homeopathic treatments for attention.doc

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http://www.healing-arts.org/children/ADHD/homeopathy.htm

Homeopathic Treatments for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Using Homeopathy and Homeopathic Remedies for the Treatment of ADHD

Introduction:

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric disorder ofchildren, afflicting about 35% in the U.S. It is often believed to be a physiological brain disorder with agenetic component. Children with ADHD are impulsive,overactive, inattentive, poor learners, and arefrequently disruptive, aggressive and uncontrollable.

ADHD is treated medically with stimulant drugs such as Ritalin, oral antihypertensives andantidepressants. While these medications can at times be effective if carefully monitored, side effectsare possible, and most of these drugs should not be (though sometimes are) given to children under

age six because of risk of toxicity or lack of dosage information due to inadequate testing for adversedrug reaactions in this population. Twenty percent of ADHD children do not respond to the firststimulant drug tried, or have a negative reaction to it.

Clinicians using homeopathy for ADHD have reported good results, but objective evidence has beenlacking. Now, a double blind, placebo-controlled study of 43 children with ADHD shows thathomeopathy can be effective in treating the disorder.

In a study published in the British Homeopathic Journal, Oct 1997, children afflicted with ADHD weregiven either a homeopathic treatment or a placebo for ten days, then parents or caregivers rated thechildren on the amount of ADHD behavior they displayed. Those receiving homeopathic medicines

showed significantly less ADHD behavior than those given placebos.

When evaluated in a follow-up interview two months after the study's end, 57% of the children showingimprovement with homeopathy had continued to improve, even though they had discontinued thehomeopathic medicines; twenty-four percent relapsed by the time of the follow-up; and the remaining19% continued to experience positive results, but only while taking the homeopathic medicines.

The homeopathic medicines found most helpful for ADHD were Stramonium, Cina and Hyoscyamusniger. Stramonium was specifically indicated when children had many fears, or suffered symptoms ofpost-traumatic stress disorder; children who were physically aggressive benefited most from Cina; and,children with manic or sexualized symptoms responded most favorably to Hyoscyamus niger.

Below is an alphabetic listing of homeopathic remedies and a brief summary of how each might beapplied to children with ADHD or ADHD symptomolgy.

Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [A]

Aconite:Indicated especially for those who often have strange and irrational fears, fearsand sweating at night, a tendency to fevers, croup, and thirst.

Anacardium:

Indicated especially for those who feel put down, isolated, and separated fromthe world; for those who feel pathological inferiority; those who feel need toprove themselves; test-taking anxiety in which the person goes blank.

Argentum nitricum:Indicated when there is antagonism within the self, the mind is of two wills, theperson imagines devils speaking in one ear and angels in the other, like Jekyl
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and Hyde. It is indicated for people who can be cruel and malicious, often after ahistory of being abused or belittled; for those who swear; and for those who actas if they lack a conscience.

Aranea ixabola:Indicated for excessive teasing, especially teasing and manipulating by actingcute; for those who act as a mischievous leader, inducing others to disobey; andfor those who are fascinated with spiders.

Arnica:

Used for children in shock, or who have never been well since a shock ortrauma, even trauma from a difficult birth. It is often confused with Sulphur.

Aurum metallicum:Used for children who act like little adults; who want affection, but don't knowhow to express emotional needs; for those who can be cold to their family, andhave a hard time making friends. It is indicated for those who are perfectionist,and who can be bitter and negative; for those who try hard and don't want to fail;for those who tend to sinus problems, nasal congestion, and moaning in sleep;and for those who feel better from music.

Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [B]Baryta carbonica:

Used for those who can be sweet, timid and fearful or be the class clown, actinggoofy and acting out. It is indicated for apparent arrested or delayed mental,physical or social development; for children who are shy, self-conscious, withself-limitation, feeling defective. It is used for those with the fear of looking bad,being laughed at, and criticized; for those who feel incompetent and incapable. Itis indicated for those who feel that they are being laughed at, mocked, orcriticized; and for those who are timid due to fears, especially the fear of makinga mistake. It is used for those who feel that they are being watched; for those

who dare not look up; for those who act childish and immature; for those whohave difficulty with schoolwork. It is used for those who are backward or behind;for those who are often the teacher's pet; and for those who tend to tics andglandular swellings.

Baryta iodatum:Used for those who are irritable, hurried, restless, and nervous; who havedifficulty concentrating; and who have a canine-like appetite.

