Alive and Healthy

You don’t have to have children for Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) to impact your life. Sharing this information with others may be one of the best things you can do for your workplace and neighborhood. This is all because the original ADD generation has grown up and more generations are on their way.

ADD is a treatable, usually completely solvable problem. Without complete resolution, this malady may continue to follow a child into adulthood and beyond. When the untreated adult becomes your employee, your employer or your neighbor you will witness directly the difficulties and consequences of their behavior.

Restless inattentive adults and children are looking to all of us for help. The children’s behavior requires a great deal of time from both their parents and their teachers. The pervasiveness of Attention Deficit in 1997 affected more than just the 4 million school children that took Ritalin that year. In almost every classroom, in our public schools, 30% of the children are taking medication for attention deficit. An estimated 17 million Americans have Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).

When the children leave high school, their need for medication and assistance does not go way. Their adult behavior commonly becomes a health risk to both you and I. They exhibit a “lack of concern for health-related behavior, such as diet, exercise and so forth; and they are smoking and drinking more than the control group.” writes Dr. Russell A. Barkley, Ph.D a researcher at the University of Massachusetts.

Dr. Barkley has followed children with ADD and done extensive follup studies on individuals with ADD. He states that “they have a higher incidence of motor vehicle accidents and speeding citations. A second area of the medical risk category is the rather heedless sexual conduct of our subjects that leads them to have more partners. Those in the AD/HD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) group have more partners and have significantly more unprotected sexual relations. Over half of the AD/HD group have had themselves tested for HIV. Fortunately, none of them have tested positive. About 25 to 30 percent of them, however, have already had a sexually-transmitted disease for which they have sought treatment. Also indicating this rather high-risk sexual lifestyle is the fact that, out of forty-two births that occurred in the two groups, forty-one were born to the AD/HD group.”

We need our children to have a positive constructive effect on the world in which they live. True holistic medicine that is fully integrated with the entire medical community can help adults and children with ADD and ADHD. We will explore how this can be done.

Restless World, Restless Life, Restless Times.

If you are like me, you know how every year our lives seem to get more complicated and overwhelming. Fulfilling our obligations and meeting our expenses seem to dominate our day and dominate how we make our decisions. People are getting more restless and cranky and yet, in the same breath, people are more interested in peacefulness and a quality life.

The word ‘restless’ describes our world fairly well. We are restless because we are eager, we are restless because we are stressed, and we are restless because we want to do something with our life. ‘Restless’ literally means ‘less rest.’ We may sleep 8-10 hours, but many times we wake-up unrefreshed and tired. We are not rested, thus, we feel restless.

Restlessness is one of the key symptoms of attention deficit disorder. In my holistic medical practice of more than twenty years, I have worked with many adults and children that were too restless to attend to their duties with skill and precision. Every situation, every family was a little bit different and yet, there was still a lot of common ground between all of my patients with ADD and with hyperactivity.

I am going to share with you the main commonalities that I see in my patients with ADD. I will show you how to help your child and yourself with natural therapies and lifestyle recommendations. I certainly acknowledge that a small percentage of patients need prescription medications and invasive forms of therapy. There are amazing high-tech diagnostic tools available today, including brain scans, neuropsychiatric evaluations and laboratory studies. The technology and the costs of this technology are both really amazing. Medication options have far exceeded the old Ritalin days, we now have anti-depressants, anti-convulsants (seizure medication) and anti-anxiety drugs being given to children with ADD. While Ritalin is still common, we have gotten more serious about suppressing the symptoms of restlessness, hyperactivity and inattentiveness.

The seriousness of the situation is multi-layered. Parents and teachers do not have the time for this behavior. The child’s self-esteem can suffer greatly from their inability to help themselves. Parents are afraid of medications and yet are not well educated in natural holistic therapies, all they know is they want to help their child.

Ideally, the role of a parent or teacher is to spend the time with the less-than-perfect child/student. However, our lifestyle, our community, our employment and our schools do not allow the time for this intensive, quality relationship. Instead, we only planned for the happy, eager self-guided student who needs very little outside help compared to the truly challenged kiddo with ADD. I keep all of this in mind when I meet with families at my office. Now that you understand my perspective, let’s look at simple, powerful things that you can do today to make life more restful and more successful.

