| | Herbal Medicine: Calming Hyper Kids with Herbs | |
Noah was a hyperactive child. Noah's parents had been working with him
for some years, and after a tremendous amount of trial and error, they discovered
that when Noah stayed away from refined sugar, he was quite normal, but
as soon as he ate anything that had the smallest amount, he would go crazy.
Recently they had a powerful reminder of this. It was during an Easter party
that Noah slipped away from his grandmother, who was watching him, and gobbled
a few chocolate eggs. A short time later, Noah jumped onto a table and began
spinning wildly and yelling at the top of his lungs--much to the shock of
other party-goers.
Noah was smaller than most kids his age, but he was exceptionally active
and bright. Several doctors they had taken him to had offered drugs such
as ritalin, which is a "mild" central nervous system stimulant,
according to the Physicians Desk Reference (PDR), 43rd ed., 1989.
This didn't seem to help much. In fact, Noah seemed to get more nervous
and anxious, and began to lose his appetite while on the drug. Noah's parents
experimented with many other ways to maintain a balance in his system and
avoid symptoms of hyperactivity and his occasional problem with holding
his attention in school. The following is what they learned.
It is interesting to review current allopathic medical thinking on the condition,
in order to understand some of the ways in which our society considers this
condition, as well as ways it is likely to be viewed when a child is taken
to a medical doctor. Other holistic therapies will follow.
According to the PDR, pathological hyperactivity in kids is sometimes called
Attention Deficit Disorder, Hyperkinetic Child Syndrome, or Minor Cerebral
Dysfunction. Although the PDR recommends using Ritalin, other factors--
psychological, educational, and social--are also mentioned in passing.
This disorder is said to be characterized by "the following group of
developmentally inappropriate symptoms: moderate-to-severe distractibility,
short attention span, hyperactivity, emotional lability, and impulsivity."
Learning disability and inability to concentrate in school or at home might
also be present. The syndrome is often diagnosed with the use of an EEG.
Many natural health practitioners and herbalists view severe hyperactivity
in children as being closely related to emotional and physical nourishment.
The child may be starved for affection, attention, or important nutrients
that aren't available in some modern fast-food diets. Considering the prevalence
of these kinds of diets in the cities today, it is surprising the problem
is not more widespread than it is.
Kids are often extremely active and energetic. They have abundant energy,
and to the adult eye, it is often undirected and scattered, making it seem
more out of control than it actually is. But very young people often have
a rhythm and innate sense of their own about the way in which their energy
is moving. However, they often do not have the discrimination to know when
an activity is excessive. This is where gentle, firm guidance is needed
to help the child direct this energy into balanced and healthful channels.
For instance, instead of running around and yelling wildly in the house,
a good bike ride, skateboard ride, or outdoor game is equally satisfying.
What is hyperactive? It is possible that the parents are feeling stressed
because of work, finances, or other common stresses and are resisting the
child's naturally speedy energy. They might feel like they want to slow
the child down, control that energy in a heavy-handed way, and force the
child to slow down to their speed. Many parents have discovered that when
they are really with their kids and offer them the close and frequent contact
they need, both physically and mentally, hyperactivity is less of a problem.
The most important factors in hyperactivity of kids, ones that come up over
and over, include:
Emotional/Relationship Issues
- Lack of physical touching, expressions of caring and love
- Not touching in with children often--sharing activities and interests
- Not helping children to channel their energy in positive ways
Diet
- Refined sugar products (soft drinks, candy, honey, dried fruits, fruit
juice)
- Processed foods with food additives, artificial coloring
- Food allergens (the most common are pasteurized dairy products, eggs,
wheat, and nightshade family foods--i.e., tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes)
Other Environmental Factors
- Heavy metal contamination (like lead from house paint or mercury from
fillings)
- Artificial lighting
- Strong electro-magnetic fields
- Noise pollution
Sugar Blues--Herbal Alternatives
Its easy to say cut the sugar, but often not so easy to keep kids
away from it. Fortunately, today there are numerous alternatives in natural
health stores. I have found that more complex carbohydrate-based sweeteners
such as organic brown rice syrup or barley malt is less stimulating. There
are a number of commercially-available treats containing these. Two herbal
sweeteners that really work well are stevia (the sweet herb) and licorice.
To use stevia leaf, simply make a tea (1/2 tsp to a cup of water--let steep
for 15 minutes) and add 1/8 cup to a small amount of barley malt or brown
rice syrup to enhance the sweet flavor. This combination helps mask stevia's
slight bitter flavor. Stevia tastes sweet, but it will not stimulate the
metabolism. The herb originates from South America, where it has been used
in Paraguay in foods and beverages for centuries. Interestingly, it is the
sweetener that makes Coca Cola sweet in Japan. Currently, the Food and Drug
Administration is trying to prevent the importation and sale of the herb
in this country. The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), the herb
industry's trade association has recently submitted a petition to FDA, requesting
that stevia be granted "Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) status,
allowing it to be used freely in various products for consumption. If you
would like to support this effort, you can write to your congresspeople,
the White House and the FDA, requesting that stevia be recognized as safe
to trade without restriction.
