ADD - Effective alternatives to worrisome drugs.

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This url was posted by a member of MCS-Canada.Courtesy - Shan ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER:EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVES TO WORRISOME DRUGShttp://www.consumerhealth.org/articles/display.cfm?ID=20010214042825by: Lyon, Michael, M.D.Dr. Lyon is director of research and education at the Oceanside FunctionalMedicine Research Institute on Vancouver Island. He has served for four years asan Olympic Team physician and head of a National Sport Science Committee forSport Canada. His current research is directed toward developing new,non-pharmacological strategies for the treatment of fibromyalgia, chronicfatiguesyndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and heart disease. Theprogram is outlined in Dr. Lyon's book, Healing the Hyperactive Brain, which isused as a textbook for naturopathic and

nutritional schools and is taught tophysicians and health care practitioners all around the world, but it is alsointended for people without medical training or scientific background. Dr.Lyon's major concerns with current treatments for ADHD relate to the sideeffectsfrom amphetamines, which include personality deviations and toxicity,especially toxicity from long term use.MY PERSONAL RESEARCH INTO ADDI had Attention Deficit Disorder as a child, and got into a lot of trouble,but fortunately, in the middle of high school, I became interested in naturalmedicine. This enabled me to turn my life around and I was accepted intomedical school research laboratories right out of high school. My son also hadverysevere Attention Deficit Disorder. He was antisocial, entirely illiterate,unable to read at all and was developing some features of autism as well. Atthatpoint I decided to commit my life to ADD research in

order to help my son.Three years later, he is now a normal boy, and you would never guess he hasAttention Deficit Disorder. He is in Grade V but reading at a Grade XII level,writing computer programs, and he is an accomplished athlete. I am very happy tosay that the program that we have developed at the Oceanside Research Centreworks and has made a huge difference in my life personally. We are cooperatingwith researchers all around the world, and we have seen many children withthis disorder become bright, healthy, well-adjusted kids.CHARACTERISTICS OF ADDEASY DISTRACTIBILITY characterizes this condition more than anything else.This affects your ability to maintain attention to tasks and be productive. Youhave great ideas and inspirations and all kinds of projects that you neverquite get around to doing.INATTENTIVENESS AND HYPERFOCUSSINGPeople with ADD have an inability to concentrate and to really focus

theirenergies on a task and complete it. Strangely enough, people with ADD often havea strange phenomenon we call hyperfocussing where you completely forget aboutyour surroundings when you are doing something you enjoy, and you focus sointensively that you may go into a kind of trance state. In these short burstsof hyperfocussing, you are not distractible and can often get a tremendousamount of work done. I have met many adults who use this feature to theiradvantage. When they find something they are interested in, they make this theirvocation and become very productive. It can be the difference between successandfailure in your life.FORGETFULNESS can be present to the point where it is really an impairment. Iused to be at the very best, the absent-minded professor, and at the veryworst, a complete scatterbrain who couldn't remember anything.DISORGANIZATIONPeople with this condition often live their lives

in a whirlwind andeverything around them is disorganized. This is something you can overcome withwonderful tools like computers and electronic organizers that can allow you tocreate structure and organization externally.CONFUSED OR JUMBLED THINKINGMany people with ADD really can't stay on one train of thought. They feellike they have ten TV stations on all at once and they don't know which one tofocus on. Their thoughts can bounce around in their mind all the time and makeit very difficult to have peace of mind. Some people are so affected by thisthat they can't carry on a conversation without bouncing from one topic toanother and tend to ramble on without any rhyme or reason.PROCRASTINATIONPeople often take on way too many responsibilities and end up not being ableto complete any of them because they keep putting things off until they are inbig trouble. They spend too much time on the things that don't really

matterand put off the things that really do matter.DIFFICULTY PLANNING AHEADBecause they lack the ability to maintain structure and organization in theirmind, they naturally will tend to be impulsive and do things at the lastminute. Some people can only work well and stay focussed when they are in a lifeor death emergency situation, but it adds a lot of stress to your life when youalways have these deadlines hanging over your head and never get themcompleted.IMPULSIVE BEHAVIOUR OR RUSHING TO JUDGEMENTThis problem becomes increasingly serious over time. About three-quarters ofthe people in jail have Attention Deficit Disorder. If you ask them why theyare in jail, it usually started with various impulsive decisions that lead tomore and more serious actions that were often carried out impulsively.A NEED FOR HIGH STIMULATIONPeople with ADD often end up using drugs, or become involved in