Belladonna:Used for those who are forgetful, slow, and have a poor learning ability; sensitiveto noise and light; have night terrors and sfear of ghosts; look wild when angry;have large heads, with bright red cheeks. The belladonna person often looks

well, even when sick; tends to otitis media; complains of hot and throbbingdiscomfort; and often craves cold drinks, especially made from lemons andoranges.

Bismuthum subnitricum:Indicated for children who cling desperately to their mothers and are terrifiedwhen alone and who tend to be thirsty for cold water, but can have acutestomach pain in which even water is vomited as soon as it reaches the stomach.

Bufo:Used for those who have difficulty relating well to others; have narrow focus;don't understand danger; have seizures or autism; have a slow, coarseappearance; can hug or bite you; masturbate or show a premature interest insex. These children rely on basic instincts and need instant gratification; areupset when not understood; cannot tolerate music or bright objects; oftenpresent with eczema, nail biting, and may have protruded tongue or a gaunt facewith stupid expression.


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Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [C]

Calcarea bromatum:Indicated for restlessness in flaccid, chubby children.

Calcarea carb:Indicated for those who feel unsafe; are afraid of robbers, dogs, heights, andairplanes -- any situation with potential risk to physical safety; are cautious andprotective; fear that others will perceive their confusion and think them insane;feel as if everything is horrible; are stubborn and methodical; are obstinate andstrong-willed; can be slow, hesitating; and of a chunky build; and sweat on thehead as infants.

Calcarea phosphorica:Indicated for those who feel frustrated and dissatisfied; act fussy and peevish; foryoung children who are restless, shy, and fearful, but who love to take chancesand play tricks, even act like daredevils. These children feel as if they are awayfrom home and must get home; are athletic; love travel, change, and newexperiences; complain of growing pains, especially in the bones; desire smokedmeats; tend to have abdominal gas, colic, slightly swollen abdomen; and often

have tonsillar hypertrophy.Cannabis indica:Used for those who feel isolated, disconnected, anguished, terrified, and evensometimes ecstatic. This remedy is indicated for those who feel spacy, confused,and inattentive; have time and space disorientation; fear going insane; feel likeeverything is a dream with even familiar things which seem strange or unreal(derealization); act as if in a dream or off in space; can't pay attention for long;but are good at science projects until theorizing causes them to lose touch withreality; are absent-minded; can be obsessive-compulsive; appear as if on drugswith a "stoned" look in eyes; and have parents who used marijuana excessively.There are three common behavioral variations of this remedy: (1) presenting as

laughing, giggling, and clowning around; (2) presenting as ethereal and airy; and(3) presenting as brassy, loquacious, and liking to dress up in olden-day clothes.

Capsicum:Indicated for those who are intensely homesick, discontented, brooding, irritable,absent-minded, disobedient, and angry; who appear extremely obstinate; whoare contrary, even against something they want if suggested by someone else.Capsicum is prescribed for those who fear being censured and are easilyoffended; who are restless, clumsy, and run into things; who have difficultysleeping at night, but yawn during the day. It is used for those who can wake in afright, screaming, or full of fear and who are worse form any draft, even warm air.Capsicum children are often seen in daycare with frequent otitis and bright red

ears. They can have a pale face and puffiness under the eyes, as well asrashes.

Carcinosinum:Indicated for those who are fearful, timid, unhappy, worried, and obstinate, yetsensitive to reprimand and music; appear dull of mind, disinterested, and averseto conversation. They can be very sympathetic to others; can be very tidy or verymessy; love to travel and will over-extend themselves; frequently suffer frominsomnia; and strongly crave or dislike salt, milk, eggs, fat meat, and/or fruit. Theonset of symptoms often occurs after a severe reaction to a vaccination.Frequently there is a family history of cancer. These individuals may havebrownish cafe-au-lait complexion with many pigmented moles, bizarre tics, or

blinking eyes.Chamomilla:

Indicated for those with bad temper, who are very irritable and impatient; whoare complaining, frustrated, restless, and thirsty; who are contrary, not knowingwhat they want; who demand one thing and then want something else. The


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chamomilla child is fidgety and quiets down once he has attracted attention. Hewants to be carried everywhere, but will whine and scream. He will settle down ifcarried, jiggled, or rocked. These children show aversion to being touched withhypersensitivity to pain, feel pain is unbearable, feel that everything isintolerable, and can become so hyperactive that he will get exhausted and beginto cry. The child shows dullness of the senses with a diminished power ofcomprehension, as if they were hard of hearing. All symptoms are worse at night

