by Melba Dagan

Created on: November 10, 2008

One cannot pick up a paper or magazine without finding at least one article about ADHD. And every article quotes studies and papers written by lofty organizations detailing the symptoms and usually including a few horror stories to further frighten worried parents. The problem seems to be so widespread that it is nearly impossible to find a person who does not have a child with ADHD or knows someone who has a child with this condition.

In my own experience as a holistic health counselor, mother, grandmother and friend of parents with children who have been diagnosed with ADHD, I have frequently suggested that before giving their child a strong medication that they should insist that the child be tested for allergies, especially to foods. I realize the parents are exhausted and desperate for an answer as to why their sweet little child turns into a 'monster', but these tests are very important. We are so medicalized that many parents accept the doctor's word as absolute 'gospel' and never blink an eye. But, the truth is that many children are allergic to orange juice, wheat cereal and breads such as donuts, bagels and toaster pastries, all which are commonly included in breakfast. My own grandson is a prime example. He would get up in the morning happy and calm. Within twenty minutes of drinking a glass of orange juice he would be literally bouncing off the walls and fighting with everyone. When the orange juice (and other foods) were removed from his diet he remained calm.

Between frantic parents and a doctor who is overworked and underpaid, the acceptance of a currently popular condition is so much easier than trying to really find out why the child is hyperactive that frequently the child is diagnosed and medicated without any further exploration as to the cause. But, the drugs these children are prescribed are so dangerous that they should be avoided if at all possible.

I am a strong believer in good medicine, but I also strongly resist putting children on heavy doses of drugs without thoroughly researching all options. We can only imagine the damage that is done to a fast growing and developing child by these strong drugs. I have great respect for hard working doctors and have always felt that for the most part they do a good job. But, it is really up to the parents to ask for allergy testing and also ask that other possible causes be explored before embarking on a treatment program for their child.

And, believe it or not, sometimes something as simple as taking away foods that the child is allergic to will solve the problem without such drugs. There is a great deal of information available today about food allergies and I suggest that if you have a child that has been diagnosed with ADHD you should do some personal research and consult with an allergist to see if the problem lies there.

Our children are so precious and so dependent on us for their care that it is imperative that we look at all options to relieve them of the unhappy symptoms of ADHD.

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