I am also looking into using a more natural product for ADD. Could you please mention how this has worked for you so far? How old is your son?

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I'M AN ADULT WITH ADHD, AS, & OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY'S, & I DO USE NATURAL REMEDIES. I USE YOUNG LIVING ESSENTIAL OIL'S, & HEALING TOUCH, & IT HAS HELPED ME ALOT, TO COPE WITH MY DIFFICULTIES, IN MY DAY TO DAY LIFE. I FEEL A DIFFERENCE. ON DAY'S THAT I FORGET, I FEEL WORSE.

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Can you give us an update on how your son is doing. I too have and ADHD son with Aspberger traits. Currently he is on Adderall RX and it is making him emotionally fragile and at times explosive. Plus is makes him have nightmares each night which wake him up as he goes through withdrawls. Have you tried ATTEND? I would love to know hoe your son is doing currently and any tips on giving him the "remedy' I hear they can taste pretty awful. Thanks

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All of those supplements can be helpful. You might also be interested to check out ADD-care since it is the only one that has been compared by brain imaging to rival the supplements without their side effects.

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Last year I tried Bright Spark with my son. (He was 6 years old by then) It DID NOt work at all. I tried it for some weeks ,encouraged mainly for all those positive feedback on the Native Remedies Web site. Since I did not see any improvement on his focus span, I decided to stop using it. Another big issue was that he started to complain about having intense tummy aches at night. After that, we had an appointment with a Naturopathy professional. They are MD trained to work with homeopathy. She said that it is not recommendable to purchase a homeopathy treatment on- line because homeopathy per se, it has to be tailored to the personal needs or aches (it is not a One-size-fit-all). It is more likely that we are going to start with a homeopathic treatment very soon to see if we could get some improvement on my son's focus span. I have searched the ADD-CARE Web site, it seems very appealing, but I'm not willing to spend more money in something that might turn out to be like the Bright Spark product. The down side that I see on Homeopathy treatments is that they are not covered by the insurance (at least not mine...) and the visits are kind of expensive.

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My son has ADHD. We have found wonderful products that work. The ones we use now is DHA ( by Nordic Naturals), Attentive child and L-theanine. These have worked wonders for my son. The proof was when I took him to see his psychologist and she couldn't believe the difference in him. He is like night & day. No more mood swings, does his homework, sits still, etc. These products together are the answer.

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I was diagnosed with ADD about half a year ago. After experimenting with stimulants I realized they weren't for me, and my therapist introduced me to ADD-care. It sounds like what you're looking for, it's an all natural homeopathic supplement used for ADD/ADHD and he also says that it can be used to treat Asperger related symptoms. It worked for me and plenty of other people, so I'd give it a try!

www.add-care.com

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There's a really good book called "Beyond Ritalin" about treating ADD/Asbergers with homeopathy.

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ko32 said: My son has ADHD. We have found wonderful products that work. The ones we use now is DHA ( by Nordic Naturals), Attentive child and L-theanine. These have worked wonders for my son. The proof was when I took him to see his psychologist and she couldn't believe the difference in him. He is like night & day. No more mood swings, does his homework, sits still, etc. These products together are the answer.

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ADDitudemag.com published an outstanding article that is linked from on the site's home page. Fish oil is only one of myriad natural ways to manage ADHD symptoms. You will never read much about them because all of the money is made through meds.

http://www.adhd-information-exchange.com

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Our son has just been diagnosed at age 9 with ADHD combined and is gifted, after extensive research we put him on L-Theanine and Omega3 ( higher dose than he had been on), 3 Weeks later the teacher and us are seeing a positive improvement, I keep my fingers crossed that his writing might also improve!

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I am a hard core believer in homeopathic, organic, natural everything. I would sooner suffer than take a tylenol. And there was no way in hell I was going to make my child take medication every day as I have refused to do on many occasions. I am a fan of Trudeau's Natural Cures Book(s). All the detoxes he recommends seem so simple, but incredibly effective. Then stop toxifying your childs body. Diet and exercise does amazing things for your body. So when my son was diagnosed I tried everything I could afford and it helped. I'd say a 50% improvement which is huge. But he was still telling me he felt like he was suffering through every day. Maybe I didn't try the right things. Our family doctor, who is probably over-conservative, told me he had seen this 100 times over. To just try meds and the worst that could happen is we hated it and we would stop. So we tried Concerta, only on school days. My son is like a different person. He is happier, more confident, well spoken and chooses to take the meds. He made the honor roll this quarter. My point is that I may have inflicted my beliefs onto my son and could have made him continue to suffer (as He describes it) for his entire childhool if I had not listened to my doctor. He is on a low dose and still takes his supplements. It is a combination of the two. Sometimes a neurochemical disorder is a neurochemical disorder and like depression, you cannot will it away no matter how badly you wish you could.

