My son is in 8th grade and was diagnosed with ADD back in first grade.
He has been on most medications for ADD. Ritalin, Adderall, Dexodrine etc.
All meds had side effects that were unbearable. So we are trying biochemical also called Nutrient therapy. He had a hair, blood, and urine analysis.
He was found to have a high histamine level and a zinc definciency.
Both have symptoms that mirror ADD. Now he is being treated with Nurients to lower his Histamine and increase his zinc.
Anyone familiar with Biochemial/Nutrient therapy?
Re: Biochemical/Nurient Therapy
Andrea,
Thanks for your information. The clinic also did a full blood workup and took a urine sample to run numerous tests. I guess what they look for in the hair is just to see what is “coming out” in rather large amounts. In other words is he losing any nutrients that his body needs?
I had heard abot the Pheiffer clinic on tv. People literally come from all around the world. There is one here in IL and one in California. I do hope this works as my son can’t take any of the meds on the market and I believe we have tried all of the “safe” meds out there. He had terrible insomnia and little appetite.
He felt sick all the time. I fear this is our last hope.
I will be patient as Biochemical/nutrient therapy can take months to work.
Thanks again for your information and opinion.
By the way it looks like my son will qualify for the section 504. So we have many new things ahead. I will continue to read this great bulletin board.
Sue
Keep trying!
A friend of mine came down with severe rheumatoid arthritis and was having trouble getting through each day… the doc told him to please do some research on his own, on the internet, etc. and he found diet info — when he went back to the doc, the doc told him he’d hoped he’d find that stuff, but that he really couldn’t have told him directly about it because he’d suffer professional consequences. It wasn’t a quick fix diet- he said it wasn’t something most people would be willing to do, fast adn then gradually add foods to see what triggered the arthritis, in a very structured regimen — but I met him on a 35 mile bike ride so I dare say its working…
This is to say that it’s scary — there are quacks out there, and lots of very well-meaning people who are sure they’ve found THE ANSWER (so send your dollars today and share the excitement, and who knows for sure who’s getting rich) — and lots of those “safe” supplements may not be for everybody. (For my friend, corn & soy aren’t — who’d say corn syrup wasn’t safe?) But docs don’t have the corner on the market, either.
Re: Biochemical/Nurient Therapy
Regarding ADHD, ADHD meds like you mention are known to temporarily reduce symptoms of ADHD is some people (not all people). That’s the real world.
Thank you for sharing the unfortunate reality for some persons (not all) that the side effects of some ADHD meds can become unbearable. Statistically 51% of children on Ritalin gradually discontinue Ritalin within about a four year period (for a variety of reasons).
Regarding biochemical/nutrient therapy, it is my understanding that classic ADHD is generally not viewed as a nutrient deficiency/vitamin deficiency at all; that’s why meds are used vs giving nutrients/vitamins which do not address the underlying ADHD. That’s my understanding although I wish that were not the case for classic ADHD.
Regarding the idea of good nutrition, eating balanced meals of fresh, whole, additive-free food is an option; considering using a juicer or a good blender can also be an option; at the same time, the cause of classic ADHD is not seen as a nutrient/vitamin deficiency which means that a nutritional approach can bring overall health benefits in general but a nutrition only approach does not address the real issues with classic ADHD - that’s my opinion.
The weakest known central nervous system stimulant known is coffee/caffeine. For a very small subgroup of those with ADHD coffee/caffeine compounds can temporarily reduce some ADHD symptoms; however in most cases, stronger stimulants such as Ritalin or Adderall/other drugs/treatments are known to work better.
For many of those with ADHD there may be no easy answers unfortunately.
Good luck.
"temporary" -- Ritalin is, too.
The effect of Ritalin on the symptoms of ADHD is, also, to “Temporarily reduce some ADHD symptoms” — it may be stronger and therefore reduce them by more for some people (and for others, caffeine works and Ritalin doesn’t).
Sue,
This may result in people flaming me, but please check out these two articles at quackwatch.com regarding the invalidity of hair analysis as a diagnostic tool. analysishttp://www.quackwatch.com/11Ind/Krop/krop.html.
http://www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/hair.html There are forms of nutritional therapy that, while not yet validated by double-blind studies, still seem to have promise. For example, there is some evidence that fatty acid supplements may help some children with ADHD. Other people have had good results with the Feingold diet. Just this week a study was released that indicated that allergies may be a precipitating factor in some ADHD cases, although the doctors who did the study felt there was not enough evidence to definitely come to that conclusion. So dietary solutions may be something that would help your child, but IMHO, a practitioner who relies on hair analysis is not the place to get that help.
Andrea