Another recent email on a popular topic

Good Morning!  I am the parent of a 7 yr old who has a history of emotional problems.  Now the we have entered first grade, we are seeing problems with cooperation, being defiant and just not wanting to be at school.  After working in combination with the counselor, teacher and principle for the majority of this year, we are now being seen by a psychologist and looking at ADHD.  We don't want to do medication if it isn't absolutely necessary and I don't believe yet that it is.  I have already started giving vitamin supplements like omega 3, 6,& 9 along with a complete vegetable vitamin.  That combined with even more structure at home as well as school, I think we are on to something.  I have noticed a difference with attitude being much better.  Academically we are seeing steady improvement this year even though some subjects are more difficult and not well liked.  So overall, we want an alternative to medication!  I feel that med. should be a last resort.  What can we do from here?  Any info you can give me is greatly appreciated!!!  Thanks

R E P L Y

Holistic Educational therapy is a multi approach support programme – looking at behaviours, emotions, diet, core issues, negative patterns and relaxing sensory experience as well as supporting the cellular biology. All of these approaches are safe and simple to work with.

With regard to just focusing on diet, I do believe it is not the whole picture with ADHD symptoms etc, but certainly a vital consideration, but the programme of dietary support that we have researched within HET includes: Eliminating certain additives, artificial sweeteners etc from diet see Feingold diet : www.feingold.org …. Also eliminating milk based products has some validation in treating symptoms

The programme of supplementation followed is A high quality vitamin and  mineral supplement , non GMO vegetable sourced protein drinks, anti oxidants and flax seed oil as a source of essential fatty acids.. It is important to source a high quality product because they do vary – it will need to be organic, food sourced -  not synthetically made and not heated to a level that de natures the food. Our research programme was backed  initially by Natures sunshine products and they offer a money back guarantee. If you wish I can give you details of this company who offer a discount to families on this programme.

I enclose a link for details on the importance of fatty acids:

http://www.apraxia-kids.org/atf/cf/%7B145BA46F-29A0-4D12-8214-8327DCBAF0A4%7D/richardson.pdf

Flax seed is a better source than fish oils!

I would suggest that if you haven’t already done so you subscribe to our STEPPING STONE PROGRAMME - there is a whole programme on monitoring diet there, also we run many articles around the dietary topic as well as other self help approaches to managing ADHD and other challenging behaviours.

if you are interested in subscribing to these, they assist in children and families working together through the HET approach and monitoring the results on  specific aspects of the programme, including dietary progress. 

The HET programme also contains strategies for defining consistent boundaries and monitoring success on the dietary stepping stone. This goes alongsde our physical fitness and well being programme with Allan.