Alternative treats for hyperactive children
Instead of soft drinks (many of which are loaded with sugar) or bottled
fruit juices, which contains a considerable amount of fructose, there are
a number of delicious herbal teas that can be sweetened with stevia or licorice.
hyperactive treats: herb teas such as camomile, peppermint, spearmint, orange
peel, cinnamon and hibiscus sweetened with stevia or licorice.
Hibiscus Cooler
Hibiscus 3 parts
Orange Peel 1 part
Cinnamon 1 part
*Try adding a small handful of fresh spearmint or peppermint leaves to the
final blend
**Sweeten with apple juice (1 part juice to 4 parts tea) or use stevia tea
Drink it chilled, or make into popsicles by pouring into molds and freezing
Another Calming food:
Celery and lettuce have a calming effect on the nerves--try celery stuffed
with nut butter, etc.
Here are herbs that many herbalists recommend for hyperactivity, all of
which are widely available in natural food stores as single herbs or included
in formulas. Herbs are generally purchased in bulk to make teas, or as finished
products like capsules, tablets or liquid extracts. I have found that liquid
extract are especially useful for children, because they can be disguised
in tea or juice. The dose can easily be regulated between 1 or 2 drops up
to 40 or 50, which is appropriate for kids, depending on age and size. These
liquids work quickly (in 10-20 minutes) compared with powdered herb products,
which may take up to an hour.
Herbal Remedies
1. red clover blossom--an excellent choice in any tea blend,
as it is considered a "blood purifier" as well as a gentle nerve
relaxant. Would facilitate in cleansing the blood of toxins/chemicals, while
calming and is recommended used over a long period of time. Use as a tea--1
tsp/cup of water; steep 20 minutes, drink 1/2 cup morning and evening.
2. chamomile--safe, effective, gentle and good-tasting relaxant for
children.
3. lime blossom--stronger but still a safe, relaxing herb.
4. Valerian--a central nervous system relaxant; excellent as a tea
or fresh plant liquid or powdered extract--one of the strongest natural
herbal sedatives, but non-narcotic and not habit-forming.
6. Catnip--another mild sleep aid and relaxing herb, safe for children.
7. California poppy--a safe sedative for children; recommended for
hyperactivity and sleeplessness.
8. Wild lettuce--safe and mild sleep aid and sedative; usually mixed
with other herbs.
9. Lemon balm--lemon-tasting herb which has a mild relaxing effect.
4. Hyperactivity is a form of stress, and the child should also be treated
with Avena (wild oats), a nervine tonic and nutritive, and
vitamin C and B-complex vitamins.
Note: Parents can also benefit from the above as well, since they would
also be under stress with a hyperactive child.
Other Natural Ways to Calm
**Make sure to add lots of sea vegetation to the diet--a great way to insure
the child is getting adequate mineral ions which is essential for proper
nerve function.
**Try giving a child an herbal bath or foot soak--this is a traditional
way of relaxing--add either a tea of lavender blossoms, or one of the other
sedative herbs, such as lime blossom (linden).
** Yoga exercises for children can help relax and center.
*Massage, acupoints--kids love to be touched.
Traditional Chinese Medicine views hyperactivity as a result of a hot liver.
Holly Eagle, OMD, CA of Ancient Roots Medical, located in Santa Cruz, CA.,
says that in her experience working with hyperactive children she has noticed
that a diet which is too acidic contributes to irritability and agitation
in children. In addition, Dr. Eagle says there is a tendency toward excitability
when growth hormone is more active, for instance during periods of growth
spurts.
Irritations to a child's system, such as new teeth are coming in, etc. can
be a factor. She feels that children who have problems with sweets tend
to be restless at night.
The Japanese call hyperactivity the 'Sweet Bug' disease, and it is associated
with symptoms of itchy, restless feelings, and sleeplessness at night. Dr.
Eagle says that touching the child with a light touch is very helpful and
effective during times of hyperactivity, and this includes before bed to
help induce a better sleep. She also recommends cooling the liver fire with
the Chinese herbal patent formula 'Hsiao Yao Wan' - Bupleurum Sedative Pills.
This famous Chinese patent remedy is widely available in herb stores. Give
the child about 6-8 of the small black pills 3 times daily for a few weeks.
The importance of a good diet cannot be over stressed.
 | Christopher Hobbs is a fourth generation herbalist and botanist with over 30 years experience with herbs. Founder of Native Herb Custom Extracts (now Rainbow Light Custom Extracts) and the Institute for Natural Products......more |
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