My b/f's 10 yro was diagnosed with ADHD, he currently does not take any meds b/c of the adverse side effects he experienced while taking them. I'm trying to find a natural remedy that will REALLY work, to keep him focused. I've been trying fish oil. I've been told that coffee has a calming effect on children, so we've tried coffee a couple of times last week. Any suggestions?
Permalink Reply by Frani on November 19, 2007 at 12:34pm
What type of fish oil do you have him on & what is the mg. of the DHA? It's important that he has a high mg of DHA because that is what is used for the brain function & also that he's taking a hgh quality brand. My family uses a liquid marine oil that combines the Omega 3's & Akylcerols (which are from shark oil) & we are all doing wonderfully. Actually my firend has her daughter on it who has autism & has seen noticeable improvements fast. I don't knowif I can tell you the company or not - but if you go to www.purenutritiontoday.com - the product is listed there.
I found this article on the Seabiotics google search - too bad you don't live in Australia - I just sent you a reply a while ago about DHA in fish oil.
The good oil on omega-3Article from: Font size: Decrease Increase Email article: Email Print article: Print Submit comment: Submit comment Janelle Miles
November 18, 2007 11:00pm
GRANDMA was right - fish really is brain food.
Australian researchers have found daily doses of fish oil can improve concentration in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and are about to test whether it can also boost learning potential.
They want to recruit 120 children with ADHD aged seven to 12 who have learning problems and are not already taking prescribed medication or supplements of omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish oil.
Queensland University of Technology psychologist Ross Young said the study would test whether fish oil improved the children's literacy skills and also investigate the optimal dosages.
Fish oil contains two major types of omega-3 fatty acids – docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid – but scientists are unsure which is the most beneficial for children with ADHD.
"Finding which of these oils is the most important will allow us to develop better dosage regimes and products that could be tailored specifically for enhancing cognitive function in this group," Professor Young said.
Children in the trial would test three different formulas of fish oil during the 12-month study.
Professor Young said he was hopeful fish oil would prove more effective than stimulant drugs such as Ritalin, commonly prescribed for children with ADHD.
He said Ritalin was associated with more side effects, such as disturbed sleep in some children, than fish oil.
Parents of children with ADHD who would like to be involved in the study should phone (07) 3138 6349 or email rm.young@qut.edu.au.
Thank you for this information. Too bad we can't participate in this study. I'll check into the products that website offers. My mother actually found a fish oil that is supposed to be really good. I'm anxious to see the results. When do you give your children the fish oil? I give to him in the mornings.
My son takes his in the evening - he has taken his for over 2 years & has not had 1 sinus infection since (that's why I started him on it). He takes 1 tsp of the liquid, but if I see a cold coming on or at the beginning of school, I up to 1 TBS. Yes, please check out Seabiotics' products because not all fish oil is created equal & look at the EPA & DHA mgs. In 1 tsp., it's = to 10 500mg capsules., plus it gets into the bloodstream better.
i'm glad to find this conversation. My flax seed oil contains omega 3-6-9 this is what is says: help me understand why you think omeaga is better than flax, seems like flax offers more to me.
Flax Seed Oil with Lignans [Circulatory, Immune]. Several scientific studies show that consumption of omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) can benefit the heart. Flax Seed Oil is a rich source of these EFAs. It also contains lignans—substances known to stimulate immune activity—and linoleic acid, another essential fatty acid. These two fatty acids are termed “essential” because the body cannot manufacture them. EFAs are precursors to prostaglandins.
Until recently, experts believed the best sources of omega-3 were fish oils. While fish oils are a good source, flax seed oil contains twice as much omega-3 essential fatty acids as fish oil products, without the fishy aftertaste. Each softgel capsule contains omega-3, omega-6 and omega-9 essential fatty acids plus lignans.
How much flax seed oil do you take? I found some organic flax seed oil capsules 1000mg. but I'll have a hard time getting my son to swallow pills. He's almost 3 and is exhibiting strong signs of ADHD. I'd like to take care of it before school. Even if it's something else, it could only help. I'll take the capsules myself. What does the oil taste like? Think I'll have trouble administering it to a finicky 3 year old?
Coffee and cafferine makes my ADHD/ODD son worse. My chiropracter swears by omega 3's. I tried it and burped up a fishy taste. My son was on it for a while and then i took him off, it worked while he was on it.
You may want to look into Allergy Elimination! There is a technique called NAET! Sometimes it can be as simple as a food allergy. I recommend the book (The Body Ecology Diet) which also addresses ADHD, Autism, etc. Other things to try, a high quality whole food supplement, fish oils and plant oils, probiotics. Look into what he's eating that may be causing some issues! Also, you can have a stool sample done to check for parasites and fungal issues have been known to cause similar problems. Just throwing some things out there for ya to try maybe!