Ayurvedic Remedies for ADHD

Almost 5 to 10% of children suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD/ADD. The tell tale symptoms of this disorder in children include hyperactivity, listless behavior, impulsiveness, inattentiveness, losing interest quickly etc. Almost all healthy children exhibit these symptoms occasionally. In fact children are very active and noisy up to about four or five years. It is only when the symptoms become a constant feature that ADHD is suspected. Usually the symptoms can be observed before the children are seven years old. This condition affects boys more than girls.

Though hyperactivity is a very obvious symptom, you can find not overly active children with ADHD. They are found to be inattentive and appear spacey. While these children enjoy doing things they love, they quickly lose interest on repetitive and boring tasks. They will find it difficult to sit or stand still in a place even for a short period of time. They are observed to be listless, hopping from one task to another without completing any of them.

Children with ADHD/ADD will be inattentive and hence forgetful. They have a hard time completing their daily routines like homework and similar exercises. Due to the listlessness, they will keep on shaking their legs or other body parts constantly. It is difficult to differentiate the symptoms of ADHD from that of a normal kid’s activities. Similarly it is difficult to gauge the intensity of the condition by external observations.

The activities of a child with ADHD resemble the nature of ‘vayu’ or air. Some Ayurveda experts find that sashtika tailam and pacharavindham ghee are very effective in lessening this listlessness. Sashtika tailam is applied on forehead before bathing. Pancharvindham ghee made from lotus flowers when taken internally helps in treating in ADHD. An Ayurveda expert can help with this treatment modality.

Children should be trained to sit still. This may be difficult to start with, but with practice the duration can be increased from a minute to five minutes. They can be taught to repeat mantras or songs during this period. These are some of the Ayurvedic treatment options for treating ADHD.