ATTENTION DEFICIT AND HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER ( ADHD

Abstract

Introduction: Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder is one of the most frequently diagnosed disorders in young children and teenagers. Several million children are reported to be treated for ADHD; however, some school classrooms report that as high as 30% of the students are being treated for this illness. The child is normally diagnosed with ADHD between the ages of six and twelve years of age. The symptoms are usually: Inattention Having a shorter than usual attention span and can be easily distracted. Impulsivity Not being able to control impulses. Hyperactivity Periodic over activity. The diagnosis of ADHD is made by several methods: medical history and physical exam and/or tests, both verbal and written. It is not uncommon for the diagnosis to be made by the parents and/or educational personnel, such as teachers and school nurses. This is usually the result of close observation and monitoring of the child's behavior and performance. Many children diagnosed as having ADHD perform poorly in school due to their inability to focus their attention and stay on task. Once diagnosed, treatment can be broad and varied. The present approaches include medication, behavior management, social skills training, counseling, and a holistic approach. Included under the broad category of holistic are biofeedback, homeopathy, diet restriction, herbal medicines, and other natural substances. Not enough research has been obtained relative to these holistic modalities. One of the modalities, which has been researched and has shown some promise, is food restriction. It appears that both restricting dietary sugar and food chemical additives have helped a limited number of children who have ADHD. The common treatment in our society for ADHD is usually the drugs Ritalin, chemically named methylphenidate, or to a lesser extent the drug Dexedrine, chemically named dextroamphetamine. Ritalin is said to control the symptoms in 70% of the cases. However, neither medication sustains any healing properties. Unfortunately, both drugs have been shown to have similar side effects on the brain, mind, and behavior including conditions such as psychosis, mania, drug abuse, and addiction. Ritalin can cause permanent neurological tics and also growth retardation in children by disrupting the cycles of growth hormone secretion by the pituitary gland. Ritalin, when ground up and inhaled, is being used as a recreational drug. It is being obtained illegally with and without a prescription, and reports indicate that it could present a problem of addiction. There is also evidence that occasionally it eventually leads to the use of more serious narcotics. In this study, I have elected to use natural substances as a treatment for ADHD in children. The substances are essential oils. Essential oils are aromatic, volatile liquids distilled from shrubs, trees, roots, bushes, seeds, and flowers. The oils, made up of resin and plant extracts, are the most powerful part of the plant. The essential oils are extracted from the plant or tree by various methods. The most effective method is by the process of distillation wherein the plant is heated at specific temperatures, pressures, and time to best separate the oil from the plant structure without fracturing the chemical constituents. Essential oils contain hundreds of different chemical compounds, each having specific properties and actions. When these essential oils are inhaled, they not only provide exquisite fragrances, but they have also proven to