Can food supplements and herbs be used as natural remedies for
ADHD? Parents who are aware of the side effects of medication are
constantly on the lookout for the best natural treatments for their
children. Unfortunately, this question cannot be answered by a simple
"yes" or "no." Every child is biochemically unique, which means that he
or she will have a different response to different treatments. One child
might experience reduced symptoms after taking one herbal remedy while
the next child may show no improvement at all.
Lately, a lot of
experts recommend using spirulina as an ADHD natural remedy because of
its wide spectrum of benefits. Spirulina is a blue-green algae with an
extensive nutritional profile. In fact, some experts say that spirulina
alone offers more nutritional benefits than most foods, and can replace
expensive multivitamin formulas. If you look at spirulina's nutritional
offerings and compare them to the nutrition deficits suffered by
children with ADHD, you'll see why this algae has so much potential to
be a natural treatment for ADHD.
Spirulina is rich in ten
non-essential amino acids, eight essential amino acids, and even
essential fatty acids needed by the brain. It has a rare essential fatty
acid called GLA, which can only be found in human milk and evening
primrose. Pound for pound, spirulina provides 200 times more protein
than beef and 20 times more protein than soybeans. And if you're
searching for a multivitamin formula that can treat the vitamin and
mineral deficiencies found in children with ADHD, spirulina might answer
your child's nutritional needs. Spirulina contains a host of minerals
like iron, zinc, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and vitamins B6 and B12.
There's no need to give your child antioxidants, either, because
spirulina contains vitamins E and C, two natural antioxidants that
protect vitamins and minerals from free radical damage.
Aside from
being a potent source of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, spirulina
has natural detoxification properties. In many cases, high levels of
lead, mercury, and other neurotoxins are responsible for the ADHD
symptoms in children. There is some evidence that spirulina can increase
the efficiency of detoxification and reduce the amount of toxins on
kidneys.
Although there are no studies that investigate
spirulina's effects in treating ADHD, its nutritional content shows that
it could be an important source of nutrients needed to manage the
disorder. For instance, a number of studies show that zinc supplements
can correct ADHD symptoms triggered by a zinc deficiency. One clinical
trial observed that spirulina is more effective than zinc sulfate
supplements in boosting zinc levels.
Since spirulina is fairly new
to consumers of natural medicine, experts have yet to determine the
recommended dosage of spirulina for children. However, you can include
it in your child's diet by adding spirulina flakes to soups, sauces, and
salads. Make sure you consult a qualified holistic health care
practitioner before you use spirulina or any natural treatments for
ADHD.