5 Ways to Treat ADHD at Home
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can affect both children and adults. While many medicines are now available to manage the symptoms, one can also incorporate certain dietary and lifestyle changes to treat this condition. The following home treatments for ADHD can help manage the condition without causing any worry about the side-effects:
Avoid preservatives and food colors
ADHD has several symptoms, including forgetfulness, organizational problems, and difficulty in paying attention. Hyperactive behavior can worsen in children if they consume certain preservatives or additives. For example, some fruit juices, carbonated beverages, and salad dressings contain sodium benzoate, which can worsen hyperactive behavior. Other than that, food colors like sunset yellow, quinoline yellow, tartrazine, and allura red are also harmful and should be avoided by people with ADHD.
Avoid any allergens
Certain allergens can aggravate the symptoms of ADHD in children, so restricting these and following a healthy diet can be helpful in managing the condition. Following the proper diet is one of the most important home treatments for ADHD. It is always better to contact a healthcare professional to help identify the specific allergens one should avoid. One should leave out milk, chocolate, and eggs from their diet to check whether the symptoms improve.
Along with these, one must also exclude chemical additives like butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene, which are present in foods like potato chips, dry cake mixes, chewing gum, cereal, instant mashed potatoes, and butter. Berries, apples, chili powder, grapes, peaches, oranges, plums, tomatoes, and prunes should also be avoided, as they have salicylates, which can worsen the symptoms of the condition.
Consider Electroencephalographic (EEG) biofeedback
This home treatment for ADHD can be particularly helpful for children. The EEG biofeedback is a type of neurotherapy that helps with focus training to improve ADHD and manage its symptoms. This can be done through specially designed video games, in which the child will have to perform certain tasks that require continuous focus. This exercise will help the child develop focusing techniques to cope with the symptoms more effectively.
Consider yoga and meditation
Several studies have shown that yoga and meditation can be helpful for children with ADHD. Yoga reduces hyperactivity and helps calm the mind, and it also helps manage symptoms like anxiety. Meditation is another well-known technique to relax the mind and improve focus, which is highly beneficial for ADHD patients.
Spend time outside
Spend time outside is a natural way of helping oneself manage the lack of focus. Spending only 20 minutes amid nature can go a long way in helping patients manage the symptoms of ADHD.
It’s advisable to consult a doctor before following any of these home treatments for ADHD, as the doctor can provide further guidance.