Posts Tagged ‘Treatments’

ADHD Alternative Treatments – Are They Really Effective?

April 5th, 2021

ADHD alternative treatments provide options that many people explore when they are diagnosed with this disorder. Prescription medications are often used along with standard behavioral treatments to help treat the symptoms of ADHD. However, traditional treatments are not the only option available. Just a few of the alternative options available today include chiropractic medicine, Interactive Metronome training, dietary interventions, and neurofeedback, just to name a few. Here is a closer look at some of the available alternative treatments and whether they are really effective at treating ADHD symptoms.

Dietary Interventions

One of the controversial alternative treatment options for ADHD happens to be dietary intervention. However, research has actually shown that carbohydrates and processed sugars actually cause a fast increase in levels of blood glucose. When this occurs, it can cause more activity because of the rush of adrenaline that occurs because of the blood glucose rise. As the levels of adrenaline start to fall, the activity level usually decreases as well. Although there is not current proof that diets containing a lot of sugar actually can cause ADHD, many nutritionists actually advise that sugar levels be kept low in the diet of those with this disorder. Instead of eating simple processed sugars, patients are advised to eat more fiber to help keep adrenaline levels manageable. Foods high in fiber include those like oatmeal, other whole grains, fruits, and especially berries.

Another dietary intervention that is used as one of the ADHD alternative treatments is actually known as the Feingold Diet. The diet is an elimination diet that was designed by Ben Feingold, MD, and it included eliminating artificial flavors, preservatives, and colorings from the diet to reduce the amount of hyperactivity. Many studies have shown that this diet has little effect. However, some parents have tried this with success. Some people have tried to eliminate specific foods from their diet, trying to find which foods may be causing the problem. While it has worked for some, this dietary intervention does not have any evidence to prove it really works.

Behavioral Interventions

Behavioral interventions are also a method of alternative treatment for those suffering from ADHD. Various behavioral interventions are used, including sessions that offered parenting skills to groups of parents that had a child dealing with ADHD. Other programs combined parent education in child safety, understanding the behavior of the child, and focusing on helpful parenting skills as well. Both of these options have seen success, with research showing that both groups saw a decrease in the ADHD symptoms of their children.

Chiropractic Medicine

At this point, no research actually shows that chiropractic treatment is effective at treating ADHD. However, some chiropractors do believe that they can help patients with this disorder. The theory behind this is that imbalances in muscle tone can end up causing brain activity imbalances. Chiropractors work to adjust the spine of the patient, which is supposed to help restore balance to their brain as well. In many cases, the spinal adjustments done are used along with exposure to various sound and light frequencies. Other chiropractors have the theory that the skull is actually part of the spine and feel that any misalignment of the temporal bones and the sphenoid bone causes pressure that makes the brain stop working the way it should. Chiropractors treat by adjusting these bones. However, many doubt this treatment, since medicine shows that the bones of the cranium don’t actually move.

Interactive Metronome Training

Another of the potential ADHD alternative treatments out there today is Interactive Metronome training. This treatment involves listening to rhythmic beats that are computerized. While listening, the patient uses their hands or feet to mimic the beat. Then, the patient is told how well they matched the metronome’s beat. The idea behind this type of treatment is that timing deficits and motor planning are problematic for those with this disorder. The training helps patients to focus on something for a time period while monitoring their mental and physical actions and filtering out any distractions. Studies on Interactive Metronome training are showing some results with this type of treatment. Study results have shown that with this type of training, attention span, motor control, and behavior was improved significantly over time.

These are just a few of the current alternative treatment options that are available for ADHD today. While some have little evidence to back them up, others have been researched and proven to offer some great results. Medications do not have to be your only option when dealing with this disorder. Consider various alternative options and carefully consider the research behind them to find one that may provide you with the results you need.

Conventional Treatments VS Alternative Treatments

March 5th, 2021

There are not as many differences between these two types of treatments as you may think. There are however, quite a few large differences that may change your mind regarding whichever form of treatment you normally use.

Conventional methods of treatments are treatments that everyone has used at one point in their life. These conventional methods include treatments such as, prescription medication, scientific methods, x-rays and the list goes on. Everyone is familiar with these types of treatments and at one point or another has undergone one or more of them. Conventional treatment seems to have taken over the medical establishment. Some patients feel more at ease knowing they are taking pills and doing what their doctor tells them, some people do not need this. These are the people who prefer to use alternative methods of treatments.

Have you ever tried any alternative methods of treatments? Alternative treatments require a judgment call. It takes a big step for some people to move away from the conventional medical treatments and try something new. Sometimes a change in treatment is all you need to feel that much better. Alternative treatments include:

Bioenergotherapy- Acupuncture- Aromatherapy -Massage- Meditation -Homeopathy -Herbs

These forms of treatment have become more and more popular in the last few years. The use of alternative medicine and treatments are beginning to be used more and more when the conventional methods are found to be ineffective. There are many diseases, chronic pains and illnesses that are found to be incurable and even sometimes untreatable. This is when patients find themselves searching for alternative treatments to ease their pain. No matter what your paid is, anyone of the alternative treatments listed above can help. These methods are meant to not only ease your physical pain, but to also relieve your mental and spiritual stresses and tensions. It may be hard to belief but stress and tension can create and increase the pains of your disease. These alternative methods relief this stress, therefore relieving your pain. It is hard for some people to make this jump to alternative treatments, but in the past few years, alternative treatments has become not so far of a jump.

As you can see there is really only one single difference between these two forms of treatments. Conventional methods of treatments only focus on the physical ailments and nothing else. Where the alternative methods of treatments focus on the entire body and soul. Alternative methods do require a bit more work than the conventional methods. They require a lot of self discipline. If you are not willing to put the effort in, than it is doubtful that you will see any results from these methods. Conventional methods take absolutely no work from you as the patient except going to your doctor and taking the medicine they prescribe for you. It is based on trust not belief.

For serious, even life threatening diseases or illnesses you may want to consider using both of these methods simultaneously. When deciding whether this is right for you, it is very important to check with your doctor before undergoing any alternative treatments. You want to avoid any negative interference. If used properly, you can live an enjoyable lifewithout stress and pain as well as controlling your illness with your conventional methods.

There are some great differences between these two forms of treatment, but if used correctly, they can