Natural Remedies For ADHD Symptoms: Exploring Ways To Treat ADHD

Side effects

Cost of treatments

However, not all natural remedies fit this description.

Eliminating food colorings and preservatives to treat ADHD

• Benefits: Eliminating these chemicals from your diet may decrease hyperactivity symptoms and enhance brain function.
• Drawbacks: There are no health-related drawbacks to eliminating these chemicals. The only drawback might be that you must spend more time and be more careful when choosing food for your family.
• Cost: This option has no direct costs.

After researchers found evidence that synthetic food dyes may contribute to hyperactivity, many European countries banned them. One natural option for fostering self-control and healthy behaviors, then, may be to eliminate these chemicals from your diet by limiting your consumption of certain processed foods. Watch out for the following:

• FD&C Yellow No. 6, found in breadcrumbs, candy, icing, cereal, and soft drinks.
• D&C Yellow No. 10, found in juices and sorbets.
• FD&C Yellow No. 5, found in pickles, cereal, granola bars, and yogurt.
• FD&C Red No. 40, found in gelatin desserts, soft drinks, and ice cream.
• Sodium benzoate: found in fruit juices, salad dressings, and soda.
• BHT and BHA: additives found in dry cake mixes, cereal, butter, instant mashed potatoes, potato chips, and chewing gum.

Avoiding foods that might cause allergic reactions for children with ADHD

• Benefits: Avoiding these allergens through adjustments to dietary patterns may reduce ADHD symptoms.
• Drawbacks: The foods on this list have many health benefits, so eliminating them from your diet may cause deficiencies if you don't get those nutrients elsewhere.
• Costs: There is generally no cost in eliminating allergens. It may be more expensive to buy other foods that supply the same nutritional values, though.

• Chocolate
• Milk
• Eggs
• Berries
• Chili powder
• Apples
• Cider
• Grapes
• Oranges
• Peaches
• Plums
• Prunes
• Tomatoes

Nutritional supplements as treatments for ADHD

• Benefits: Some nutritional supplements have been shown to reduce ADHD symptoms in some studies. For example, studies show that vitamin D supplementation can alleviate symptoms of the disorder. For others, there's little or no evidence that they have any effect.
• Drawbacks: Whenever you're taking nutritional supplements, you may need to be mindful of how much you can safely take. Taking too much of a vitamin may cause health problems. For example, if you get too much zinc, your body might have difficulty absorbing copper and iron.
• Cost: There is some cost to taking nutritional supplements, although in many cases it's fairly low. A vitamin like B-6 is quite inexpensive, but a supplement like L-carnitine can cost as much as $75 for a 3-month supply.

• Calcium
• Iron
• L-carnitine
• Magnesium
• Potassium
• Vitamin B-6
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D
• Zinc

Herbs and herbal supplements for brain function

• Benefits: No clear benefits for ADHD have been established. However, many herbal supplements do help with conditions that can be related to ADHD. For example, St. John's wort may be helpful if the stress of living with ADHD contributes to another mental illness, like depression.
• Drawbacks: Herbal supplements may not be effective. They also may have side effects that can be just as considerable as those associated with traditional treatment.
• Costs: Herbal remedies are likely going to cost you something to buy. The amount depends on the exact herbal formula, the strength, and where you get them.

Some of the herbal remedies that have been suggested include ginkgo biloba, St. John's Wort, valerian, ginseng, and kava.

Omega-3 fish oil supplements (and possible side effects)

• Benefits: Omega-3 may be able to help with ADHD symptoms. These supplements are generally very safe and can have additional health benefits.
• Drawbacks: Getting too much Omega-3 can cause upset stomach and blood thinning.
• Costs: The cost of Omega-3 supplements varies based on strength and manufacturer. Adding Omega-3 to your diet need not necessarily add any expense at all.

In a study published in the journal Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, researchers found that polyunsaturated fatty acids, like the Omega-3, can have a beneficial effect on ADHD brains. If you prefer not to take a supplement, you can get Omega-3 from an ADHD diet that includes foods like salmon, spinach, walnuts, and eggs.

Reducing sugar and caffeine intake

• Benefits: While it’s typically advised that no one eat too much sugar or consume too much caffeine for a variety of health reasons, it's still unclear whether this will help with ADHD symptoms.
• Drawbacks: There's often no harm in limiting or eliminating sugar from a diet as long as you or your child are getting enough calories overall. The same applies to caffeine. 
• Costs: Limiting the amount of sugar and caffeine in your or your child’s diet can mean spending less on treats or spending more on alternatives.

One thing you'll probably hear is that you or your child should stop consuming sugar and caffeine to reduce hyperactivity and inattention.

Mind-body exercises as natural remedies for ADHD

• Benefits: Research shows that natural therapies that involve physical activity and meditation can decrease ADHD symptoms. Mind-body exercises typically create less strain and impact than physical activities that involve vigorous exercise. 
• Drawbacks: Depending on an individual’s medical history, certain forms of physical activity may not be recommended.
• Costs: Guided meditations, yoga classes, and other mind-body exercises can often be found online for free.

Research on mind-body exercise and ADHD symptoms

Mind-body exercises—including activities like yoga, tai chi, and meditation—can help us take advantage of the strong connections between our mental and physical health. Studies support the use of such exercises as complementary therapy techniques or components of alternative medicine treatment plans for various mental disorders. For example, in a study on the effects of mindfulness meditation in primary school children, researchers found improvements in attention and overall psychological well-being. 

Managing symptoms with online therapy

It can be especially easy to receive professional support through resources like online therapy. Because it allows you to meet with a therapist at a time and place that you choose, online therapy can help you develop solutions in a way that works for you.