I am curious what people have found after trying this.
The first night we did this my son said he slept better than he ever did before. He couldn’t even stay away for his nightly story. He said that he thought it helped with his concentration at school. He has always been a very self aware child and is usually good at assessing what works for him.
The second night he had nightmares and said he couldn’t not sleep. He said he didn’t want to do it again. Is there such a thing as doing this too much.
How often should these kids do this?
I also noticed that both my boys have a healthy glow. My little one is pasty white and now has pink cheeks. He just looks healthier.
The research
http://www.oneaddplace.com/articles/rabiner3.htm
http://www.truehope.com/disorders/adhd/3_1_2_4_05.asp
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9368235&dopt=Abstract
Andrea
Interesting....
and makes me wonder if we’re seeing more kids with ADHD these days because American diets have shifted towards processed/convenience/fast food.
Re: Epsom salts baths.
I am right there with you. We have always gone through this. It really started the way you are describing. As we remediated his deficits, changed his diet, etc etc etc he would have more and more good days and then the occasional bad one where you are like, “What just happened?”
We now have mostly good days. It does seem to move in fits and starts though. I don’t think there is one answer for kids with multiple deficits.
Re: Epsom salts baths.
Thanks Sharon,
I will try it once a week. I think that might be all he needs.
Re: The research
Interesting research and very helpful. Thank you.
I think I understand my son’s reaction. He eats a pretty good diet and is probably only slightly deficient in magnesium so one bath was good two baths was too much.
Re: Epsom salts baths.
Candy is awful but I honestly don’t think it is the sugar. I think it is the artificial ingrediants. The reason I think this is that he can eat some foods that are high in sugar and it doesn’t affect him the way some candy does.
He eats alot of protein, mostly eggs, also nuts, and various meats. There is a dramatic difference in his attention when he gets the eggs as opposed to his beloved bagel and cream cheese in the morning. I buy the eggs that have essential fatty acids in them. (Now I don’t know if all eggs have esfs but the ones I buy advertise 100mg esf per egg on the carton.)
My son is extremely picky and it is very difficult to get him to eat vegetables or fish.
I also give him a vitamin and mineral supplement.
I haven’t gotten rid of all junk but he gets 3 square meals a day with protein.
He also doesn’t drink milk. He doesn’t like it and I don’t push it because the stuff I have been reading about milk lately is that it is not great for all kids and my son did have trouble digesting milk as a baby (he spit up constantly.) He drinks orange juice with calcium instead.
Re: Epsom salts baths.
sounds like you’re really on the right track w/ nutrition and food allergies! Good job! Keep it up!
Also - food COLORINGS are a big affector w/ ADHD kids!
Loves :)
S
Re: Epsom salts baths.
dairy, yeast, and color additives are huge problems for ADHD kids.
starting out by taking one out of the diet (one by one) you may find changes in behaviour (good changes).
Loves,
S
Re: Epsom salts baths.
WATCH OUT for red candy — this seems to bother alot of children. My nephew had dreadful behaviour in response to certain dyes — even red popsicles.
Problem faded at about age 11, but after red ‘big feet’ (gummy candy) at age 6 or so, you would SWEAR he was ADHD, ODD, and just plain a holy monster! (he’s not any of those!)
When my mom (his sitter) figured this out, we realized that you could actually WATCH the reaction: eat candy…wait 5 minutes or so…red ears…flushed face…temper tantrum or wild hyperactivity or both.
All my family are quite sensitive to this sort of thing, in varying degrees. I am one of those people who gets a ‘buzz’ from Aspartame — watch that one with kiddos also!
yes there is you just have to find the balance..or even use less salt per bath. once or twice a wk is good for my daughter, but more or less might be good for you son.
Loves,
S