Chiropractic Care for ADHD: A Natural Approach in La Crosse WI

Over-diagnosed, over-medicated.  6.1 MILLION children.

ADHD (attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder) is more common in children today than ever before.

Unfortunately, medication isn’t always user-friendly.  It comes with side effects and long-term effects on the Nervous System. This article includes a simple explanation of how chiropractic can help with ADHD in La Crosse WI and some natural diet changes to implement at home.

ADHD is a neurobehavioral disorder, which means that it has to do with your Nervous System (NS).  The NS has two divisions, one that speeds things up (sympathetic) and one that slows things down (parasympathetic).  When a child has ADHD, they are stuck in over-drive and their NS is not coordinating speed properly.  This makes it hard to focus, hard to sit still, etc.

These two divisions are correlated with different areas in the spine.  When there is a subluxation/spinal misalignment it causes interference between the brain and the body.  There is decreased communication and function in the body.  In a child with ADHD, it is important to make sure that their NS is functioning properly so they have balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions.  Correcting subluxations with gentle adjustments will allow the brain to function optimally and can result in a better attention span, and focus, and decrease the hyperactivity that comes with ADHD.

A New Approach in La Crosse WI

We have many patients whose parents and teachers notice a big difference in behavior after regular chiropractic care.  This can be life-changing for the child and for the parents.  By getting regular chiropractic care, the spine maintains alignment and the NS can function without interference.

If you have a child who suffers from ADHD, try chiropractic.

Another thing that is very important for children with ADHD is nutrition.  Eating whole foods, avoiding food dyes/coloring, eliminating artificial sweeteners, and drinking plenty of water is very important.  The brain needs fuel, and processed food is not it.  Choosing brain-healthy foods is essential for any neurobehavioral disorder.

Below is some information on foods/supplements specific to ADHD from “Natural Solutions for ADHD” by Holly Lucile, ND, RN; from the Fall 2019 issue of Integrative Lifestyles.

Foods to choose:  a high-protein and low-sugar diet

• Beans
• Lean organic meat
• Organic eggs
• Nuts
• Organic vegetables
• Fish
  • Omega-3 fatty acids are very important for someone with ADHD. Many people do not eat much fish so implementing a fish-oil supplement is beneficial.  Not all supplements are created equal.  Choosing one that has used cold-water extraction can provide the natural DHA and EPA in a form that is usable by the human body.
  • “One Dutch study found that higher blood levels of DHA correlated with better spelling and reading scores. Another clinical study involving 8 to 10 year old boys showed that DHA supplementation improved attention span and may have helped play a role in rewriting cortical attention networks in the brain in just 8 weeks.”
• Saffron and Curcumin
  • “In a six week randomized, double-blind study, children between the ages of 6 and 17 were given either a synthetic drug most often prescribed for ADHD or 20 to 30 milligrams of a saffron supplement. The treatments worked equally well as rated by the Teacher and Parent ADHD Rating Scale.”
  • “Adding a highly absorbable form of curcumin enhances saffron’s antidepressant and neuroprotective benefits in those with ADHD.”
• Echinacea
  • “this herb contains a unique compound that influences brain chemistry and can reduce the anxiety common in those with ADHD.”

Foods to Avoid:

• Processed food
• Artificial sweetener
• Artificial colors (blue #1 and #2, green #3, orange B, red #3 and #40, yellow #5 and #6 have been linked to ADHD)
• “white” foods, such as white flour and white rice

Remember, if the body is not functioning properly then it can not get the full benefit from eating healthy or supplementation.  This is why we always suggest chiropractic care- to make sure you are giving yourself or your child the best chance at a healthy future!

Let us know if you have any questions about how we can help your child!