A Holistic Approach for ADHD: The Role of a Naturopath
Do You Often…
Feel fidgety when you have to sit for long periods?
Frequently forgetting scheduled appointments?
Are disorganised when it comes to work deadlines?
Avoid or delay tasks that require a lot of thought?
Feel overly active or compelled to do things?
Find it hard to follow through with tasks once it has kicked off, like reading this post?
If you answered ‘yes’ to most of these, then according to the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale Symptom Checklist which was developed by the World Health Organisation and the Workgroup on Adult ADHD, you may have symptoms that are highly consistent with ADHD in adults and further investigation with a professional is recommended.
But what exactly is ADHD?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder commonly characterised as inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, or a combination of the two.
In short, there are fundamental differences in how an individual is able to regulate their own thoughts, behaviours, attention, and emotions. An example is reduced levels of dopamine, a chemical messenger in the brain associated with the reward and motivation response, which causes craving for sources of dopamine such as sugar and carbohydrates.
The role of a naturopath
Whether you are on a waitlist to see a psychologist (i.e., behavioural therapy) or psychiatrist (i.e., medicated treatment), or prefer not to take medication, a naturopath can work with you to:
Improve concentration and memory
Decrease brain fog
Support sleep quality and regulate your circadian rhythm
Increase energy levels
Manage the side effects of medication (e.g., constipation, decreased appetite)
Manage substance abuse (e.g., alcohol, smoking, recreational drugs)
Manage symptoms from co-occurring conditions (e.g., anxiety, restless legs)
We understand that noticeable results and easy-to-follow treatment is especially important given the attention span of ADHDers, so here is what you can expect:
Functional testing
This looks at how well your body is functioning and your bio-individual data. Rather than having a stab in the dark as to what is driving your symptoms, we order specific tests to determine what we need to address, these may include:
Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis testing - we take the 3cm of hair closest to your scalp and assess the nutritional and heavy metal composition of your hair. High levels of lead, cadmium, and arsenic are commonly found in individuals with ADHD, leading to neuroinflammation and issues such as irritability, migraines, and brain fog. Clearance of these heavy metals is essential by supporting the detoxification pathways of your body. Nutrients such as iron, B12, and magnesium tend to be lower in ADHDers and imbalances need to be identified before choosing which supplements to prescribe.
Gut microbiome mapping - we take a sample of your stool and assess if there are issues with absorption and utilisation of nutrients due to impaired intestinal function, intestinal inflammation, or low levels of beneficial bacteria resulting in increased sensitivity and symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, and excess gas.
Food sensitivity testing - we take a sample of your blood to determine your reaction to Immunoglobulin G antibodies in up to 90+ foods and for foods that you are highly sensitive to, we eliminate them for a duration of 3 months or so then look to slowly reintroduce once your gut health and immune system has improved.
Blood test analysis
This is a great starting point especially if you are covered by Medicare in which case a referral letter can be written for you, otherwise tests can also be requested privately at an additional cost. To rule out concerns or underlying drivers, we may order tests such as:
HbA1c and fasting insulin to determine your blood sugar levels, CRP and ESR to determine inflammation, ferritin to determine the presence of an infection or inflammation, or vitamin D and folate - two nutrients that are commonly deficient in ADHDers.
Dietary changes
Providing the essential building blocks for energy production and brain function stems from healing your gut. During the first couple of weeks together, we look to encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria, reducing inflammation, and repairing tight junctions of the intestinal wall in order to maximise absorption and utilisation of nutrients from your food.
Lifestyle changes
If you are having issues falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking refreshed, it is important that we establish good sleep hygiene and determine why sleep is an issue - is it an imbalance of nutrients? a busy mind? or restless legs that wake you up during the night?
We also look at how we can support the vagus nerve which helps to reduce inflammation and increases the release of neurotransmitters so you are feeling and functioning better.
Herbal medicines
There is a growing body of research about the benefits of certain herbal medicines for ADHD and its associated symptoms. For example, withania has been found to protect against inflammation of the brain, and saffron has been found to prevent the impairment of memory.
Foremost, we consider your current medication regime to ensure there are no interactions, and from there put together a custom liquid or tablet combination, if more palatable, that delivers a therapeutic dose and desirable effect.
Nutritional supplementation
When it comes to nutritional imbalances that are prevalent with ADHDers, supplementation can be helpful to ensure we are getting the right amount to bring it back to balance. We consider the form that is most easily absorbed and targeted based on your timeline or priorities to restore optimal function of your nervous system, gut, immune system, and hormones.
Not sure where to start?
If you are feeling overwhelmed or frustrated, book in with one of our naturopaths today, and we will help you navigate ADHD so you can live a normal and enjoyable life with your loved ones.