Cina:

Indicated for children who are cross, contrary, and disobedient with very difficultbehavior. These children do not want to be touched or looked at and turn awaywhen approached. Nothing satisfies them for long. They are restless, fidgety andfretful, especially during sleep. They grind their teeth at night and wet the bed,and may have parasites, such as pinworms. Their sleep is restless,accompanied by jerking, frequent swallowing and coughing. They often sleep ontheir abdomen or the hands and knees (Medorrhinum). They may have anirritated nose causing a constant desire to rub, pick, or bore into it until it bleeds.Their ears can be itchy. They often show twitching of the face muscles andeyelids, and are even inclined to seizures. Their appetite can be ravenous withstrong thirst, and craving for sweets. These children often have large bellies.

Colocynthis:Indicated for those who are easily offended, especially by feeling unappreciated,by insults, or humiliations. They are moody and overly sensitive, and want to bealone. They tend to have abdominal cramps and sciatic pain, and may bendforward for relief.

Cornus circinatus:Indicated for those who don't want to think, read or work. They have an inabilityto concentrate on thoughts, don't understand what they are reading, and tend toaphthous stomatitis, flatulence, and weakness upon waking.

Crotalus horridus:Indicated for those who are intense, animated, hurried, restless, and talkative.

They have many fears, especially that someone might be following them or thatthey hear footsteps behind them. They fear being alone, spirits, ghosts, snakes;and can strike out in fits of rage. They resent and blame other children for gettingthem into trouble, report dreams of hairy spiders, and tend to have hives andepistaxis.

Cuprum metallicum:Inidcated for those with anxiety at night, fears of kidnappers or the housecatching fire, and are known for sticking their tongues out.

Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [F]

Ferrum metallicum:Indicated for those who are strong-willed and persistent, fight for their beliefs,have a sluggish mind with difficulty collecting their thoughts, tend to anemia andheadaches, are often obese, with an aversion to eggs, and crave or detesttomatoes.

Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [G]

Gallic acidum

Indicated for those who will hurt their loved ones.

Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [H]


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Helleborus:Indicated for those who feel stupid, that they cannot cope with life's challenges,and that their mind is sluggish. They appear dull and unresponsive; often have ahistory of encephalitis or head injury, and have difficulty memorizing orarticulating thoughts. They have a tendency to despair and a strong aversion tomaking any effort, yet are easily angered. They have been observed to bite theirspoon when eating without being aware of it, have a history of fever and/or headinjury. One often needs to follow quickly with Hyoscyamus. This remedy picture

is often easily confused with Sulphur and Med.Hyoscyamus:

Indicated for difficult children with poor impulse control, even though engaged inpremeditated actions; talk excessively with episodes of mania and rage thatmight include hitting and screaming, also inclined to depression after manicphase; can be manipulative, lying, and violent; seem unable to think;unresponsive to questions or cannot bear anyone talking to them; intense andviolent excitability with fear, delirium, and the delusion of being poisoned;feelings of abandonment, jealousy, suspicion; fears of dark, dogs, water;delirious; delusions of animals, of being pursued by enemies, as if s/he might beinjured by surroundings; sees ghosts, specters; very animated, seeming silly and

foolish; smiling and laughing at everything, often inappropriately; talks nonsense;acts out ridiculous gestures like a dancing clown or monkeys, trying to be centerof attention, often with sexual overtones; giddy; love to run around naked, can bea totally shameless exhibitionist with bizarre behaviors for shock value, includingcursing; tries to embarrass parents; jealous of their siblings, often may injurethem; cannot tolerate being covered up.

Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [K]

Kali bromatum:

Indicated for restless children, who always have to be doing something,especially with the hands, including activities like throwing.

Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [L]

Lachesis:Indicated for those who are loquacious, agitated and hyperactive, and restlessand moody with strong emotions. They may be very jealous of siblings, or evenof the same sex parent, and tend to be vengeful, sarcastic and nasty. They canbe especially hurtful (and intuitively accurate) with insults; and can have a self-

destructive personality, with a marked lack of confidence and a tendency tosevere depression, withdrawal, and hopelessness. They hate any kind ofphysical or behavioral restriction, like tight clothing or being "grounded; andcannot bear authority and run away from home. They tend to self-criticism andirritability; often reproach themselves severely; and may also show aggressionwhich surfaces easily and makes them difficult to live and work with. They areknown for suspicion with a marked preoccupation about others; and frequentlyfeel that others are often criticizing them and putting them on the defensive. Allsymptoms are worse upon waking, when they typically feel unrefreshed andeven more agitated, often complaining of a suffocative feeling.

