This document summarizes Meaghan Kielley's independent study project on alternative treatments for ADD/ADHD. It provides an overview of ADD/ADHD, statistics on diagnosis and medication use, and potential contributing cultural, environmental, and nutritional factors. The bulk of the document involves interviews with practitioners of herbalism, homeopathy, chiropractic care, nutrition, acupuncture, and Traditional Chinese Medicine who discuss their holistic and complementary approaches to treating ADD/ADHD.

1. Meaghan Kielley
Ithaca College
English Major
Integrative Health Studies Minor
NEAA.org

2. Methods: Literature Review, Interviewing Practitioners
and individuals diagnosed with ADD/ADHD.
Part of Independent Study: Capstone for Integrative
Health Studies Minor

3. What is ADD/ADHD?
 ADD/ADHD is an Attention Deficit Disorder characterized by
inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. ADD/ADHD is
considered a mental disorder according to the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual for Mental Disorder
 “The percentage of children aged 4-17 years with a parent-
reported ADHD diagnosis increased from 7.8% to 9.5% during
2003-2007, representing a 21.8% increase in 4 years.” (CDC)

4. ADD/ADHD in America Today: The Statistics
 The number of children taking Ritalin is doubling every two years.
 Two million children diagnosed with AD/HD take Ritalin today.
 Consumers spent $373 million on Ritalin and its generic
counterparts in 1996.
 Production of Ritalin by drug companies has increased by nearly 500
percent in the last five years.

5. Cultural:
 Fast-paced society and culture
 Multi-tasking is encouraged
 Impatience: “instant relief”
“instant results” “overnight”
 Dependence on technology
 Technology overload?

6. Environmental:
 Air and water pollution, pesticides, heavy metal toxicity
Dietary/Nutritional:
 Growth hormones, synthetic hormones in food, food
colorings/preservatives/additives/chemicals
 High Sugar Consumption- especially marketed towards
children
 Vaccinations?

7. Societal:
 Are school systems forcing normalization
on children?
 ADD/ADHD diagnosis and medication-
easy way for teacher to control
misbehaving child?

8. Sociocultural:
 Changes in Family Dynamics: more work,
less family time
 Adderall/Ritalin: “Street Drug”
 Teenage girls seeking weight loss
 Societal messages: “Thin=Pretty”

9. Misdiagnosis/Overdiagnosis:
 Increased Awareness
 Pressure on Parents from School and Teachers
 Pressure on Kids to Achieve
 Different learning styles
 Physical Illnesses with ADD/ADHD-like symptoms
 Mental “Disorders” with ADD/ADHD symptoms
 Kids being kids!
Physical Illnesses with ADD/ADHD-like symptoms:
 Hypoglycemia
 Vision Problems
 Food Allergies
 Nutritional Deficiencies

10. The Controversy: Confusion and Contradictory
Information for Parents
 Ritalin/Adderall/Psychostimulants: Good? Bad?
Long-term effects?
 ADD/ADHD: Exaggerated diagnosis?
Biomedical Approach to Treatment:
Psychostimulants: such as Ritalin (methylphenidate),
Adderall, Dexedrine (amphetamines) etc.
 Stimulant has opposite effect on ADD/ADHD;
calms hyperactivity, encourages focus
 Affect dopamine and regulate arousal system
 Other pharmaceuticals include: Antidepressants,
Antihypertensives, Anticonvulsives, and
Antipsychotics

11. Biomedical Approach
Side Effects of Psychostimulants:
 Sleep Disturbances/Insomnia
 Loss of Appetite/Weight loss
 Abnormal movements or “tics”
 “Zombie Effect”- suppressed emotions and
creativity, social withdrawal and depression
 Dry mouth
 Increased Irritability and Agitation
 Heart Palpitations
 Drug Dependency, Addiction and Withdrawal
 Disrupt Growth Hormone Production?
 Gross Brain Malfunctions?
 Psychosis?