As a scientist, I have searched all over the world for insights into the origins of restlessness. I have spent thousands of hours observing my own breath, diet, behavior and thought patterns. I have gathered a broad range of insights from the yogis in the Himalayas to the modern writers of today. There is a clear connection between behavior and lifestyle. Regardless of our gene pool and current situation, we have choice. Our brain is the child of our mind, it is there for us to enrich and evolve to the highest level of function. And the highest level is yet to be reached. And every year, we raise the bar.

Lifestyle options can include diet, exercise, internal dialogue, relaxation, meditation and types of healthcare choices we make. These various options can dramatically sway our gene pool in our favor. At first, it seems to be more complicated than just trying to become a vegetarian or trying to get biofeedback therapy. However, for many of my patients, it was not complicated at all. Early diagnosis and early treatment can keep the momentum of ADD to a bare minimum.

I have listed a wide variety of valid treatment options on the www.AliveandHealthy.com web-site, including supplements, amino acids, menu planning and much more.

Herbs are a great place to begin your journey using natural therapies for ADD. Many parents write and tell us about the amazing benefits of using herbs.

First, lets learn a little about these herbs....

• Ashwagandha (WlTHANIA SOMNIFERA; Winter Cherry)
- gives physical and emotional strength
- important for self-esteem and self-confidence

• Brahmi (BACOPA MONNIERA)
- known as the memory miracle.
- assists in the development of language skills
- improves the function of the part of the brain used for logic, reasoning and symbols
- very good for those involved in intellectual work
- gives subtle abstract insights in problem solving and gives mastery in logic and reasoning.

• Shank pushpi (EVOLVULUS ALSINOIDES)
- known to support the development of the part of the brain that deals with abstract concepts
- associated with the development of thoughts and the energy flow of brain waves
- assists one with orderliness of speech and in making a clear declaration of judgment

• Vacha (ACORUS CALAMUS; Sweet Flag)
- encourages brilliance in the mind
- helps with good metabolism, both mentally (thoughts and feelings), and physically (digestion)
- gives motivation and courage

Now, that you know a little about herbs for Attention Deficit Disorder, let's look at the best way to take these herbs.

Ideally, most herbs would be taken with boiled milk. Herbs can be taken deeper into the tissues of the body, giving them a more powerful effect, when taken with milk.

If they can not be taken with milk, take them with food. Most herbs are going to act like an herbal food once inside the body. Thus, it is best to take them with other foods so that they are more easily digested and absorbed.

Click here to learn about Attention Span™, an herbal supplement containing these herbs.

Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that transmit messages between nerve cells. Neurotransmitters control a wide range of functions. In addition to thoughts and memories, they control moods such as anger, depression, and happiness. They also affect appetite, sex, sleep, and rate of breathing. However, each neurotransmitter is quite specific in its job and functions. At the beginning of the 1980s, scientists had only discovered a few neurotransmitters. Now they have found over fifty! However, here we will focus on the neurotransmitters that are involved with memory and mental functioning.

Acetylcholine is one of the main neurotransmitters (brain chemicals which carry messages between neurons). Neurotransmitters make learning, memory and intelligence possible. The three main nutrients which are necessary for adequate synthesis of acetylcholine are Choline (a B-vitamin), Phosphatidyl Choline ("PC", the concentrated, bioactive ingredient of lecithin), and DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol, the most biologically available of the acetylcholine precursors). Acetycholine plays a key role in maximizing mental ability as well as in preventing loss of memory in aging adults.

Acetylcholine
Acetylcholine is the primary neurotransmitter involved with thought and memory. It is the chemical messenger that certain brain cells use to communicate with each other. Choline is the basis for the formation of acetylcholine. A lack of dietary choline will produce a corresponding decrease in memory. Nutritional supplementation of choline or phosphatidyl choline (lecithin) can help to restore the deficit.

DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid)
DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid found in eggs, red meats, fish, animal organ meats and in micro algae. It is the primary building block of the brain and the retina of the eye. The brain is 60% fat and DHA is the most abundant fat in both the brain and the retina. It is essential for mental function and vision. It is also the must abundant fatty acid in human breast milk.
There are well documented studies on the decreased mental and neurological development of babies whose diet lacked DHA due to the fact that they were not breast-fed or that their formula feeding did not have DHA in it. Likewise, DHA supplementation has been shown to be helpful in the treatment of ADHD. John R. Burgess, PhD, of Purdue University, found significantly lower levels of DHA in children with ADHD when compared to control subjects.
NOTE: DHEA is a steroid made by the adrenal glands and should not be confused with DHA nor DMAE.

