Let's take a look at some of the cases of children's behavioral problems and what we can do to help.

Normal Behavior

First, we need to understand what "normal" behavior is for children. Children are not little adults. They are in a different stage of neurological development where they learn primarily by touch and feel. This is called kinesthetic learning and some children, particularly boys, are naturally more kinesthetic than others. It is the kinesthetic learner that is most frequently labeled ADHD.

Children are supposed to be full of wiggles and giggles and energy that just doesn't end. That's a sign that they are healthy. It used to be that adults worried if a child was too quiet! It is also natural for children to have shorter attention spans. They learn best in short blocks of time, interspersed with physical activity and exercise. When children play, they move from one interesting object or activity to another. The younger the child, the shorter their attention span.
 
As adults, we need to respect these needs of children and adjust our expectations accordingly. Being active and being hyperactive, however, are two different things. There has been a marked tendency to increased hyperactivity and disruptive, uncooperative behavior in children during the past 15-20 years.
 
However, it is unlikely that our children suddenly developed a "Ritalin deficiency," so what has changed during this time?

Diet and Nutrition

One of the most important needs that young, growing bodies have is the need for not just good, but great nutrition. To supply the minerals, vitamins, and everything that children's bodies and minds need, they have to eat fresh vegetables and fruits. General nutritional deficiency lies at the bottom of a great deal of ADD and ADHD problems. Here are some specific nutritional problems that contribute to behavioral problems in children.
 
Sugar and Refined Carbohydrates. From sugar-coated breakfast cereals to start their mornings, to candy and soda vending machines at school, to stores stocked with candy, pastries, and monster-sized sodas, America's kids are eating their way, not only to high dentist bills, but to wild blood sugar swings that make them overly active, unable to pay attention in school, and to aggressive behavior. Teachers note that when kids return from high sugar-filled lunches and snacks, they "bounce off the walls." Hypoglycemia (blood sugar imbalances) creates both hyperactivity and attention deficit behaviors. [In last month's Abundant Living we discussed the fact that Type 2 Diabetes due to excessive sugar intake has become quite literally The Great American Epidemic.]

Licorice Root, HY-A,and Super Algaecan all help hypoglycemia and sugar cravings.

Insufficient Protein. Protein gives sustained energy and provides the amino acids that are necessary to create neurotransmitters in the brain. Protein helps stimulate epinephrine production, so it directly helps ADHD (see section on Stimulants) by aiding mental focus. Adequate protein intake also helps balance blood sugar levels, which contributes to more stable thinking. Studies show that children who ate protein for breakfast performed better in school, while kids who ate carbohydrates (especially sugar sweetened breakfast cereals) did worse than kids who ate no breakfast at all. Spirulina and Super Algae, due to their high content of amino acids, are often helpful in ADHD.

Food Additives. Aspertame (NutraSweet®, Equal®, Spoonful®) contributes directly to ADHD symptoms. Some children improve just by taking this one thing out of their diet. Food colorings and other food additives may also exacerbate ADHD symptoms. Using a general cleansing formula like Enviro-Detox can help the liver deal better with these chemicals and get them out of the body.

Food allergies and "leaky gut" syndrome. Many times food allergies are at the root of behavioral problems. Teaching children to eat the right foods for their blood type is helpful [Eat Right for Your Type Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia]. Closely associated with food allergies is "leaky gut" syndrome, which is caused largely by compromised intestinal membranes which allows molecules of partially digested food to be absorbed into the bloodstream. This hypersensitizes the immune system and  creates allergic responses.

It appears that most children who are true ADD also have leaky gut syndrome. Licorice Root and chamomile are two herbs that can help to treat leaky gut. Enzymes like Proactazyme and Small Intestine Detox are also helpful. Careful attention to diet is also important. Healing the digestive system will often help ADD and ADHD.
 
Lifestyle Factors
 
Heavy metal poisoning. Mercury, lead, and asbestos, poison the body and may be hidden causes of ADD, ADHD, and serious health problems.

Lack of exercise. Couch potato kids don't get the exercise they need. This causes a lack of oxygen in their brains, poor metabolizing of nutrients to fuel the body, and makes it harder for them to stay well. Physical activity also helps burn off stress and promotes ephinephrine production in ADHD children.
 
Lack of sleep. Today's children are getting less sleep than previous generations. This effects their ability to concentrate and for the body to function properly and stay well.
 
TV, video games, computers. These gadgets, gizmos, and electronic babysitters may be making kids seem smarter, but they don't move around enough, and movement is what children need to keep their bodies healthy and growing. By sitting for long periods of time and focusing their attention on these devices, children experience energy explosions when they are freed from their fixation. Some children and adolescents actually develop an addiction to electronic devices, exhibiting obsession and withdrawal cycles similar to those of substance abusers.
 
