ADHD & HOMEOPATHY

HYPERACTIVE KIDS AND HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT

IMAGINE living in a fast-moving kaleidoscope where sounds, images and thoughts are constantly shifting. You feel easily bored but you are helpless in keeping your mind on the tasks you need to complete. Distracted by unimportant sights and sounds, your mind drives you from one thought or activity to the next. Perhaps you are so wrapped up in a college of thoughts and images that you don?t notice someone speaking to you.For many people, this is what it is like to have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD patients may be unable to sit still, plan, finish tasks, or be fully aware of what?s going on around them.

It is also important to realise that during certain stages of development, the majority of the children tend to be inattentive, hyperactive or impulsive. Pre-schoolers have a great deal of energy and they run everywhere. But this doesn?t mean that they are hyperactive. Certain diagnostic criteria have to be ascertained before a child is diagnosed with the disorder.

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder is a diagnosis applied to children and adults who consistently display certain characteristic behaviour over a period of time. The most common behaviour falls into two categories: inattention and or hyperactivity/impulsiveness.

According to a study published in The British Homoeopathic Journal in October, 1997, children afflicted with ADHD were given either a homeopathic treatment or a placebo. Those receiving homeopathic medicines showed significantly more improvement than those given placebos. The homoeopathic medicines found most helpful for ADHD were Stramonium, Cina and Hyoscyamus Niger. Stramonium was specifically indicated when children had many fears, or suffered symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. The children who were physically aggressive benefited the most from Cina, and, children with manic or sexualised symptoms responded favourably to Hyoscyamus Niger

Homeopathic prescribing is generally based on idiosyncratic characteristics of an individual but if one medicine is to be favoured for treating a large number of ADHD(attention deficit hyperactive disorder) cases, Tarentula Hispana should be that one.

Hyperactive kids requiring Tarentula often have extreme restlessness and compulsion to hurry. Their legs are in motion, and they have a lot of trouble sitting still. The desire to run about, the urge to dance and to jump up and down are usual for them. Great, fantastic dancing! Loss of all sense of shame. Sudden and violent, or sly and destructive movements ? well, these are clear features of this medicine. One particular symptom that distinguishes Tarentula is its strange relation to music. Violence is a strong feature of the remedy ? violence with anger! His clothing strikes him. He strikes his attendants and best friends!

One more symptom that distinguishes Tarentula is its strange relationship to music. Sometimes music ameliorates all the symptoms and at other times it aggravates them. The child becomes violently excited after listening to music.

Can all hyperactive children be lumped together under one diagnostic category? Can a child, who lashes out in a violent manner at his family members and peers, fit into the same diagnostic group as a sweet gregarious one who simply cannot pay attention to the work in the class? A homoeopath would say that both temperaments are as different as day and night and would prescribe very different medicines. Individualisation stands as a key point in homeopathic treatment.

A word of caution: As this is a deep-seated disorder, any homeopathic intervention should be done under the guidance of a thorough professional.

This feature has been published by Dr. Vikas Sharma. Dr. Sharma is a Chandigarh based homeopathic doctor.