Lycopodium:

Indicated for those who are insecure, who act like bullies, and are cocky andboastful, often with overcompensation. They may show a marked lack ofconfidence and many fears, with underlying cowardice; can be dictatorial andbossy at home where they feel safe; and may have delusions of being a greatperson. They fear looking bad, need to cover up; are afraid of failure; are afraid


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to try anything new or to try again having failed once. They fear being injured;may see phantoms and other images; displays both fear and bravado; areusually intelligent and may look older than his years, but often suffers fromdyslexia, confusing words or letters. They may show performance anxiety, preferyounger friends, want to please authority figures, tend to have abdominal gas;get more tired, restless, and irritable between 4 and 8 p.m. These children don'twant to sit down at the dinner table, but prefer to run around.

Lyssinum:

Indicated for those who bite, growl, snarl, scratch, and act rabid. They are easilyenraged; angry, but repent quickly, have remorse. They feel tormented andabandoned, as if he has suffered some wrong. These children feel as if theyhave been injured or abused. They often have a history of abuse, and may bechildren of violent parents. They strike out at presumed tormentors; and are self-destructive, with an impulse to cut his or her self. They can be defensive, as ifbeing attacked or insulted. They may have a history of dog bite; animal-likebehavior; aggravated by sound of running water; may have fears of water orreflected water, dogs, small rooms. They may crave chocolate and salt and haveenuresis.

Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [M]

Mancinella:Indicated for those who fear of evil, devils, and being possessed; may developfears or obsession with evil after seeing a scary movie; and may have delusionsthat his or her soul has been surgically removed. The child says someone istaking things away. They may have asthma or bronchitis.

Medorrhinum:Indicated for those who are irritable, agitated, and in a hurry. They may have aracing mind and lust for experience, especially sensual. They may feel a need to

hide her/himself, because s/he has a defect or is somehow flawed. They haveanticipatory anxiety; delusions that someone is behind him or her or thatsomeone is touching their head; fear that something dreadful has happened; asense that everything is strange or unreal; a fear of going insane; a terriblememory, and may be forget. They may be mentally dull, unstable emotionally,have fits, can be reckless and impulsive; obsessive-compulsive, rigid; may becruel or loving to animals; want to stay up late at night, feels better at night, yetcan fear dark and monsters. They may have a history of diaper rash as a baby,and later skin rashes and asthma; nail biting; hot feet; and may sleep with theirknees to the chest.

Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [N]

Natrum muriaticum:Indicated for children who act like "little adults," display extreme watchfulness; sitin their mother's laps during the interview; are often tidy, not wanting to losecontrol; and are sweet, except with their family. They may show silent grief ormay have shrieking tantrums; may be confidante to one parent and nasty toother; may have concomitant anorexia; may display shyness with urination,especially in a public place; may crave salt, worsened by the sun; and maydislike slimy foods and fat.

Natrum sulphuricum:A specific remedy for depression after head injury. It is often seen with grief afterparents' divorce. Children who want this remedy have a strong sense of duty tofamily; can be suicidal; suffer existential anxiety and may have a nihilistic attitude


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toward life; have sadness relieved by music; often experiment with drugs; areborn older; and tend to have asthma and warts.

Nux moschata:Indicated for children who pass out with the slightest injury or no obviousprovocation; are giddy, spacy, and mentally confused. These children can be theperfect child - cooperating with parents, sharing, doing chores, going to bed ontime; and tend to sleepiness, constipation and dryness of eyes, mouth andtongue.

Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [O]

Opium:Indicated for children with difficulty concentrating; spacyness; painlessness of anobviously painful complaint; being out of touch; having complaints from fright orafter head injury; having constipation; having sleep apnea; and the mother oftenhaving been given drugs during pregnancy or labor.

Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [P]

Phosphorus:Indicated for children with the fear of being unloved, isolated, and having lost alltheir friends; children who are psychic; and children who see ghosts, spirits,specters. They may have a sense of being on a distant island; are concernedthat they have an incurable disease; are gregarious, bubbly, and good-natured;are sensitive, sympathetic, and kind; are sweet and compassionate; and can bespacy.

Platina:Indicated for children who are insecure, volatile, flirtatious, arrogant and

contemptuous (usually girls); are forsaken and unloved with a need to reconnectto people, but have the illusion that others are physically and mentally inferior;and underneath have feelings of failure, rejection, and a lack of confidence.These children want to look good; and can be very forward with even young girlsputting out a sexual message and tend to be jealous of other women. Thesechildren may be emotionally stuck, tending to live in and dwell on the past. Theycan have strong feelings of anger, indignation and paranoia. They may haveoverwhelming and aggressive impulses that provoke the most severe depressionand confused states, alternately indescribably happy and laughing at the saddestthing, then insufferably sad, hopeless and terrified by any serious thought. Theyneed excitement or melodrama; can be very restless children who cannot remain

in one spot and may experience marked anxiety with trembling, as well asoppressed breathing and violent palpitations.

Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [S]

Scorpion:Scorpion is used for children who are violent if provoked or just for the fun of it,for children whose parents fear being harmed by the child; for children who lackconscience and compassion for the suffering of others. These children aredetached, like solitude, can attack if bothered; and are indifferent to pain or

pleasure.Stramonium:Indicated for children who are violent or fearful; who are severely hyperactivity,easily terrified, and inclined to violent agitation and fits of rage; and whosespeech is loud, fast, and possibly incoherent. These children show feelings of


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terror and abandonment; are afraid of the dark, dogs, evil, suffocation andabandonment. Their thirst is great, yet they dread water. They have fears ofdeath; believe s/he is always alone, and are especially afraid to be alone atnight, become overly vigilant to combat these fears and become violent ifcontrolled. They have nightmares and night terrors that become increasinglyworse between midnight and 2 a.m. They often awake screaming; see ghosts,specters, spirits; have a horror of glistening objects; have delusions of animals,of danger; are clinging. They are aggressive; bite, kick, strike; use threatening

language; can have seizures or personality change after a head injury, frightfulepisode, or trauma (especially being chased by dogs). They can be useful inautism or Tourette's. These children can be sweet all day and have terrors atnight.

Sulphur:Used for children who are egotistical; try to control feeling with mind; hate beingscared; feel as if they are being scorned; have delusions that s/he has beendisgraced; are messy and tattered but think they look fine. These children can belost in thought, absent-minded, spacy; forgetful, loses things; has visions; full oftheories and dreams, loves science fiction; can be a loner with limited socialskills; prefers computers, reading, mechanical things.

Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [T]

Tarentula hispania:Indicated for children who are frenzied, are worse with music; act wild and crazy;love to sing and dance; feel as if never enough time; feel as if s/he has beeninsulted; sense of a stranger in the room. They see faces on closing eyes; haveepisodes of raving delirium; are mischievous and sneaky; tease and hide; cutthings; hurried, always restless.

Tuberculinum:

is indicated for those who revolt against restriction and need to feel free. Theyalways desire and seek change, travel and new experiences; always feeldissatisfied; and feel as if there is never enough time. They are afraid of (andoften torment) dogs, cats; have delusions that s/he can fly, that someone isfollowing her/him, that he is surrounded by animals; feel everything is strange;are compulsive and uncontrollable; are destructive; throw tantrums; break things;are precocious; and are often malicious.

Tuberculinum aviare:Indicated for those who show extreme restlessness with great weakness;diminished appetite of long duration; and a tendency to otitis.

Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [V]

Veratrum album:Album is indicated for those who are inconsolable after fancied misfortune; havea racing mind and agitated actions; and are driven to act on impulses. They mayshow religious mania; are overly religious; feels s/he is in communication withGod; delusions that s/he is a great person or somehow distinguished. They havedelusions of animals; are always busy but often fruitlessly so; have impulses tokiss or touch others; are hurried, restless, and fidgeting, poking others; and areprecocious.

Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [Z]

Zincum metallicum:


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Indicated for children who are fidgety and restless, and especially known forrestless feet and legs. These children have an overactive nervous system;twitch, jerking, and even have convulsions; and are sensitive, irritable, and proneto rage. They often make mistakes in writing and speaking; feel like they havecommitted a crime; can have tendency to lick everything; and may look like littleold people.

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