Emotional Issues. Stress and tension from school or home can contribute to ADD and ADHD. Family issues, fears of life and death, moving, shifting relationships, etc. can cause children to become stressed and irritable. Simply recognizing and dealing with these issues can help bring behavior back into normal range.
 
Boredom. Face it, school is arranged so everyone can pass. Therefore, most of the kids are bored most of the time. This, in and of itself, causes children difficulty with keeping their attention focused.
 
Vaccine reactions. Vaccines sometimes cause low grade encephalitis, which damaged the nervous system and may contribute to ADHD problems. The bottom line for a great deal of hyperactive behavior and difficulty with attention span is this:
 
Get the children off of sugar, feed them nutritious foods, get them off of the electronic babysitters and get them exercising.

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Since many children don't get the nutrients they need, proper healthful supplementation will do wonders at turning behavior difficulties around. Here are some suggestions for nutritional supplements that may help children with learning or behavioral problems.

General Supplements

GABA Plus - GABA is a neurotransmitter in the brain that serves to slow excess brain activity, thereby reducing anxiety and hyperactivity. Glutamine forms glutemic acid, which also calms excess brain activity. Taurine helps stabilize and protect brain tissue and may help reduce seizures. This formula was designed to help reduce mental stress and excess mental chatter. It may be helpful for ADD, seizures, hyperactivity and anxiety.

Focus Attention - This formula provides nutrients that help to reduce over-activity in the brain's neurotransmitter system. It also helps protect the brain from toxic chemicals. This supplement specifically helps hyperactivity and ADD. For best results, it should be taken with flax seed oil.

Balanced B-Complex - B vitamins are necessary for the synthesis of neurotransmitters in the brain. They help to regulate the nervous system.

Flaxseed Oil - Essential fatty acids have been shown to have a very positive effect on ADHD children. The brain is 60% fat and a deficiency of the proper essential fatty acids contributes to a lack of good brain function. Our kids eat a lot of fat, but it is the wrong kind of fat. Flax seed oil contains a healthy balance of Omega-3 and Omega-6 oils. The brain will also benefit from using olive oil and butter instead of hydrogenated fats and oils.

Grapine (Grapine® with Protectors, High Potency Grapine® or Antioxidants with Grapine®) - Grapine is an antioxidant that can cross the blood-brain barrier and help protect the brain against free radical damage. It is often helpful in ADHD.

Gotu Kola (Gotu Kola, Ginkgo/Gotu Kola Concentrate, Gotu Kola Extract, Ginkgo Combination) - Gotu kola has a reputation for improving memory and brain function. It is a general tonic for the body, helping it adapt to stress. Many people have found it enhances concentration and mental alertness. Ginkgo enhances circulation to the brain and ginseng acts as a general tonic. Parents have found either of these supplements helpful with many children's inability to concentrate or learn. Ginkgo Combination has Gingko, Gotu Kola, and Blessed Thistle for brain health and memory.

Parasympathetic Nervines

For the child who is having problems because they are too stressed, the following nervines may help to relax and calm them down. These formulas will react backwards in true ADHD (see section on Stimulants).

Chamomile - Chamomile helps reduce inflammation in the intestinal membranes. It is also a nervine that is particularly useful where heat (inflammation or fever) is found in combination with tension and irritability. It helps children who are peevish and whiny, calming irritability and crankiness. Herbalist Matthew Wood says that chamomile is for "babies of any age."

Stress-J - This is a good general nervine formula for stress, anxiety, and nervous tension.

Nutri-Calm® - This is an anti-stress vitamin/mineral supplement which helps calm nervous, high-strung individuals and does not cause drowsiness. It contains B-vitamins for synthesis of neurotransmitters, vitamin C, and nervine and adaptagenic herbs to help reduce stress.

Sympathetic Agents

In true ADHD, parasympathetic nervines will appear to react "backwards" causing a child to become more nervous and agitated. When this is the case, sympathetic nervine agents will have a calming effect (see section on Stimulants).

Energ-V® - This is an adaptagenic formula that helps the adrenals. It is very useful for younger children with symptoms of ADHD. The hard part is convincing parents that the formula will calm their child down not "energize" them.

Nature's Chi, Go.-W, or Bitter Orange Extract - These formulas are very stimulating and supply a generous provision of nutrients, energy, stamina, and vitality. Nature's Sunshine and Pure Herbs use Bitter Orange as a replacement for Chinese ephedra (or MaHuang) which contains ephedrine, which mimics epinephrine (like Ritalin and amphetamines do). Hence, small amounts of these formulas may be used as alternatives to Ritalin and other medications. Large doses may cause nervousness or agitation, so only small doses should be used.

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