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Has anyone tried the herb Rhodiola? Dr. Daniel Amen, of the Amen Clinic (psychiatrist author who's done & archived more brain scans than anyone in the world) mentioned it in an interview as an alternative to stimulants that works for some, although oddly enough it isn't included in the "Attention Support" supplement he sells on his website! Mind Power Rx, marketed online by another Dr., does include it so that's what we're going to try next. Native Remedies nor Brain Alert, nor DMAE or Pycnogenol have worked so-far. We do continue to use fish oil with no noticeable results but it has enough other health benefits to continue; will try a higher-ratio EPA formula of oil next time. We did visit a homeopathic physician in another town who prescribed phosphorus, which didn't do anything. We might visit him again to try something else now that he's moved his office closer to our home. Have heard good things about Verde Botanica's Mind Body Spirit (has Rhodiola), and Neuro 1--a drink mix with lots of brain-friendly stuff in it, including Rhodiola and Barcopa, another herb with attention-stamina-building properties. Am at the point where we'll try one more thing and if it doesn't work, may have to go to meds since my daughter's entering high school and her academic issues are becoming more overwhelming just when the repercussions to her future success could become irreversible. Anyone who's tried any of these alternatives, or had good results with something previously or not yet mentioned in any of the other posts, please let us know your experience!

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Its great to hear that you are pursuing natural remedies. Try to find a program that addresses both the supplement side and the dietary needs of ADD/HD. Unless your daughter has behavioral issues, the medications often don't do much for improved school work. We were very successful in treating my son's ADD through natural means that included vitamins/supplements and a diet program developed by a nutritionist/MD. My son, after almost failing 8th grade, graduated 5 months early from high school with a 3.5 grade point average and has gone on to a succeessful life. There are a few basic things you can do. B-6 100 mgs, one per day, is almost a wonder vitamin for ADD. It increases neurotransmitter activity and focus and there are so many other ways to help her. If you would like to know more, please post a response and I will be happy to give you more info.

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Just saw your response and am replying to request more info! It seems there are so many supplements that work for some people but not others and it's very time-consuming & expensive to try them one-by-one till something finally clicks. We've tried Native Remedies Focus, BrainAlert, Pycnogenol (pine bark), Dr. Daniel Amen's Attention Support, and most recently Mind Powere Rx and DMAE. None have noticably worked within a week or so, though possibly one or more of them might if used for longer than that and/or in combination with one or more of the others or with something else. Most recently, my research points to Rhodiola and/or L-Tyrosine as promising, or at least worth a try. Has anyone else here had success with one or both of those? There's also a drink called Neuro-1 which seems to have the most extensive and highest-potency combination of many of these things, of anything I've found. It's kind of expensive, but testimonials (if reliable) from adults do indicate it really works. Haven't seen any from anyone who's tried it for a child or teen, though. We do take fish oil for overall health but haven't noticed an impact on my daughter's attention or academic issues. Have heard a higher proportion of EPA to DHA is more effective for ADD, but have also heard the opposite. Which theory is correct? Also, is there a certain "ideal" proportion (not too low, not too high), and what brands offer that? There's a wide range of prices, even among those with the highest purity and similar proportions of EPA/DHA. Thank you to anyone who can respond.

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has anyone heard of the Brain Balance program? They report this 12 week session is a cure to ADHD.

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I was also considering the natural approach for my 12 year old son. I came across a product called Synaptol (http://www.hellolife.net/relieve/synaptol/) which is also homeopathic. I have heard great things about the Hellolife brand so I am hoping this Synaptol will work. Does anyone have any experience with Synaptol or Hellolife products?

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JBrad said: I was also considering the natural approach for my 12 year old son. I came across a product called Synaptol (http://www.hellolife.net/relieve/synaptol/) which is also homeopathic. I have heard great things about the Hellolife brand so I am hoping this Synaptol will work. Does anyone have any experience with Synaptol or Hellolife products?

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To JBrad and My2blueeyedboys- I was wondering what was your outcome when trying Synaptol ? I'm considering it for myself. Thanks so much!

