Useful Anti ADD Supplements

Are you seeking some useful anti ADD supplements and herbal remedies?

Many supplements and herbal remedies have been shown to be effective in treating attention deficit disorder (ADD) / attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Such supplements and herbal remedies include:

• Ginkgo biloba helps to increase neurotransmitter levels and blood flow to the brain, which aids the brain's ability to focus. Ginkgo biloba’s most positive qualities include the tendency of its effects to become permanent, unlike Ritalin and similar drugs that only mask symptoms.
  
  
• Brahmi, an Ayurvedic herb, appears to increase overall cognitive function. It can help improve the ability to focus, learn, and retain information. Recent research shows that it can also protect the brain from free radicals. These effects make it a useful anti ADD supplement / herb.
  
  
• Gotu kola (Centella asiatica), also another Ayurvedic herb, reduces anxiety and promotes a feeling of balance and harmony in the brain. It also enhances memory and has been shown to improve blood flow to the brain and general circulation.
  
  
• L-tyrosine is one of 20 amino acids which contribute to the proper synthesization of proteins at the cellular level. Tyrosine converts to dopamine and norepinephrine. Effects include mental alertness and elevated mood.
  
  
• Grape seed extract and pine bark extract can also be used. The premise for their effectiveness lies in the fact that their active ingredients help synthesize vitamin C, which in turn helps essential levels of seratonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. Such an effect makes them useful anti ADD supplements.

There are specific useful anti ADD supplements for specific types of the condition.

• Combined ADD

  This condition is often identified early in life, and appears to be especially prevalent in boys. These children will display high levels of all three characteristics - hyperactivity, impulsivity and restlessness. Some experts theorize that low available dopamine levels cause decreases in activity in the premotor and prefrontal cortex regions of the brain.

  These children should respond well to dietary adjustments such as the classic high protein low carbohydrate diet that stabilizes the effects of fluctuating blood sugar levels and can raise dopamine. Energy and concentration may also improve.

  Affected children may benefit from a combination of certain anti ADD supplements - L-tyrosine, grape seed or pine bark extract in combination with ginkgo biloba. Each child should be treated as an individual and a qualified herbalist or natural medicine practitioner with experience in treating ADD / ADHD should determine specific dosages of these anti ADD supplements. Most herbal supplements can be taken twice a day, with meals.
  
  

• Inattentive ADD

  Often undetected until adolescence, especially in bright children who can compensate more effectively with the challenges of wandering focus levels, this type of ADD does not manifest high levels of hyperactivity. Rather, children tend to sit about quietly, in a dream-like state, and often appear bored, inattentive or “spacey.”

  Rather than being hyperactive, they often have polar opposite tendencies - inertia, sluggishness or lack of motivation. This makes diagnosis very difficult, especially for girls, as the child does not display “classic” ADD / ADHD behavior. The treatment described above may prove helpful, as the condition also affects the front portion of the brain.
  
  

• Overfocused ADD

  Children in this class of ADD tend to become trapped in rigid behavior patterns or routines. This type of ADD can also co-occur with obsessive compulsive disorder. Rather than inattention, children suffer from over-attention, and have trouble letting go of one project. Children treated with standard stimulant drugs like Ritalin will actually become worse, so alternate treatment should be pursued.

  These children may have low serotonin levels, which can cause moodiness, anxiety or irritability. Carbohydrate-containing foods such as potatoes and breads, and foods abundant with tryptophan such as chicken, turkey, and eggs, will also prove useful. Nutritional L-Tryptophan supplements can also increase serotonin levels and may take the raw edge off frayed emotions.
  
  

• Temporal ADD

  Children diagnosed with this class of ADD suffer from frequent episodes of rage, panic or fear due to decreased activity in the temporal region of the brain, which normally regulates mood stability, temper control, memory and learning. L-Glutamine (GABA) supplements will calm neuronal activity and inhibit nerve cells form firing erratically or over-firing. Other helpful anti ADD supplements include vitamin E and gingko biloba.
  
  

• Limbic ADD

  Children with Limbic ADD have especially short attention spans, and suffer from persistent negative thoughts or excessive guilt. Often these children receive a depression diagnosis, but antidepressants will actually increase moodiness.

  The limbic system normally regulates mood and outlook, as well as controls sleep, appetite, and social interactions. Nutritional intervention helps these children as well. Healthy fats, such as the omega 3 fatty acids, will help regulate brain functioning, while L-tyrosine, St. John’s Wort, or SAMe will improve and balance mood; these are possible useful anti ADD supplements in this scenario.
  
  

• Basal ADD

  Sometimes called Ring of Fire ADD, children in this classification react with nervousness, tension, fear or other forms of anxiety. Often, too, their bodies and demeanors appear to be in constant tension. Children should be sure to eat regularly in order to avoid the hypoglycemic episodes that can trigger panic or anxiety.

  These children, too, contrary to conventional wisdom with respect to ADD, should not have caffeine added to their diet. Supplements like kava kava or valerian help relieve anxiety, and appear to work directly on the basal ganglia affected by this class of ADD; they could thus also be useful anti ADD supplements. Vitamin B6 and the B vitamin complex in general, as well as soothing essential oils like lavender or chamomile, could help.

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