ADHD and Chiropractic Care
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a relatively common condition that tends to emerge in children during their early school years. The most common signs of ADHD are:
• Inattention
• Hyperactivity
• Impulsive Behavior
• Difficulty Concentrating
It is not entirely certain what causes ADHD, but the current thought is that it is a combination of an overactive nervous system, coupled with a decrease in the brain's ability to filter out extraneous sights, sounds, thoughts, and emotions. Although chiropractors don't directly treat ADHD, they can help to eliminate the stress in a child's nervous system. Misalignment in spine affects the nervous system and this could lead to increased hyperactivity and impulsiveness that could affect the child behavior or performance in school. A chiropractor can help by:
• Removing spinal subluxations that irritate the nervous system
• Suggest dietary changes that remove problem creating foods
• Suggest changes that would help to reduce exposure to toxic chemicals at home or any other environment
While Ritalin is considered as the most common treatment for ADHD, it does not resolve the cause of the ADHD, it only masks the symptoms. Continued use of Ritalin over long periods of time has also been shown to have detrimental effects on the brain itself. Ritalin is a Schedule II Substance which means Ritalin has a “high potential for abuse” that “may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence1.”
Chiropractic care is drug-free and it does have a positive effect on a child struggling with ADHD. It is important as a parent to look at all treatment options before placing your child on Ritalin and chiropractic care is a great place to start.
Resource:
Ritalin Side Effects and Warnings. (2015, December 3). Retrieved from http://ritalinsideeffects.net