I’ve had a few moms recently ask me about the usefulness of supplements for ADHD. If you take a trip to a health food store or any pharmacy section for that matter, chances are good you’ll find products promising you a new and improved child. Calmness! Great Focus! Peace in the home!
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Save your money. As my pharmacist friend pointed out me to a long time ago, if a product advertises “no side effects”, as these herbal preparations often do, there is little or no “effect.” No EFFECT. Get that?
With sky rocketing rates of ADD/ADHD diagnosing, these Snake Oil salesmen know a willing and ready market when they see it. (Especially the desperate parent market.)
Having said that, might there be some marginal benefit? Sure. Everyone’s different. But if you’re budget is like ours, spending $30/month or more on a dubious herb with marginal effect for a six month trial isn’t very doable.
Now of course, since I said this, I’ll probably hear from a parent who will tell me about Dr. Wonder’s Peace in a Jar that turned their child’s life around. (And NO, I’m not interested in taking advantage of the amazing multi-level marketing business opportunity that it comes with. 
) IF that works for you…I am delighted. Really I am. My personal opinion is: There is a helluva lot of hype out there; caveat emptor and fer-crying-out-loud hang onto your wallet.
I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news but there is NO magic wand for settling down that hyper 6-year-old. (For starters, the fact that he’s six and being told to “sit still” in kindergarten is the real issue here.)
Might there be some supplements that are helpful like Flax Seed oil or Omega 3′s? Sure! B vitamins? Absolutely.
Check with your doctor or nurse practitioner. And if you don’t have one who’s willing to explore these simple and low cost considerations with you….fire them and find a NEW health care provider.
Filed under: ADD/ADHD, parenting, PDD-NOS | Tagged: Do supplements help ADHD?, Use of supplements for ADD/ADHD | 6 Comments »
