Frequently (and not so frequently) Asked Questions
BRIEF: Can give me some advice?
QUESTION:
I have a son who has been diagnosed with ADHD. I have taken him off the
ritlin and have put him on some herbs put out by Twin Labs and I have been
informed that Kava Kava might do the same as the five that he is on. Could I
get your opinion on this or refered to someone that might have a insite or any
information on this or any other alternative ways to help my son out.
ANSWER:
I am not a physician and would not begin to suggest a treatment for your son's
ADHD. If you are not happy with ritilin, then you should seek a qualified
physician that shares your assessment, yet has some safe, well-proven
alternatives.
Formal legal classifications notwithstanding, neurologically active active
compounds in herbs are drugs as far as the body is concerned and most are not as
well-known as ritilin. Kava kava has been used for hundreds of years because it
is believed to have calming, antianxiety effects. It has been observed that its
use leads to more talking, and less inhibition (is that what you are lokking
for????), and some feel it is a pain killer at higher doses. People have used it
as an alternative to valium. My unqualified, inexperienced, seat-of-the pants
take on this is that it would seem to be just the opposite of the sort of drug
you would want to give young people with ADHD.
I sure understand ones reluctance to use ritilin on your son, but throwing a
bunch of drugs at this kid (even if they carry the honorific label of "herb" in
our society) without any idea of how they might effect him doesn't seem to me to
be much of an alternative.
Perhaps a good psychaiatrist/psychologist/physician/educator can help you out
with some non-drug means of helping your son enjoy his education and preparation
for adulthood. For example, when another student and I displayed these symptoms
in the pre-ritilin era (Eisenhower-Kennedy administrations), the teacher allowed
us to go out and whack a tetherball around if we produced perfect work in a
short period of time. We learned to focus, stopped disrupting class and it only
cost the school a little wear and tear on the tetherballs. OK, a LOT of wear and
tear.
On the other hand, perhaps we didn't have ADHD, that diagnosis was unknown way
back then and disruptive behavior was not something parents often took kids to
the doctor for. We just could have been hyper, annoying, overachiever brats.