DMAE (Dimethylaminoethanol)
DMAE is basically a choline molecule with one methyl group missing from the nitrogen. DMAE is more able to cross the blood-brain barrier than choline. Once inside the brain, an enzyme performs a methylation that converts DMAE into choline. So, taking DMAE increases the brain's potential to make neurotransmitters.

Dean and Morgenthaler's book, "Smart Drugs and Nutrients" reports the following effects for DMAE: mood elevation, improvement of memory and learning, intelligence increases, and increases in the life span of laboratory animals.

DMAE enhances memory and intelligence. It is a source of choline for the production of acetylcholine in the brain. DMAE is a naturally-occurring nutrient found in seafood such as anchovies and sardines.

When 500 mg of DMAE was given to 74 children with learning problems, including many who were hyperactive. These subjects were screened for neurological or psychiatric illnesses beforehand. DMAE was given in a double-blind fashion for 3 months. Testing was done before and after treatment for behavior, reaction time, and a series of standard psychometric parameters. Not only was there significant improvement overall but DMAE was shown to improve performance in children with learning and behavior disorders.

Precautions: Overdosage can produce insomnia, dull headaches, or tenseness in muscles (especially those of the jaws, neck, and legs). These side effects disappear if the dosage is lowered slightly. No serious adverse effects have ever been reported with DMAE. Patients with certain types of epilepsy should be closely monitored by a physician. DMAE should not be used by people who are manic because it can deepen the depressive phase.

Dosage: DMAE is used initially at low dosages, with a gradual buildup to 500 mg or 1000 mg per day. This refers to pure DMAE and not DMAE bitartrate, which contains only a percentage of DMAE. In some cases, lower dosages can result in a good response. DMAE can take as long as three weeks to take effect.

Norepinephrine
Norepinephrine (NE) is another neurotransmitter involved with thought and memory. It is the chemical messenger that plays an important role in mental functioning. It seems to be specifically involved with long-term memory. A decrease in norepinephrine also produces a corresponding decrease in mental acuity or mental sharpness.

Phosphatidlyserine (PS)
Evidence indicates that phosphatidlyserine helps improve memory and prevent age-related memory loss. It actually resides in brain cell membranes where it activates the release of acetylcholine and enhances the transmission of nerve messages between brain cells.
According to Parris M. Kidd, PhD, oral supplementation with PS benefits cognitive functions, particularly in adults of mature years. Some 23 human studies are available on PS. Most involved subjects who had experienced measurable losses in memory, judgment, abstract thought and other higher mental functions and sometimes changes in personality and behavior. The PS dose was usually 100 mg. three times daily, initially.

Eleven double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials conducted with PS in the U.S. and Europe, indicate subjects were significantly improved on: learning names, faces; recalling names, faces; recalling phone numbers; recalling misplaced objects; paragraph recall; ability to concentrate. Benefits persisted at least 4 weeks after PS was discontinued. For name-face acquisition, PS "rolled back the clock" by about roughly 12 years; from an average "cognitive age" of 64 to a cognitive age of 52. In other clinical trials, PS benefited subjects with nerve transmitter deficiencies, mood disorders and disturbances of their 24-hour daily "clock"-the circadian rhythm. (Alt Med Rev 1996;1(2):70-84)

AMINO ACIDS
Amino acids are important protein constituents that serve as precursors for neurotransmitters and enzymes, and as membrane stabilizers.

L-Pyroglutamic Acid is a remarkable partner to acetylcholine, which may have benefits for memory function. It has also been associated with increased release of GABA, a key calming neurotransmitter made and used in the brain. L-Pyroglutamic Acid is a natural amino acid found in many foods, and it passes the "Brain-Blood Barrier" easily.

Glutamine is the precursor for GABA manufacture in the brain, and it helps prevent excess amounts of ammonia from damaging the brain.

Tyrosine is a precursor for Noradrenaline and Dopamine, two of the main neurotransmitters which elevate mood, promote alertness, and increase arousal and motivation.

L-Phenylalanine is a precursor for Tyrosine, and can also be converted to PEA-Phenlethylamine, a psycho-energizer naturally produced by the brain. Scientists believe that the PEA found in chocolate is what makes people like it so much. NOTE: 1 in 15,000 people cannot metabolize phenylalanine, this inability is called phenylketonuria. These people should not take phenylalanine.

