Is the Rise of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder The Next Epidemic?

The number of children in the United States with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has increased nearly 22 percent in a recent four-year period. In other words, nearly one in every 10 kids is now diagnosed with ADHD, according to U.S. health officials and as reported by HealthDay News.

"Based on our parent surveys, there has been an increase in parent-reported ADHD diagnosis among their children," said lead author Susanna Visser of the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 5.4 million children ages 4 to 17 have ADHD in the United States, according to their parents, and 2.7 million take medication for the condition.

Dr. Jamie Oskin, a naturopathic physician at the Arizona Natural Health Center in Tempe, Arizona, reports an increase in the number of children with ADHD seen in his practice looking for natural remedies for ADHD. “While a challenging condition for the children affected, parents and siblings are often stressed and in desperate need of relief. Also of conce
are the teachers trying to cope in the classroom,” explains Oskin.

Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurobehavioral disorder that affects 3 to 5 percent of American children. It interferes with a person's ability to stay on a task and to exercise age-appropriate control over their behavior.

Some of the warning signs of ADHD include failure to listen to instructions; inability to organize oneself and school work; fidgeting with hands and feet; talking too much; leaving projects, chores and homework unfinished; and having trouble paying attention and responding to details.

Dr. Oskin and the Arizona Natural Health Center use homeopathic treatment with excellent results. Homeopathy is a safe, gentle, and effective treatment for kids suffering from ADHD and has no known side effects. It is a beneficial alte
ative to Adderall, Concerta, Ritalin, Strattera and other pharmaceutical medications for kids who are suffering from ADHD, behavior and anger problems, developmental problems, and learning disabilities.

The doctors at the Arizona Natural Health Center have experience using natural methods to treat children with ADHD, helping them focus, behave better, excel at school, and become healthier children overall.

Many parents express a desire to fix their children’s problems, rather than put their kids on medications that can have significant side effects, such as appetite suppression and insomnia. The medications are only a bandage to deal with the symptoms.

Homeopathy works by stimulating the child to rebalance and self heal. There are several scientific studies on the use of homeopathy to treat ADHD, including an outcomes study where homeopathy compared very favorably to methylphenidate (Ritalin). Another double-blinded randomized control trial demonstrated positive results with homeopathy.

Long standing cases of ADHD may take a year or two to resolve fully. They may include going two steps forward and one step backward, with modifications in the homeopathic medicines (remedies) necessary at various stages of the child’s treatment. Another plus, homeopathic remedies are relatively inexpensive compared with traditional medications.