When I was a child I was diagnosed with ADD (Attention Defect Disorder). I was separated from the other kids in part of my class sessions for the day and was placed on Ritalin. Both of which were terrible things to do to a young persons mind, body and confidence. Although no parents knew this at the time, because doctors, teachers and school administrators were telling them this was the best treatment for children with ADD.
Lucky for me my mother has always been very particular and watchful about what happened to me. After a few months of seeing me either in a trance like state or suffering from debilitating headaches, she began to become concerned, and was afraid it was something to do with the Ritalin. Then she read, research finding Ritalin had severe effect on the liver, and this along with my headaches was enough for her to pull me off of the Ritalin immediately. Thank goodness she did.
What is Ritalin?
Ritalin is a drug that is administered to both children and adults for ADD and ADHD, as well as for narcolepsy. Ritlalin works on the central nervous system, affecting chemicals in the brain and nerves that contribute to hyperactivity as well as impulse control. Methylphenidate was first synthesized in the 1940’s, and then marketed as Ritalin in the 1960’s. It has characteristics much like amphetamines like speed.
Is Ritalin the same as Meth? Is it addictive?
It has the same chemical compound of street Meth. It is suppose to be broke down to not give you the high like street Meth, in it’s dose. However, it is now one of the epidemically overused over the counter drugs by children to get high. Ritalin is now classified by The Drug Enforcement Administration as a class II narcotic. In case you did not know, that means it falls under the same classifications with cocaine, morphine and amphetamines. It’s street names are as follows, Kiddie Coke, Diet Coke, Kiddie Cocaine, R-ball, Rids, Skittles, Smarties, Vitamin R, or Poor Man’s Cocaine. About one third of all children who have been on these meds develop obsessive –compulsive behavior within the first year, and children on any stimulant medicines have twice the chance of developing drug abuse. Children’s new way of getting high is the use and abuse of prescription drugs, some of the most popular drugs are Adderall and Ritalin. It’s not just children abusing prescription drugs, moms, dads, teachers, famous rock stars and movie stars are amongst the thousands addicted and using these easy to get drugs. Sadly many of these addictions are not at the fault of the user, but addictions have formed from being prescribed drugs by their doctors. Now before you get upset or thinking I am bashing all doctors and prescription drugs, I am not. Many doctors feel they are doing what is best for their patients prescribing drugs and in some cases this is true. However, there are many doctors who are strictly in the business of making money, as much the drugs companies, they have clients pay upwards of 500 dollars for a prescription. If you are a government employee or on Medicaid, Medicare or another government based program you are a likely target for an easy and constant prescription. It’s even better from them if they can get a child customer, lets face it if you are a child and become addicted, they have a life long client. (My father was a government employee when I was a child prescribed Ritalin).
Many drugs today have a long list of side effects and these symptoms are then ‘healed,’ how else, but with another prescription. This becomes a terrible cycle that can have people on as many as 9 or more prescription drugs at a time. Look at for instance the drug Lipitor, when used this drug can cause erectile dysfunction, so guess what other drug the same manufacturers of Lipitor makes? You guessed it Viagra. There is a very apparent gap in the reasoning behind the beginning of pharmaceuticals, which was run by scientist in the pursuit of health, but now ran by businessmen with greed as their priority. These beginnings brought us drugs that healed, polio, measles, leprosy, the black plague, pneumonia and more. Now we have a corporate culture that knowingly lines their pockets with money, addicting thousands to drugs that are over prescribed and understudied.
Side Effects
Current side effects for Ritalin much like the drug commercials you hear on television are a mile long, but the most disturbing warnings are those of having serious side effects on the heart and even death. Others include nervousness, insomnia, anorexia, loss of appetite, pulse changes, seizure, numbness, severe headaches, blurred vision, pain, cold feeling, unexplained wounds, weight loss, visual hallucinations, suicidal thoughts and psychotic behavior, as well as aggression or violent behavior. You must also be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert. (I find this one to be a favorite since it supposed to help children concentrate in school). There are really too many to mention in one small blog. But many are life altering or even deadly. Including causing damage to the heart and causing heart conditions later in the life of the patient.
Natural ways of handling ADD and ADHD
There is more and more research coming out that the potential causes for ADD or ADHD are things that can be relatively simple to fix. Some of the causes could be, food additives, refined sugar, artificial sweetners (aspartame), MSG and HVP, poor nutrition, natural light deficiency, nitrates, food allergies, heavy metal toxicity (lead, mercury, or cadmium) and poor teaching methods including lack of discipline. All of these things can be checked and handled in a short time without drugs like Ritalin, with doctors of naturopathic medicines stated having cured patients.