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HGuilin said: I am a hard core believer in homeopathic, organic, natural everything. I would sooner suffer than take a tylenol. And there was no way in hell I was going to make my child take medication every day as I have refused to do on many occasions. I am a fan of Trudeau's Natural Cures Book(s). All the detoxes he recommends seem so simple, but incredibly effective. Then stop toxifying your childs body. Diet and exercise does amazing things for your body. So when my son was diagnosed I tried everything I could afford and it helped. I'd say a 50% improvement which is huge. But he was still telling me he felt like he was suffering through every day. Maybe I didn't try the right things. Our family doctor, who is probably over-conservative, told me he had seen this 100 times over. To just try meds and the worst that could happen is we hated it and we would stop. So we tried Concerta, only on school days. My son is like a different person. He is happier, more confident, well spoken and chooses to take the meds. He made the honor roll this quarter. My point is that I may have inflicted my beliefs onto my son and could have made him continue to suffer (as He describes it) for his entire childhool if I had not listened to my doctor. He is on a low dose and still takes his supplements. It is a combination of the two. Sometimes a neurochemical disorder is a neurochemical disorder and like depression, you cannot will it away no matter how badly you wish you could.

I am with you, we tried everything and my son was still a social outcast at school and impossible to manage in any social setting. The only place he could function was in our home. After one year of him suffering I talked my husband into trying Adderall. He has been on it for a year now and WOW, what a difference. He is an A and B student, the whole class loves him too. The greatest improvement we noticed is that he does not pick on his brother anymore. This summer I decided to try the homeopathic and vitamin supplements again. I ordered a vitamin called Child Essence. I give him half the doseage per my pediatrician's recommendations. It has more B vitamins than an adult would take. For about 2 weeks we had him on the vitamin only and then he started to show the same symptoms as before we put him on the Adderall. So we got a prescription for a very low dose of adderal 1/4 of what he was taking. He is doing well again with this treatment plan. If he does not have the adderall he is very hard to handle and he just seems wired and out of control, he can't calm down. Moral of the story: don't close the door on medications. Your child is suffering and hurting whether they know it or not. Constant chaos in anyones brain is not a good thing. Like HGuillin said, what is the worst thing that can happen with a trial of meds....you don't like the effects and you take your child off the meds. It is as simple as that. I am so happy that we are finally able to help my son who is only 7 years old. His behaviour issues started when he turned 5, my perfect little angel turned into the kid at the store laying on the floor because he wants sugary, garbage fruit snacks. The devastating effects ADHD can have on a teenager who has never been treated for their ADHD are not worth risking to me. I would rather have a boy who has to take one pill a day than a teenager who is addicted to other things because they make him feel good. I am not making assumptions either, my brother who is now 33 is that kid who was never properly treated for his ADHD and he went through 16 schools and graduated a year later with the reading skills of a 1st grader. He has problems with addiction to many things, not just drugs and alcohol. It is up to us to help our children, if we don't, who will?

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I could not agree more.... if your child is in his/her school years why not at least TRY medications? There are many out there and if they have a mild enough condition that they can take natural substitutes than by all means... BUT for some of us this is not the case. Even "natural" supplements are produced in factories and shipped in plastic bottles...

Ultimately though, one must ask themselves... which is more important to me? Increasing my child's potential success in school or remaining "natural". Personally, I use both methods to enhance my ability to focus...

I know not all meds work for everyone... I had to try a few before I found one that suited me and it is normal to experience side effects when switching [within the first few weeks]... I firmly believe that parents owe it to their children to at least try... there are also non-stimulants for ADD/ADHD [you can look up Stratera]. My parents [with my pediatrician's recommendation] put me on Adderall in the third grade and I have been on a form of it since. It allowed me to compete with the other students, increased my confidence in my own abilities and intellectual capacities [I went from straight C's to A's ... and a B or 2]. Medicating me was one the best choices my parents ever made for me and my future.

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I looked at all these web sites over the past few months for my 9 year old daughter and I thought WOW, this sounds awesome and almost purchase from Native Remedies BUT I held out. I wanted to talk to our pediatrician first. I had already found a homeopathic Dr. in our area and had an appointment with him and mad was I glad I didn't waste my money.

Like someone else said, it's not one size fits all with these meds you buy online. Natural remedies can also be dangerous even though they are "natural". It's all relative to how much you are taking and when you buy online you are trusting a company not a Doctor.

Our homeopathic Doctor spent 3 hours with us. I'm pretty sure he knows more about my daughter than her pediatrician. She has been on Lycopodium for 3 weeks now. I haven't seen a change but I really wasn't expecting a miracle here. I know that it might take a lot more time to figure out what is the right fit for our daughter. I have been prescribed everything from Adderall to Straterra but I just wasn't comfortable with giving these hard core drugs to my little child and I have to try everything I can think of, have it be diet or homeopathy before I will even think of giving her Rx Meds.

