Anonymous wrote:There’s real science supporting the gut-brain connection. You need to address the root cause before adding any sort of supplements. The supplements can’t work if you have leaky gut, for example. The main things you can start with is eating an anti-inflammatory diet with zero gluten, dairy, soy, very little sugar, no artificial dyes or colors. Increase whole food intake, healthy fats, think grass fed proteins and wild caught fish. Incorporate pre-and probiotic foods. Drink a ton of water and get plenty of sleep. It sounds like you already have the exercise pretty well handled. All of this should be your starting point in addition to getting some functional bloodwork done so you know where his deficiencies are. Then you can target even more specific supplements to where he is lacking in nutrition.

I am not anti-medication. We tried them with our seven year-old and the side effects were absolutely horrendous (dramatic tics where people thought he had Tourette’s syndrome and extreme emotional highs and lows). We are choosing to go the lifestyle route — while it is extremely difficult and much more time-consuming than popping a pill every day, I feel it is addressing the root cause.

Anonymous wrote:Deplin and en-lyte. Both prescription food supplements but usually not covered by insurance.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should encourage your kid to take the prescription medications instead of mucking around with spices and herbal remedies. You’re wasting valuable time.

NP. I used to worry about this (driven by this pro-med and anxious board) but brains are plastic. Growth can happen at any time, any age - and meds don't actually cure ADHD, they just manage it a bit. IOW, time/life unmedicated isn't wasted.

Fwiw for hyperactivity, we only found meds to be effective (but for other ADHD symptoms we found some supplements helpful).

Neural plasticity is highest prior to age 3 and the next milestone is around age 7. It continues to decrease across the lifespan. Sure they can still learn but it’s slower and more difficult to enact change. This is why people push so hard for early intervention.

There is some research supporting the effects of taking ADHD stimulant meds before the age of 10 or 12, that may result in permanent brain changes.

No one is advocating stimulant meds for 3 year olds and very few are recommend them for 5-6. Second grade is a common age to begin, after your "second milestone".

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should encourage your kid to take the prescription medications instead of mucking around with spices and herbal remedies. You’re wasting valuable time.

NP. I used to worry about this (driven by this pro-med and anxious board) but brains are plastic. Growth can happen at any time, any age - and meds don't actually cure ADHD, they just manage it a bit. IOW, time/life unmedicated isn't wasted.

Fwiw for hyperactivity, we only found meds to be effective (but for other ADHD symptoms we found some supplements helpful).

Neural plasticity is highest prior to age 3 and the next milestone is around age 7. It continues to decrease across the lifespan. Sure they can still learn but it’s slower and more difficult to enact change. This is why people push so hard for early intervention.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Saffron is a placebo. Just stop. See a nutrition who specializes in adhd or read a book on the topic. There are plenty of them.

It’s not even a placebo—it isn’t working!