There’s a good chance that you know a child, or perhaps have a child of your own, that has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
From 1998 to 2008, the amount of children being prescribed stimulants to treat ADHD has skyrocketed. Since 2011, it is estimated that 11% (or 6.4 million) of children have been diagnosed with the disorder.
The remedy that medical practitioners have been turning to during this surge in diagnoses is the use of stimulants. Stimulants bring up the necessary levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, This allows your child to focus. However, the Child Mind Institute points out that there are many startling side effects to keep an eye out for when administering stimulants to children.
Prescription medications may be an easy and familiar solution, but the use of natural ingredients for ADHD may be the future.
Natural Ingredients for ADHD
You may be wondering how you can get the positive effects of prescription drugs without suffering from the negative side effects.
The main thing is to ensure that your body gets the following vitamins and minerals:
Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR)
Acetyl-L-carnitine contains an amino acid called carnitine. Studies have shown that carnitine can decrease symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsiveness associated with ADHD.
ALCAR also acts as a cofactor in the synthesization of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is pivotal to the central nervous system, as it modulates the neurons that control arousal and attention. This leads to an increase in focus.
Brahmi (Bacopa Monneiri)
Brahmi is a tropical plant that is very popular in Ayurvedic practices. The reason for the popularity of this plant is its ability to improve the cognitive functions of those who use it for medicinal purposes.
One double blind study found that the continued use of bacopa extract left a positive impact on cognition, well after the subjects stopped taking the supplement. The study concluded: “In mental control, there was significant improvement at the end of the eight week and highly significant at the end of the 12th week, which was maintained even after withdrawal of the drug from 13th to 16th week.”
Dandelion
The leaves of dandelion contain a powerful flavonoid called luteolin, which is a strong PDE4 inhibitor. The luteolin derived from the dandelion breaks down a messenger in the brain called cAMP. cAMP is energy that aids your brain in processing thought signals.
The ability to facilitate such an important function within the central nervous system makes dandelion one of the ideal natural supplements for ADHD.
Deanol
Deanol is essential in the creation of an important chemical called choline. The reason choline is so critical is because it can increase the production of acetylcholine.
As we mentioned earlier, acetylcholine modulates neurons in the central nervous system that oversee imperative functions such as attention and arousal.
Forskolin
Forskolin is derived from the Coleus Forskohlii plant. It has the ability to boost the amount of cAMP in your system. As we pointed out, cAMP strengthens the lines of communication throughout the brain.
Combining forskolin with dandelion has shown strong results for boosting the levels of cAMP within the brain.
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo biloba has long been touted as a champion for enhancing memory. That is with good reason, because the medicinal plant has been used since the beginning of time due to its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.
A double blind study was conducted and the results found that, “compared with the placebo, administration of ginkgo produced a number of significant changes on the performance measures. The most striking of these was a dose-dependent improvement of the ‘speed of attention’ factor.”
Grape Seed
The oils within grape seeds have strong medicinal properties. Not only are they ladened with flavonoids, linoleic acid and vitamin E, grape seeds are also packed with procyanidins. Procyanidins have antioxidative benefits.
Studies have also shown that the polyphenols (the OPCs) in grapes “released dopamine,” “improved action capacity,” as well as, “phenolic compounds from the extracts inhibited the accumulation of age-related oxidative DNA damages in neural tissue.”
L-Theanine
L-Theanine is an amino acid that facilitates the production of crucial neurotransmitters called GABA. GABA has a calming effect on the brain because it is created by another neurotransmitter called glutamate.
Glutamate synthesizes GABA to even it out because glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter. When overstimulated, glutamate can create anxiety, sleeplessness and other symptoms of ADHD. GABA produced by L-Theanine calms down the overexcited glutamate.
L-Theanine can also help in the creation of dopamine. Which we pointed out earlier, dopamine one of the main neurotransmitters necessary to combat ADHD.
Phenylalanine
Phenylalanine is another important amino acid. It facilitates the first step in the biological creation of crucial neurotransmitters: dopamine and acetylcholine.
As mentioned earlier, dopamine and acetylcholine are both essential for concentration, focus, and strong brain signals.
Red Ginseng
For a variety of uses, red ginseng has been used since the beginning of civilization. One of those is to help concentration and memory.
The use of ginseng over a 12-week period in both Alzheimer’s and dementia patients saw “significant improvement … in cognitive and functional performance.”
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is essential for your body to create neurotransmitters that carry signals throughout the brain.
This important vitamin also makes hormones: serotonin and norepinephrine. These hormones influence your mood, as well as, your circadian rhythm, aka your biological clock.
Lack of vitamin B6 can lead to symptoms of ADHD, including restlessness and poor concentration.
Prescription Medications vs. Natural Ingredients for ADHD
As mentioned earlier, prescription drugs have been the norm for treating children diagnosed with ADHD.
A main cause of ADHD is a deficiency in two neurotransmitters: dopamine and norepinephrine. These are chemicals in the brain that control functions such as our
- emotions,
- mood,
- focus,
- and activity levels.
Using prescription medications have proven to be effective in decreasing symptoms associated with ADHD. However, the almightly government watchdog, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH), has warned that these stimulants can have negative effects. These effects include:
- Increased heart
- Decrease in sleep
- Higher body temperatures
- Spikes in blood pressure
NIH continues to warn us that stimulants have highly addictive properties.
After all, stimulants are a Schedule II controlled substance! Stimulants are addictive due to the euphoric feeling that abusing them brings the user. Increasing dopamine in someone’s brain causes a happy feeling. In attempts to recapture that feeling, a user will take a little more the next time and the time after that. As they chase the high, an addiction is likely to form.
In a study where the body’s reactions to methamphetamine and ADHD prescriptions were compared, the results found that, “both drugs enhanced ratings of euphoria and mood, increased cardiovascular activity, and improved psychomotor performance.”
Overuse of stimulants can result in long-term damage. This includes:
- Paranoia
- Feelings of hostility
- Increased anxiety
- Heart complications
- Stroke
- Depression
- Broken sleep patterns
- Bodily fatigue
The use of natural ingredients for ADHD may be a safer alternative to pharmaceutical drugs.
There are no harmful side effects like noted above. Natural supplements for ADHD contain ingredients our bodies organically produce.
How to Take Natural Ingredients for ADHD
The side effects of pharmaceutical drugs used to treat ADHD can end up costly for yourself or your loved ones.
Taking natural ingredients for ADHD is a safer way to ensure your brain is getting essential vitamins and minerals.
Natural ingredients for ADHD are created with the same chemicals that our bodies organically produce. Therefore, one does not have as many side effects as their pharmaceutical counterparts.
It would be incredibly costly to individually purchase the above natural supplements for ADHD! Getting them all in one pill is the best way to ensure you get your daily recommended intake. No need to fret, Tranquility Labs’ own, Focusene, has nearly all of the ingredients listed above 🙂
Focusene is a combination of natural ingredients for ADHD. It contains 11 essential ingredients to help relieve the symptoms of ADHD. It’s comprehensive formula is highly effective! The chemical reactions within Focusene’s ingredients make each even stronger because they are paired together. Just like we as noted with the combination of forskolin and dandelion.
Why risk the side effects of prescription drugs when you can supplement with natural ingredients?
Have you or anyone you know had adverse side effects to pharmaceutical ADHD medications? Have you tried any all-natural remedies? Please share your thoughts below!
