by James Henry

Created on: February 25, 2009

At the outset, I should stress that I am not a medical professional on any level, so that must be kept in mind when evaluating the information I am about to provide. However, I am a parent of a child with ADHD and a variety of other mental health diagnoses, some of which may have been mistakenly applied to my son, in a desperate search for a cause and a cure for his behavioral issues that plague his life, and the lives of everyone around him.

My son was first diagnosed with ADHD at the age of four, and now, six years later, if anything he is more chaotic and dangerous than he was in the beginning. He has been on a huge variety of medications some of which have worked for a time, but then eventually lost their effectiveness. This often led psychiatrists to increase the dosage of medications, which has often caused negative side-effects, such as weight gain and weight loss (depending upon the medication) increased anxiety, difficulty sleeping, and occasionally increased violence and inability to focus.

After trying drug after drug for the past six years, my wife and I have recently started investigating alternative treatments for our son. We have read about the benefits of magnesium and calcium treatments in children who have been identified as having low levels of those minerals. We have also heard similar ideas around the chemical melatonin. Children with ADHD often have decreased levels of melatonin in their system.

This is not to say that deficiencies in any of these substances is the actual cause of our son's behavioral issues, only that many children who have been diagnosed with ADHD are deficient in these substances. It is entirely possible that as our son receives daily supplements to increase his levels of magnesium, calcium and melatonin his behaviors may continue unabated.

There are other treatments we have explored to give our son's racing mind some peace, including energy treatments, such as Reiki. Those who believe in their effectiveness often cannot explain why they work, but there is mounting anecdotal evidence that such treatments do have an effect. In our experience, simply having our son sitting still while listening to soft, soothing music, and placing hands on different parts of his body (corresponding with the seven major chakras in the body's aura) has had a pronounced relaxing and calming effect. Such benefits have been short-lived, though, because within hours he is ramped up again.

I once asked a psychiatrist if he could tell me what is the cause of ADHD, and he grinned nervously before admitting that the science is inconclusive. There are many theories, pieces of which may be a part of an overall solution. Giving a child who has been diagnosed with ADHD magnesium and calcium supplements may be a piece of that puzzle. I strongly urge anyone with such a child to consult with a medical doctor or psychiatrist to determine if the child actually is deficient in these substances, and if so, how much is safe to give a child. Different children may respond differently, and require a higher or lower amount, because one thing we have learned through this process is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to treating ADHD.

http://www.adhdsupplements.com

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