Natural ADHD remedies scare Dr Wiley
You know, we’re only a little over a week from Halloween. And come to think of it, there is something I wish parents of my patients were more afraid of, and that’s natural remedies for ADHD. First of all, there is no natural remedy for ADHD that’s ever been found to be effective, and certainly not as effective as stimulant medication. But besides lack of efficacy, natural does not imply safe.
Black widow venom is natural, but I wouldn’t give it to any of my patients. My teenagers and young adults often remind me that marijuana is natural unlike the medications that I prescribe, which are not natural. But with all the debate about medical marijuana aside, I don’t think most parents would like for their children to treat their ADHD with it.
In addition, there are the big bottles of supplements that parents bring in that have attention or focus in the names, and they’re labeled very carefully natural. But if you read the fine print, they’re also labeled that the FDA has not evaluated what is in them, has not determined that the medication or the supplement was safe or effective, and to be honest, really there’s no quality control for you to know what is in those capsules and pills. And very often, you don’t know where they were produced. To me, that’s a little bit alarming. But because it’s labeled natural, parents often feel safe. Again, just a reminder about that black widow.
This information should not be relied upon as a substitute for personal medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Use the information provided on this site solely at your own risk. If you have any concerns about your health, please consult with a physician.
James Wiley is the founder of Focus-MD. Focus-MD is devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD and related problem patients. They provide objective testing, medical treatment as well as behavior modification strategies to help or patients transform from frustration to focus. To find a Focus-MD clinic, click here.
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