Pediatric Integrative Medicine Approaches to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Abstract

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neuropsychiatric disorder in children and is increasing in prevalence. There has also been a related increase in prescribing stimulant medication despite some controversy whether ADHD medication makes a lasting difference in school performance or achievement. Families who are apprehensive about side effects and with concerns for efficacy of medication pursue integrative medicine as an alternative or adjunct to pharmacologic and cognitive behavioral treatment approaches. Integrative medicine incorporates evidence-based medicine, both conventional and complementary and alternative therapies, to deliver personalized care to the patient, emphasizing diet, nutrients, gut health, and environmental influences as a means to decrease symptoms associated with chronic disorders. Pediatric integrative medicine practitioners are increasing in number throughout the United States because of improvement in patient health outcomes. However, limited funding and poor research design interfere with generalizable treatment approaches utilizing integrative medicine. The use of research designs originally intended for drugs and procedures are not suitable for many integrative medicine approaches. This article serves to highlight integrative medicine approaches in use today for children with ADHD, including dietary therapies, nutritional supplements, environmental hygiene, and neurofeedback.

Reduced microbiome alpha diversity in young patients with ADHD

“…Food intolerances are often related to gastrointestinal immune dysregulation which can result in chronic inflammations. In turn, food intolerances and chronic inflammations are increasingly suspected in ADHD [ 23 , 24 ], leading to the assumption that gastrointestinal dysregulation may be involved in ADHD [ 25 ].…”

Translation of Personification Majas in the Poetry of Indonesian Language into English (Analysis of Contents of 5 Poems in June Rain by Sapardi Djoko Damono in Before Dawn by John H. McGlynn)

“…[16] Pediatric IM practitioners are increasing in number throughout USA due to improvements in patients' health outcomes to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder including dietary therapies, nutritional supplements, environmental hygiene and neurological feedback. [3] Interestingly, IM is an increasingly popular component in oncology care e.g. for the treatment of malignant ascites.…”

“…[2] IM tools include evidence-based conventional (modern) medicine, complementary medicine and nutritional therapy to improve life quality. [3] An example of a useful remedy that is preferred by many patients in the Arabic world is Al-hijamah (wet cupping therapy of prophetic medicine) that treats many diseases differing in etiology and pathogenesis through excreting noxious substances outside the human body in addition to exerting many other therapeutic benefits. [4] So many patients worldwide prefer including Al-hijamah in the medical curriculum for regular practice in outpatient clinics and hospitals.…”

Association of ADHD and Celiac Disease: What Is the Evidence? A Systematic Review of the Literature

“…There is emerging evidence that immunological mechanisms may contribute to ADHD development and manifestation (Verlaet, Noriega, Hermans, & Savelkoul, 2014). CD may induce an immune dysregulation in the gut, leading to chronic inflammation, which on its turn may be the cause for developing ADHD-like symptoms (Esparham, Evans, Wagner, & Drisko, 2014).…”