What are the natural treatment options for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children?

Natural Treatment Options for ADHD in Children

Behavioral therapy should be the first-line natural treatment for ADHD in children, particularly for preschool-aged children (4-5 years), as it has strong evidence supporting its effectiveness and safety compared to other natural approaches. 1, 2

Evidence-Based Natural Approaches

Behavioral Therapy

• Parent and teacher-administered behavioral therapy is the most effective natural treatment for ADHD, especially for preschool-aged children (4-5 years) 1, 2
• Behavioral therapy helps parents and school personnel learn effective strategies to prevent and respond to problematic behaviors like interrupting, aggression, and non-compliance 1
• Parents often report higher satisfaction with behavioral therapy compared to medication, as it addresses broader symptoms and functioning beyond core ADHD symptoms 1
• The positive effects of behavioral therapy tend to persist over time, unlike medication effects which cease when medication is discontinued 1

Training Interventions

• Training interventions target skill development through repeated practice with performance feedback 1
• These approaches are well-established for addressing disorganization of materials and time management issues in children with ADHD 1
• School-based training interventions have consistently shown benefits for adolescents with ADHD 1
• Greatest benefits occur when treatment continues over an extended period with frequent constructive feedback 1

Nutritional Supplements

Essential Fatty Acids

• A mix of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and γ-linolenic acid shows modest evidence as an ADHD-specific intervention 3
• Polyunsaturated fatty acids demonstrate consistent modest effects on ADHD symptoms when taken for at least 3 months 4

Multivitamin/Mineral Supplements

• Daily multivitamin/mineral supplements at Recommended Daily Allowance levels may be beneficial as a general pediatric health intervention, though not specific to ADHD 3
• Multinutrient supplementation with four or more ingredients shows modest efficacy on non-symptom outcomes 4

Approaches with Limited or Insufficient Evidence

• Mindfulness practices show modest efficacy for non-symptom outcomes but limited effect on core ADHD symptoms 4
• Elimination of artificial food dyes may reduce ADHD symptoms in some children, but this approach may be more applicable to the general pediatric population than specifically for diagnosed ADHD 3
• Mineral supplementation is only indicated for children with documented deficiencies 3
• Herbal preparations have limited evidence supporting their efficacy for ADHD treatment 3, 5

Important Considerations

• ADHD should be recognized as a chronic condition requiring ongoing management within a medical home model 1
• Natural treatments should be part of an individualized multimodal treatment approach that includes psychoeducation 1, 2
• The school environment and program is a crucial part of any treatment plan 1, 2
• For elementary school-aged children (6-11 years), combining behavioral therapy with FDA-approved medications may provide optimal outcomes 1
• If natural approaches do not provide significant improvement and there is moderate-to-severe continuing disturbance in the child's function, medication should be considered 1, 2

Cautions and Limitations

• Many natural product treatments show mixed findings regarding efficacy 6
• No non-pharmacological treatments show consistent strong effects on ADHD symptoms comparable to medication 4
• Parents typically use a trial-and-error method when evaluating complementary and alternative treatments 7
• Delaying proven treatments while pursuing unproven natural remedies should be considered in the risk-benefit assessment 3
• Most studies on natural treatments have small sample sizes and methodological limitations 5