dangeroussports, business ventures or other dangerous behaviours because they never haveasense of focus or serenity unless they are on the edge of danger all thetime. They need that rush of adrenaline to feel like their mind is reallyworkingproperly.ADDICTIONSThere is evidence that people with ADD have a high tendency towardsaddictions, and will often medicate themselves with drugs or other addictivebehavioursto try to get that elusive sense of satisfaction in their mind.FINANCIAL DISASTERSDisorganization, impulsive behaviour and the need for high stimulation canlead to financial disasters. They get involved in risky businesses or go out onspending sprees.HYPERACTIVITYMany people with ADD are hyperactive, but not everyone. A lot of people withADHD are rather docile people, maybe even lethargic. They may just be fidgety,or overly talkative. According to Harvard Medical School, 51% of

people withADD have other serious disorders likeCONDUCT DISORDER, ANXIETY DISORDER or DEPRESSIONThese can be very serious problems that can end up becoming more serious thanthe Attention Deficit Disorder.LEARNING DISABILITIES are found in about 50% of people with ADD. Manychildren face academic failure and are told that they are not living up to theirpotential. They have bursts of brilliance followed by poor performance and it'svery frustrating for teachers, parents and for the children as well. They oftenhave very low self-esteem because they never quite live up to their truepotential.TROUBLED RELATIONSHIPSRelationships often last an average of about 18 months; then they get boredand start wanting higher stimulation. They may have the same problems at workbecause they get bored and start performing poorly.PHYSIOLOGY BEHIND ADDPeople with Attention Deficit Disorder have a very unique

physiology. Theirbrains work differently, their bodies are structured differently, and theirimmune systems are much more sensitive.EXECUTIVE CENTERSNeurological research in the last few years using imaging techno-logies suchas PET scans, SPEC scans, functional MRI scans and even better,electroencephalo-grams, show that regions deep inside the frontal lobes of thebrain calledthe executive centres, do not function normally in individuals with ADD.Normally, this area of the brain consumes more oxygen than other areas, but thebrain scan of someone with ADD shows that it's fast asleep while the rest of thebrain is awake. This condition defines ADD. These executive centres give youthe ability to resist impulses and keep your mind in focus. Neurons in thisarea release the neurotransmitter dopamine. The executive centres of the braingrow slowly in these children. A 14-year-old boy may have the development of

asix-year-old in terms of his ability to sit still, to think things through, hismoral reasoning and judgement, but have the impulses and desires of a14-year-old. Even in maturity, these sections of the brain never really functionnormally. Frequently adults with ADD still behave like children and even feellikechildren until they are 30 or 40 years old or more because of this problemwith executive centres.REWARD OR PLEASURE CENTREResearch shows that we all need a certain amount of stimulation from thisarea of the brain to experience a sense of satisfaction and serenity. Whenstimulated, neurons in this area release dopamine. In people with ADD, thiscentreis also sleeping a lot of the time, so it is difficult to experience a sense ofpleasure or satisfaction. It takes a lot of energy to stimulate this area ofthe brain, so that is probably why people with ADD have a need for highstimulation. When the reward

or pleasure centre is activated, very strongsignalsare sent by this area to the executive centre so it wakes up as well.Consequently, when people with Attention Deficit Disorder do something theyenjoy, theexecutive centre wakes up and they are actually able to focus and payattention. It is very enjoyable to be in focus and these two centres can't beseparated. I believe very strongly that one of the keys to treating ADDnaturally, orholistically, is to learn to turn on the pleasure centre without having to dosomething damaging. I learned to stimulate this area of the brain throughmeditation, prayer, and later, biofeedback, and now at will, I can get into astateof focus that I can maintain throughout my day, and don't end up beingdistractible and scatter-brained.MEDICATIONS for ADD like Ritalin (methylphenidate) and Dexedrine(dextroamphetamine) are stimulant drugs that stimulate the executive and

rewardcentres,but they don't address the underlying causes, and they have potential adverseside-effects. There are a number of ways to improve the function of these areasof the brain without having to resort to amphetamine-like drugs.WORKING MEMORYPeople with ADD also have problems with working memory, the kind of memorythat gives you the ability to remember things in your immediate environment. Itis why most people with this condition have difficulty reading because by thetime they get to the end of the sentence they have already forgotten what isat the beginning of the sentence, so they have to read it again and again andagain.PHYSICAL PROBLEMSThere is an association between Attention Deficit Disorder and variousphysical problems. From early childhood or infancy, these children may have ahighincidence of ear and respiratory infections - then later on allergies,headaches, abdominal pain