12. Holistic and Complementary Approaches:
 Herbalism
 Homeopathy
 Chiropractic Care
 Nutrition and Dietary Changes
 Acupuncture
 Neurofeedback

13. Interview with 7Song, Herbal Practitioner
Break down the symptoms
Look for Triggers in their life- Digestion? IBS- not
going to sit still
When do you feel worst?
Categorization of Herbs:
Pacifying Adaptogens: Help body deal with stress
-Ashwaganda, Siberian Ginseng, Ginseng,
Burdock Root, Dandelion Root
Nervines: nourishes and feeds nervous system;
tonics, sedative, hypnotic. Insomnia? Anxiety?
•Passionflower, Skullcap, Chamomile, Tulsi, Hops
•Reduce effects of Ritalin with nourishing herbs

14. Interview with Carrie Stearns, Classical Homeopath
 Look at environment- physical, emotional, mental, family
dynamics, etc.
 What is the root cause of imbalance? Physical? Emotional?
 As specific as possible- How does it actually feel in your body?
 Appropriate, Individualized Remedy
 Person shifts out of imbalance

15. Interview with Dr. Ammitai Worob
▶Address Subluxations, Misalignment and Nerve
Interference in Nervous System
▶ADD/ADHD: Sympathetic Tone and
Parasympathetic Tone Imbalance
▶Decrease Sympathetic Tone
▶Affects hormone release and neuropeptides:
Cortisol- response to stress
▶Dietary Changes: Avoid refined sugar, flour, highly
processed foods, food dyes,colorings (neurotoxins)
▶Supplements: High quality DHA Fish Oil for
Development and Probiotics
▶Chiropractic Success with Individuals on the
Autism Spectrum

16. Interview with Julia Lapp, Nutritionist/Dietician
Professor at Ithaca College
Toxicity in Food and Water Sources:
 Heavy Metals, Pesticides, Antibiotics, Growth
Hormones, Synthetic Hormones/Estrogens, Food
Colorings/Additives/Preservatives
 Link between Lead and Hyperactivity, Impulsivity, and
Behavioral Issues
 Study of Organic Versus Non-Organic Food
Consumption: Non-Organic Children displayed
significantly higher signs of heavy metal exposure
Mineral Deficiencies: Iron (Iron Anemia)- affects 10% of
Americans, affects how kids learn. Fatty Acids- (Omega
3, 6, 9) Learning, Cognition and Development

17. Celiac Disease and Malabsorption Problems:
 People may have celiac disease and not
realize it.
 Some have obvious digestive discomfort, gas,
diarrhea, etc. but migraines and occasional
headaches can be subtle signs of Celiac
Disease.
 Celiac Disease: Inflammatory response- can
affect many physical processes including
attention, hyperactivity/restlessness
 If a person isn’t able to physically absorb and
utilize the nutrients from the food they eat, this
could affect learning, cognition, and
development.

18. Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAPS) Diet:
(Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free, Lactose-Free)
 Designed by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride
 Treated her son off autistic spectrum through GAPS
Diet and probiotics
 Relationship between neurological conditions and
nutrition, such as: autism, ADD/ADHD, dyslexia,
dyspraxia, schizophrenia, depression, etc.
Gut Health: “Our Second Brain” 95% percent of
serotonin in the body lies in our digestive system.
 The gut contains 100 million neurons – more than
the spinal cord

19. Interview with Neil Weinberg
 Good results with Acupuncture/TCM and ADD/ADHD.
 Some went off stimulant medication completely and others
significantly lowered dosages of stimulant medication.
 Acupuncture treatment once a week for 4-6 weeks, cut back
every 2 weeks
 Daily herbal formula taken twice a day, increases or decreases
depending on patient’s reactions and needs.
 Sedative, but also nourishing herb
 What about Needle-Phobic Children? Electro-stimulation via
Q-Tips on Acupuncture meridian points
 Dietary Changes recommended: organic whenever possible,
whole grains, drink water, avoid sugar

20. ADD/ADHD From a Traditional Chinese Medicine
Perspective:
 Patterns of disharmony within the Liver, Heart, and
Kidney
 Kidney deficient
 Liver Yin Deficiency which then creates a pattern of
wind affecting the liver or “Liver Wind”
 Heat in the Heart and Liver, which is associated with
agitation and hyperactivity.
 Spleen disharmony sometimes involved
 Sugar Consumption: Depletes Water element,
Increases Fire, Heat, and creates phlegm, “Phlegm
Misting the Mind,” trouble focusing.