepter.

Brain Res, Vol., 451, 1988, 205-212

26. Olney et al: Glutamate-induced Brain Damage in Infant Primates. J

Neuropath Exp Neur, Vol. 31, 1972, 464-488

27. Olney et al: Acute Glutamate-induced Elevation in Serum

Testosterone

and Luteinizing Hormone. Brain Res, Vol. 112,

420-424

28. Olney: Glutamate, a Neurotoxic Transmitter. J Child Neurology, Vol.

4,

1989, 218-225

29. Searle Co. Study E-33, 34 Corss Reference E-87, Master File 134 for

Aspartame, FDA Hearing Clerk's Office, 1981

30. Sobotka: Hyperkinesis and Food Additives, A Review of Experimental

Work. FDA By-lines, Vol. 4, 1978, 493

31. Stevens et al: Essential Fatty Acid Metabolism in Boys with ADHD.

Amer

J Clin Nutrition, Vol. 62, 1995

32. Swanson & Kinsbourne: Food Dyes Impair Performance of Hyperactive

children on a Laboratory Learning Test. Science

Vol. 207, Mar. 1980

33. Toth et al: Neurotoxicity of MSG in Pregnant and Fetal Rats. Act.

Neuropath (Berl) Vol. 75, 1987, 16-22

34. Toth & Lajtha: Elevation of Cerebral Levels of Nonessential Amino

Acids. Neurochem Res. Vol 6, 1981, 1309-1317

35. Tuormaa: The Adverse Effects of Food Additives on Health, A Review

of

the Literature with Special Emphasis on

Childhood Hyperactivity. J Orthomol Medicine, Vol. 9, 1994, 225-243

36. Zametkin et al: Cerebral Glucose Metabolism in Adults with

Hyperactivity of Childhood Onset. New Eng J of Med, Vol.

323, Nov. 15, 1990

[Guest guest]

Hi Ilana,

 

Check out:

 

The Myth & The Mystery

ADD & ADHD

an article by

Ian "Doc" Shillington N.D.

 

You will find it in the files. Print this out and give to your friend to read.

 

Don Quai

 

-

Ilana Grostern

Herbal

Saturday, January 11, 2003 5:44 AM

[herbal remedies] Ritalin

I just did a search in the archives and didn't find anything, but was there ever a discussion on this board about ritalin? A friend of mine in another group just mentioned that her daughter is showing "signs of ADHD" and I'd like to be able to give her ideas of why putting her on ritalin is a baaaaaaaad idea.Thanks,ILANA xoxo-- Chimera13 Multimedia Inc.Sales (514) 952-5351Art Department (514) 733-9445http://www.chimera13.caFederal Law requires that we warn you of the following: 1. Natural methods can sometimes backfire. 2. If you are pregnant, consult your physician before using any natural remedy. 3. The Constitution guarantees you the right to be your own physician and toprescribe for your own health. We are not medical doctors although MDs are welcome to post here as long as they behave themselves. Any opinions put forth by the list members are exactly that, and any person following the advice of anyone posting here does so at their own risk. It is up to you to educate yourself. By accepting advice or products from list members, you are agreeing to be fully responsible for your own health, and hold the List Owner and members free of any liability. Dr. Ian ShillingtonDoctor of NaturopathyDr.IanShillington

[Guest guest]

Hi ILANA:

 

There is information in the files. Doc has two articles you should

print and give to your friend to read. They are called The Hidden

Influence and the other is The Myth & The Mystery. I included the

links below for you: herbal remediesArticles/The Hidden Influ

herbal remediesArticles/The Myth & The Mys

 

My son is 6 and also was showing signs of the so-called ADHD.

From research and the great group of people on this board, I have

found so much information. Alot of the symptoms are caused by

nutrition. I discovered my son had a sensitivity to dariy products.

When I removed the dairy he improved. He now gets more "smile

faces" in school than "straight or sad faces".

 

I think when you show your friend all the frightening info about

ritalin she will try anything to avoid it. Ritalin is a brain damaging

drug. It is a class two drug just like cocaine. It is so terribly

sad that millions of children (our future) are on ritalin today.

Please do all that you can to avoid that child from taking it.

 

I am not an expert, just a mom that cares and wants the best for

my child as well as others.

 

Take Care,

Gina