I just think my daughter deserves to have a parent that isn't going to take the easy way out (not that there is anything wrong if that is what you choose to do), I just have always taken the easy way out and with this I want to take my time.

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I am truly happy for your son and you. My daughter may be diagnosed with Asperger too. She's22. I Know she can be stubborn so I don't want to tell her what to do. If I do tell her it will be info and definitely not telling her what to do. I think I should let her make up her own mind. I respect her decision. I wish you and your son well with the Native Remedies products for his ADD/Aspergers.

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Our son was recently diagnosed with mild PDD-NOS. His ADHD/OCD diagnosis came years ago, so he's been on four meds for quite a while, with some improvement. Until two months ago, however, he was still having some horrific meltdowns, trouble keeping friends, getting bullied because of his odd behavior. It was heartbreaking. Once we got the PDD diagnosis, though, I started reading up on autism-spectrum disorders, discovering that some people with asperger's/PDD have a casein intolerance. Thinking I had nothing to lose, and recalling that my son had a milk allergy as a baby (which he "outgrew" with long-term breastfeeding/no milk products until age 2), I withdrew almost all milk products from his diet. I am relieved, shocked, happy to report that he has had only two meltdowns in two months, he's calmer, more affectionate, much less oppositional and argumentative. Why no one suggested this before shocks me! We're having to be creative about getting calcium in him, but it is a lot easier than managing a rage!! Hope this helps someone!! : )

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We have agonized over the decision about whether or not to try meds for our 15 yr old daughter, mostly just to help her academically and with executive functioning issues, when I'm not completely confident that there'd be no longer-term risks involved. Adopted from foster care, she has schizophrenia & bi-polar in her immediate birthfamily history but has shown no signs of a serious mental illness. Her pediatrician, and several people who've responded on this thread, seem to feel that meds are worth a try and if they don't help, or cause negative side effects, we could just take her off them and she'd return to whatever state she was in before. My fear is that since the warnings on the med labels (including for Strattera, the non-stimulant one) all list potential side effects (hallucinations, etc.) that mimic schizophrenia, they must be affecting the same part of the brain, somehow, where schiz resides in those who have it and maybe those with a predisposition to it that thus-far remained dormant and might stay that way forever if left undisturbed. Using these meds, I fear, could activate that, and leave it activated even after meds were discontinued. Of course with a birthfamily history, the docs would just say (maybe correctly, but perhaps not) that those symptoms were lurking anyway and would have surfaced at some point in her life, esp since they typically tend to manifest in adolescence or young adulthood anyway. However, marijuana use has been linked to triggering them (and they don't go away when use is discontinued), and adolescence & young adulthood are the times when individuals are most-likely to experiment with that, so there could be a stronger link to that than to the hormones and other natural effects of puberty & becoming a young adult. And if that's the case, the ADHD drugs could have the same irreversible triggering effect, though that would be almost impossible to prove--especially since it's something no pharmaceutical mfgr would be interested in finding out! No doctors have been willing to tell us that there's definitely no risk of such an irreversible triggering effect, just that they haven't seen any cases so-far where negative symptoms/side effects did not go away when the med was stopped.....but do they know whether any of those patients had a genetic predisposition to serious mental illnesses? Don't the warning labels say to "tell your doctor" if you have a family history of bi-polar? They don't say you can't take the med, they just want to put the onus on the doctor, if he/she prescribes them despite knowing the biological family history. I haven't noticed if they say the same thing about schizophrenia, but some, at least, probably do. It would stand-to-reason, since those mental illnesses are often comorbid or one is mis-diagnosed for the other (as was the case with one of my daughter's birthparents). Anyway, my daughter does very well when she doesn't have to do something she finds boring, which unfortunately is virtually anything academic. But as a 9th-grader, academic success is more-and-more important. Yet I'd rather see her fail to make it to or through college, than develop a severe mental illness that could haunt her for the rest of her life. Even flipping burgers would be less-boring for her than studying, since she could talk, move around and actively engage with others. We are trying to find more promising career paths that would work for her, but unfortunately they all seem to require at least a 4-year degree with lots of studying, before she could pursue what would hopefully be a fun and active, people-focused job. THAT is going to be her challenge. If meds could help her get there, without that scary elephant-in-the-room (potentially triggering longterm mental illness), aside from all the usual concerns about them that all parents have, then GREAT....but no one can make that elephant disapear for me!

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