and muscle pain. As they begin to mature, chronicfatiguesyndrome and fibromyalgia often accompany Attention Deficit Disorder. Peoplewith ADD can actually inherit a higher susceptibility to environmental toxins,substances that are toxic to the brain. They may not actually be as efficient atexcreting the toxins that we are all exposed to. These people never reallyknow what it is like to experience actual energy and wellness and they makefamily doctors' lives very complicated because they don't respond to drugs andconventional medical treatments very well.LEAKY GUTWe found in our research that 75% of children with ADD have a leaky gut orincreased intestinal permeability. The small intestine is normally a leak proofbarrier - it is supposed to admit only fully digested nutrients into yourblood stream, but 75% of kids with Attention Deficit Disorder have damage totheseintestinal cells. There are gaps between the

intestinal cells, and largemolecules (large undigested protein and metal toxins) can pass right throughintothe blood stream and put the immune system under a great deal of stress.ALLERGIESA number of studies have shown that at least 65% of these children have foodallergies or other adverse reactions to foods. If a child has an allergy to aparticular grain, a few minutes after eating that grain he feels ill and hisbrain is in a fog.PARASITESWe have found that about half of children with ADD have intestinal parasites,compared to studies which show that about 5% of healthy children haveintestinal parasites. We have found as many as five species of parasites in asinglechild - organisms like Blastocystis hominis, Giardia lamblia, Dientamoebafragilis, Entamoeba coli, and Endolimax nana. All of these parasites inflame theimmune system, which could potentially have effects on brain

function.IMMUNE SYSTEM DYSFUNCTIONWe also found evidence that 80% of children with ADD have immune systemdeficiencies particularly in the immunity around their gastrointestinal tracts.They have very low levels of an important antibody called Secretory IgA, whichcan cause a higher risk of food allergies, intestinal parasites and otherabnormal organisms in the gut.GENETICSAt least three different genes have been identified that encode for aparticular type of wiring of the brain. These are actually high performancegenesthat give people special gifts and talents. If you have ADD, you most likelyinherited a certain wiring to your brain that makes your brain supersensitive,andin times past that might not have been a deficit; it might have allowedcertain individuals to be quick thinking, brave and creative. These people thinkina completely different way from the rest of society, so they end up

learningand discovering new things. If you can improve the actual function of thebrain, then these gifts and talents will blossom like a flower. I have seen manycases of children who were virtually disabled to the point where they werealmost institutionalized. Once you improve the health and the physiology of thebrain, some of these kids turn out to be the most wonderful, creative, brightkids you will ever meet.NEUROTOXINS IN OUR ENVIRONMENTWATERThere are neurotoxins in our water supply. Water all around the world istreated using aluminum sulfate, and if you have gastrointestinal problems (theso-called 'leaky gut' syndrome) you will absorb a significant amount ofaluminum.SOILOur soils are becoming contaminated with heavy metals and organochlorinepesticides and may be a source of neurotoxins. A few years ago laws were passedtoprohibit the dumping of sludge from our municipal sewage

treatment plantsinto the oceans. Instead, they sold these materials called 'biosolids' tofertilizer companies and now they get dumped on our agricultural soils! The bigproblem is not that it is a bacteriological risk, but that it contains a certainamount of heavy metals like zinc, lead and mercury that accumulate in the soilover time. In the last 30 years, heavy metals have increased severalhundred-fold in the soil and some of these metals are absorbed into our foodcrops.PESTICIDES ARE NEUROTOXICResearch at Duke University has shown that pesticides, particularlyorganophosphates, are neurotoxins and can evoke neural developmental damage inchildren. They can actually interrupt brain cell development and cause veryseriousharm during the time of critical brain development. Of greatest concern are theorganophosphate pesticides, and they have published a number of studies on theeffects of organophosphates on the

brains of children. These pesticides weredeveloped out of the technology that gave us nerve poisons like tabin andsarin. Organophosphate pesticides are virtually these same nerve poisons watereddown. They are used extensively because they are cheap and they are very deadlypesticides that kill the brains of bugs. If you eat foods like apples,peaches, pears, strawberries and spinach you are guaranteed to get excessivelevelsof organophosphate pesticides. It is not unusual for an apple to have a levelof methylparathion that is 200 times the known safe level. And these areactually legally allowed because the laws that govern pesticide levels are soarchaic that they do not have up-to-date toxicology on chemicals which should befully banned. The ideal alternative is to eat organically grown produce. Therehave been some very disturbing trends in the pesticide industry. In the past,they used laboratory animals for testing until