L-cysteine
Cysteine is a sulfur-containing, antioxidant amino acid. It is especially good at protecting the sensitive cellular membranes of the brain from free radical damage. It also protects the brain from damage due to alcohol and cigarette smoke and is a general stimulant to the immune system.
Note: The letter L in front of the names of amino acids indicates the natural form as found in nature rather than being synthetic. The L forms are more biologically active.

L-glutamine
Glutamic acid is the brain's backup or emergency source of energy. Glucose is the brain's primary source of energy. Whenever glucose is in short supply, the brain utilizes glutamic acid to keep things going. However, glutamine is the ingredient added to the brain/mind formulas, not glutamic acid. Glutamine is much more effective at getting across the blood-brain barrier than glutamic acid. Once in the brain, glutamine is converted into glutamic acid. L-glutamine has also been effective in increasing the I.Q.'s of mentally deficient children. L-glutamine is also the precursor for the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-amino butyric acid).

L-methionine
Methionine is another sulfur-containing, antioxidant amino acid that protects brain cells from damage. Methionine also prevents toxic heavy metals such as mercury and cadmium from accumulating in and damaging the brain. It plays an essential role in the production of neurotransmitters and energy production.

Taurine
Taurine is major stabilizing ingredient of brain cell membranes, keeping electrical currents from spreading out of control throughout the brain.

VITAMINS AND MINERALS

Chromium
Chromium is essential for the metabolism of glucose and the production of energy.

Folic Acid
Folic Acid is selectively concentrated in the brain and spinal fluid and is essential to the functioning of the brain.

Inositol
Inositol is a membrane stabilizer found in high concentrations in the cellular tissue of the brain. It reportedly promotes an anti-anxiety or calming effect.

Magnesium
Magnesium, in particular, seems to have a profound effect on dementias of various types. Dr. J. Leslie Glick of the Bionix Corporation reviewed the effects of 1000mg of magnesium in patients with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. He reports that magnesium in these doses "may improve memory and alleviate other symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's". Magnesium has been reported to enhance cognitive abilities. Additionally, causes vascular dilation and is known to have anti-anxiety effects.

Potassium
Potassium is responsible for transmitting electrical impulses. It is highly active in the tissues of the brain and nervous system.

Selenium
Selenium is one of the most important nutritional discoveries of the twentieth century. It is a nutrient that no individual can afford to overlook. Every one of the sixty trillion cells in your body needs a small amount of selenium in order to be protected and function properly. Toxic metals affect the brain and nervous system before they affect the other organs of the body, just as many nutritional deficiencies do. Selenium is one of the most powerful detoxifiers of poisonous heavy metals.

Vitamin B-1 (Thiamine)
Thiamine is essential for the health of brain and nerve tissue. It is also involved in the chemical reactions that cause the release of acetylcholine in the brain.

Vitamin B-2 (Riboflavin)
Riboflavin functions as an antioxidant cofactor, taking part in the antioxidant reactions involving both superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase.

Vitamin B-3 (Niacin)
A deficiency of niacin produces memory failure. It functions in over fifty metabolic reactions, especially those producing energy. Niacin has two forms, nicotinic acid and niacinamide. Either or both forms can be utilized in nutritional formulations.

Vitamin B-5 (Pantothenic Acid)
Vitamin B-5 acts as an antioxidant. It is also required for the conversion of choline to acetylcholine.

Vitamin B-6 (Pyridoxine)
Vitamin B-6 acts as an antioxidant. It is required for the conversion of amino acids into neurotransmitters in the brain. For example, the conversion of phenylalanine to norepinephrine requires Vitamin B-6.

Vitamin B-12 (Cobalamin)
Vitamin B-12 is a coenzyme that is particularly important in the brain and nerve tissues. It is necessary for the synthesis of DNA and RNA; it enhances the action of Vitamin C and several amino acids; and it is required to build the walls of brain cells.

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
Vitamin C is a major antioxidant. It is precursor for the production of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine, epinephrine, and serotonin. For example, the production of norepinephrine has been shown to be severely inhibited in Vitamin C-deficient subjects.

Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a powerful lipid membrane antioxidant that protects brain cells from free radical damage.

Zinc
The brain contains substantial concentrations of zinc.
It is a necessary cofactor in over twenty different enzymatic reactions and is essential for the production of the antioxidant enzyme SOD. It also helps prevent the accumulation of lead that is toxic to the brain.