Lifestyle Change
Diet is an obvious and fairly easy way to fix causes of Hyperactivity. The easiest is to get rid of all refined sugars from your child’s diet as well as artificial sweeteners. Second get rid of all/ or as much processed foods as possible, dyes in food, flavors and preservatives (MSG/HVP/Nitrates) are all guilty of causing hyperactivity. When eating deli meats, sausage and bacon look for uncured and nitrate free. Poor nutrition is another cause, some examples that stand out, the famous saying, “no zinc, no think,” is a lack of zinc in a diet. Check with a local nutritionist in your area to find out if your child is missing certain dietary needs like zinc, and how to fix them naturally, for instance eating more shellfish, and organ meats. Other common deficiencies include iron, vitamin B1 and choline. Another diet imbalance is caused by allergies. The usual suspects include, milk, cane sugar, chocolate, American Cheese, soy and/or wheat. According to an article I read, along with eliminating milk for 6 weeks out of the diet to see results, you can also place the product, in this case milk, under the tongue of your child while laying down with shoes on and look to see if one leg appears to ‘grow’ extend past the other, in some cases as much as three fourths an inch. A change in lifestyle like a Wheat Belly or even better a Paleolithic diet would solve all of these challenges. A Paleo lifestyle eliminates all these allergens except chocolate (which I think is really due to it’s sugar content) it adds in plenty of organ meats and shellfish, and creates a balanced diet without processed foods. As well as having a healthy lifestyle change like Paleo, don’t forget to at least at the beginning ask your naturopathic doctor about adding in, fish oil, a B-complex, a multi-mineral supplement, and a probiotic used to keep healthy bacteria flourishing in your child’s system.
Metal Contaminates
As far as metal contamination, you can get tested for this, however most naturalists would tell you just to take homeopathic drops recommended to release these toxins from the body acting as a natural catalyst. There are also other homeopathic drops out there to help balance symptoms of ADD and ADHD. I would recommend talking this over with a naturopathic doctor. Diet and supplements like fish oil and probiotics may be all you need.
Light Deficiency
The fast and easiest way to fix light deficiency is to change all the bulbs in your house to full spectrum lights.
Teaching styles and discipline
Then lastly and I think just as important to the whole healing process is to get on board at your child’s school and help them to figure out how your child learns. Every child learns differently, some are visual, some kinesthetic or auditory, while others a combination. There are specialized schools like Montessori, there are specialized classes in public schools, and there are tutors that specialize in varied styles of teaching, there are many ways to reach a child. I would also suggest, martial arts and or yoga classes to help instill discipline, calmness, clearness of mind and confidence.
Extra help:
Essential oils
Essential oils are a great natural help to many ailments and ADD and ADHD research is no stranger to this. In a study by the American Medical Association Journal, they published findings that both vetiver and cederwood are very effective in improving focus as well as helping to calm children with hyperactivity. Rosemary and peppermint are good sources for memory enhancement and adding alertness. Also for a more calming effect reach for flower scents of lavender and Ylang-Ylang. For clarity and cognitive function frankincense will do well.
Vitamin D and exercise
Get your child outside to play it helps expel excess energy and gives necessary vitamin D to rest better at night and balances hormones.
Help keep your child organized
Teach children of homework age to make lists of things to do daily. Have them put things in order of importance, and not favorites first, this teaches them to get things done by importance and not to procrastinate on things they do not like doing. It also gives them a sense of daily accomplishment as they check items off the list, building self worth and confidence. Make sure to have balance, schoolwork, chores, exercise and fun. This also helps to avoid sleepless nights trying to get done homework due the next day that was avoided by procrastination. Help your children with hard homework and projects, but do not worry about them having the best project and doing it for them; this takes away confidence and may lead to future adults that can never finish projects on there own. Being organized at home helps prevent meltdowns as well, keeping rooms cleaned and organized.
Noise canceling headphones
This is a helpful tool to studying at home. Keeping a child focused for longer periods of time. Just make sure you are aware when they are using them, so you don’t think they are ignoring you!
Sleep
This should be a no brainier, but make sure your child gets 8 to 10 hours of sleep and wakes up and goes to bed on a routine schedule.
Be proud of even small accomplishments
There will be plenty of times for any child to need correction and direction. But when your child does well, tell them! Keep it to a level of the success though, so it does not end up sounding fake, for example, they finally spell the word hippopotamus correctly and you throw them a party, too much! Just give them a high five. Save the party for getting a final report card on honor roll. Praise is important, too much negativity and a child is set up to fail.
Juice
This is the fastest way to get nutrients in the blood stream and working for your child’s body and mind. When I say juice I mean green juice, and vegetable mixes, some fruit is ok, but avoid only fruit juicing, this just adds to daily sugar intakes.
Get your child cooking
A lifestyle change like this can be difficult at first, especially the older the child is. One way I got Tristan to juice was to let him help. He loves his green juice now. Older kids can help cook meals as well letting them get involved in choosing menus and learning about foods will help vastly in getting them to eat foods that are uncommon to them.
In closing, there is now a age stipulation for taking Ritalin, the recipient must be at least 6 years of age, due to it’s health complications, mainly on the heart. My now 3 soon to be 4 year old is a very active child. I am working relentlessly to make him completely wheat belly/Paleo in the near future. I am there about 90 percent of the time, going away from home seems to be the hardest. At Tristan’s nursery school he is given cake, ice cream and Popsicles, so this is my next major push, is to work on our school and what is exceptable to give our children to eat and drink without our permission. These things do not belong in schools and I think it is our responsibility as parents to petition to keep it out, so the temptation is gone. I don’t know about you but if my son turns 6 and some doctor recommends my son to take Ritalin or anything similar I may just go Mama Bear on them.
What is your take on Ritalin and drugs of the like? Please share below.
Until next time, enjoy the good life,
Resources:
http://www.drugs.com/ritalin.html
http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/ritalin.html
http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/drug-free-treatment-of-attention-deficit-disorder-add/
http://draxe.com/natural-remedies-adhd/
Also I recommend watching the documentary “Prescription Thugs”