ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD) MANAGEMENT IN AYURVEDA

DESCRIPTION

• ADHD is most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. 
• Usually diagnosed in childhood and lasts into adulthood. 
• Child suffering from ADHD disease may have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors or active.
  

ADHD SYMPTOMS

Symptoms in children

Symptoms are grouped into three types:

Inattentive. 

• A child with ADHD:
• Is easily distracted
• Doesn’t follow directions or finish tasks
• Doesn’t seem to be listening
• Doesn’t pay attention and makes careless mistakes
• Forgets about daily activities
• Problems with organizing daily tasks
• Doesn’t like things that require sitting 
• Often loses things
• Tends to daydream

Hyperactive-impulsive. 

• A child with ADHD:
• Often squirms, fidgets, or bounces when sitting
• Doesn’t stay seated
• Has trouble playing quietly
• Always running or climbing on things.
• Talks excessively
• Has trouble waiting for their turn
• Blurts out answers
• Interrupts others

Combined. 

• This involves signs of both other types.

SYMPTOMS IN ADULTS

• With age the symptoms of ADHD may change. They include:
• Often being late or forgetting things
• Anxiety
• Low self-esteem
• Problems at work
• Trouble controlling anger
• Impulsiveness
• Substance misuse or addiction
• Trouble staying organized
• Procrastination
• Easily frustrated
• Often bored
• Trouble concentrating when reading
• Mood swings
• Depression
• Relationship problems
  

ADHD CAUSES

Several things may lead to ADHA may include:

• Genes – ADHD tends to run in families.
• Chemicals – chemicals present in the brain may be out of balance in people with ADHD.
• Changes occur in brain – brain area that control attention are less active in children with ADHD.
• Infections, Poor nutrition, drinking, smoking, and abuse substance during pregnancy can affect a baby brain development.
• Lead – lead may affect a child brain development.
• Brain injury or a brain disorder – Damage frontal lobe can cause problems in controlling impulses and emotions.
  

UNDERSTANDING ADHD DISEASE UNDER THE AYURVEDA CONCEPT

ADHD is not mentioned in Ayurveda. Some irregular behavior has been recorded in Ayurveda that could possibly be linked with ADHD.

1. Dhee’s vitiation (rational thinking)
2. Smriti’s (memory)
3. Dhriti (the retaining/intellect force of the mind).

Two subdoses in the part of Smriti that is:

1. Sadhaka Pitta that monitors emotions and their effect on the heart functioning.
2. Prana Vata that controls mind, sensory perception, and brain.

• Madhya herbs are used to enhance mental function and balance vitiated Vata dosha are the main lines of ADHD treatment.
  Vata dosha is responsible for controls movement, expression, activity, the process of thought etc.
• In ADHD the child mind is unable to have clear control under the influence of the aggravated Vata Dosha that’s why he becoming hyperactive. 
• Manovaha strotas are mainly affected that block the normal functioning of these channels.
  

AYURVEDA TREATMENT OF ADHD

• Vata dosha affects manovaha strotas. 
• Ayurvedic herbal treatment or Panchakarma corrects the imbalance of the dosha, improves and normalizes brain problems with memory, intelligence, focus, learning capacity, and speech production.
• Psychotherapy, speech therapy, behavioral therapy, etc. well in this disorder. 
• Ayurvedic medicines and Panchakarma therapies improve the digestive system, intellect, and mental of child.
  

THE PRINCIPLE INVOLVED IN TREATING ADHD

Deepana and Pachana—

• Deepana and pachana maintain digestive fire and digests ama. 
• Treat appetite, 
• eliminating the ama by removes canal obstructions
• deepana and pachana helps to feed all seven tissues.
  

Strotoshodhan (cleansing the channels) –

• The natural flow of doshas is obstructed that cause loss of attention, learning and memory impairment.
• Ayurvedic herbs helping to remove obstruction in channels particularly manovahastrotas because of its penetrating and digestive properties helps to clears the canals by digesting the ama and helps the brain to function normally.
  

NATURAL TREATMENT FOR ADHD IN CHILDREN

Ashwagandha

• Ashwagandha improve the nervous system function. 
• It improve brain function, comprehension and cognitive function. 
• Reduce tension, anxiety, sleeplessness, boost physical ability, forgetfulness and act as herbal rejuvenation.
  

Brahmi 

• It is a great memory enhancing Ayurvedic herb. 
• It improve cognitive abilities and memory.
  

Guduchi 

• Helps to improves digestion
• relieves ama,
• enhances immunity, 
• improves cognitive and memory performance, 
• Relieves anxiety and stress.
  

Shankapushpi

• Increases intelligence and memory. 
• Shankapushpi help in mental illness, anxiety, depression, relieves sleeplessness, improves metabolism, immunity, and physical stamina.
  

Ghee 

• Ghee is highly beneficial for memory improvement. 
• It can be included in the regular diet and improve digestion, memory, and intelligence.
• It feeds and rejuvenates the body.
  

PANCHAKARMA TREATMENT FOR ADHD

• Rejuvenates the brain and nervous system. 
• It balances the Vata with the Kapha dosha. 
• Helps to improve the digestion force.
  

Abyanga 

• Body oil massage alleviate Vata dosha, relaxes body muscles and soothes the mind.
  

Shirodhara 

• This technique involved the pouring of medicinal liquids over the head. 
• Used to treat heat-related illness. 
• It calms mind, increases concentration, relieves sleeplessness, depression, and anxiety. 
• Vata relieving oil and liquid more effective for ADHD patient.