they found a level of pesticidethat started to have adverse effects on the animal. Then they divided that byten and added an additional ten-fold safety factor. In terms of the short-termsafety, it is probably all right, but the effects of long-term exposure areunknown. Unfortunately, today there is a trend towards using humans fromforeign countries as test animals. They apply the ten-fold safety factor andtheyend up with a legal level of pesticides that is many, many times higher thanwhat was previously allowed, even though that previous allowance was probablyhigher than what was safe. These studies are two weeks or so in length at themost. We don't know what happens with long-term exposure. Companies like AbbottLaboratories that make the bacillus bacteria pesticide that is commonly used incorn keep the other ingredients a trade secret. Many people believe that itcontains agents like arsenic and mercury.Recent

research about the amount of pesticides in our food supply areavailable on the internet through the Environmental Working Group in Washington,D.C,at www.ewg.org. Their research is based on data from the U.S. Department ofAgriculture. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's intensive sampling programhas been going on over the last five years and they peeled or washed fruits andvegetables as a consumer normally would do. In certain cases you can peel offthe pesticide residue. If you peel an apple you reduce the methylparathion byabout 75%. But sometimes you can't because it is right inside the flesh of thefruits or vegetables. You can't wash it away in spinach, strawberries,grapes, potatoes, and green beans.1. HIGHEST PESTICIDE LEVELS in apples, spinach, peaches, pears, strawberries,grapes (Chile), potatoes, red raspberries, celery, green beans.2. LOWEST PESTICIDE LEVELS in corn, cauliflower, sweet peas,

asparagus,broccoli, pineapple, onions, bananas, watermelon, cherries (Chile).(Compiled from USDA and FDA pesticide residue data 1992-1997.)SMOKINGLast year an Australian study revealed that 25% of all children withbehavioural disorders were exposed to smoking in pregnancy (a neurotoxin).LEADDr. Herbert Needleman at the University of Pittsburgh found a higherprevalence of Attention Deficit Disorder, aggression and delinquency amongchildrenwith increased lead exposure (Neurotoxicology 1993;14:161-6). The primarysources of lead are old flaking paint containing lead, contaminated soils, anddrinking water tainted by lead-soldered pipes. You can get your water tested forlead at any local laboratory. It is not very expensive.FISHNeurotoxic exposure also comes from fish. Fresh water and large predatoryfish are a very reliable source of neurotoxins, particularly PCB's and mercury.Dr. J.L. Jacobson from

Wayne State University demonstrated that children whosemothers reported eating two to three servings of fish a month from LakeMichigan during their pregnancies were more likely to have children withsymptoms ofADHD with cognitive and behavioural problems (N Eng J Med1996;335:11:738-89).CHEMICALSHousehold chemicals, cleaners and lawn chemicals may contain sources ofneurotoxins, especially if our children are around these chemicals.THE WORKPLACE can be a very serious source of toxins and anyone who has ADHDshould avoid occupations like bodywork or welding, or any job where theyhandle toxic chemicals.TOXIC HERBICIDES AND PESTICIDES are used far too liberally around schools.MERCURY FROM DENTAL AMALGAMS is a very serious issue. The World HealthOrganization tells us that the majority of the population is exposed to mercurythrough dental amalgam fillings which ranges from 3 to 17 micrograms. The

WHOsaysabout 4 to 4.5 mcg. a day is safe for the average person.RITALINPharmaceutical drugs are said to be effective with about 75% of children.However, we don't know the long-term future consequences of prescribed doses interms of higher risk of degenerative disorders of the brain or cardiovasculardisease. We know for certain that if these drugs are abused, they ferociouslydamage the brain and cardiovascular system. There has been one CAT scan studyby the chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Ohio whichfound that 20% of men in their twenties who had been on Ritalin as children,had cerebral atrophy, or shrinkage of the brain, which is an effect you get adecade or two prior to the onset of Alzheimer's disease. Dr. H. Nasrallah, whoconducted this study back in the 1980's, concluded that we have to suspectthat the stimulant medication was the cause of this cerebral atrophy (PsychiatryRes

1986; 17(3):241-6). Today there are strong factors which indicate thatthese drugs may lead to a more rapid aging process in the brain.A HOLISTIC TREATMENTNUTRITION AND SUPPLEMENTSReduce or eliminate junk foods and replace them with healthier foods and lotsof dietary fiber. Improve the overall nutritional density of the diet, usingwhole foods rich in all of the nutrients that the brain requires. Identify andeliminate allergic or intolerant foods and remove them from the diet. Givenutrients to help repair the leaky gut. Get rid of intestinal parasites and foodallergies. You may have to use digestive enzymes or other substances to helpdigestive processes get back to normal again. Reinoculate the gut with normalbacterial flora. Probiotic supplementation (the friendly bacterial flora)actually repopulates the human intestinal tract. Improve the immune system byusing various nutrients. There are critical building blocks

that build braincellsduring fetal development and in early childhood, especially essential fattyacids. At the nerve endings you will find very high amounts of an omega-3 fattyacid called DHA that you find in fish oils, and about 80% of kids withAttention Deficit Disorder have low levels of DHA. Adequate protein is requiredforthe neurotransmitters to keep the brain running normally. Iron supplementationimproves cognition and behaviour. Magnesium alone has been shown to calmhyperactive kids. Low zinc has been shown, in isolation, to be a factor inAttention Deficit Disorder and is probably a very important nutrient. Amultivitaminwith B vitamins will improve behaviour and school performance. Phytochemicalsare important in helping to optimize brain performance in kids. Kids with ADHDoften are deficient in phytochemicals from fruits and vegetables,bioflavonoids like grape seed extract, pycnogenol and gingko biloba. Use

lots ofpurewater. Even a small amount of dehydration can contribute to poor brain functionand bad behaviour.HERBAL MEDICINES - AD-FXWe have found that potent extracts of ginseng, particularly American ginsengand gingko biloba have real potential to replace amphetamines and otherprescribed drugs used for ADD. We have worked with researchers at the UniversityofAlberta who brought a product to the market called AD-FX (a combination of avery potent American ginseng extract combined with an extract of gingkobiloba). Before it actually came on the market, we used it in a research projectwhere we studied 37 children with Attention Deficit Disorder averaging 10 yearsofage. When they were given AD-FX, 90% of symptoms like oppositional behaviourand cognitive problems improved significantly. In some children, the effectswere virtually miraculous, even though they had not responded to orthodoxmedications. Note:

There is no such thing as organic ginseng. Any ginseng needstobe tested for heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides and fungicides because theAsian ginsengs are commonly contaminated, especially with fungicides. TheAmerican ginseng preparations we use (AD-FX and Cold-FX) are tested.RESEARCH USING AD-FX IN VITROThe most exciting thing about the American ginseng extract in AD-FX is whatit does to brain cells. Damaged brain cells kept alive in a nutritional growthmedium for a couple of weeks initially look just like little blobs; they don'tlook like brain cells at all. When you add American ginseng from AD-FX tothem, they start to differentiate into regular brain cells and some start tosprout long connections (axons). Rather than gradually degrading the brain likethe amphetamines do, the herbal medicines in AD-FX have anti-oxidant effects andeven nerve growth stimulation effects, so they may help to develop

theseunderdeveloped regions of the brain over time. AD-FX is manufactured by acompanycalled Herb Tech, which is a University of Alberta company.DOSAGEChildren should take four AD-FX capsules per day on an empty stomach, andthat works in 90% of cases. In adults and adolescents, AD-FX alone is not alwaysenough. About three more gingko capsules (totalling about 300 mg. per day) andhypericum or St. John's Wort often works very, very well.This combination inadolescents and adults often works better than Ritalin without any sideeffects at all.COLD-FX is an oligosaccharide preparation discovered by the University ofAlberta. It is obtained from the root of the American ginseng plant. It ismarketed as a cold product for respiratory infections like colds and influenza,butit can be used for any kind of immune problems. Research at the University ofAlberta has demonstrated that Cold-FX is actually 20 times more

potent animmune stimulant than Echinacea. When you combine it with a probiotic, itactuallyhelps to eradicate nasty species in the gut by strengthening the immunesystem.DETOXIFY accumulated neurotoxins, We use various methods of detoxificationincluding saunas, sometimes chelating medications, and sometimesnutrient-oriented approaches.EXERCISEEvery child with ADHD needs to be involved in regular vigorous exercise.Research has shown that exercise improves brain function and mood. It evenimproves executive centre function.BIOFEEDBACK AND SPIRITUALPeople need to learn to focus, and biofeedback, particularly neurofeedback(also called EEG biofeedback) can be extremely helpful. Prayer and meditationevery day is most important.I really believe that every person with ADD can be helped and that ADD caneventually become a great advantage and ally to anyone who has it.* * *Healing the

Hyperactive Brain by Michael Lyon and a videotape of MichaelLyon's Total Health 2000 lecture with slide presentation are both available atConsumer Health Organization. For more information, try Michael Lyon's website:www.pureliving.com AD-FX and COLD-FX are manufactured by Herb Tech.For info call 1-888-8HERBFX (1-888-843-7239) or email saleswebsite www.herbtech.comAD-FX and COLD-FX are available at Consumer Health Organization at416-490-0986. "Our ideal is not the spirituality that withdraws from life but the conquest of life by the power of the spirit." - Aurobindo.

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