Whilst it is a highly-complex mental health condition – ADHD is essentially a neurological condition caused by a range of genetic factors, and is categorised within the medical community as either being inattentive or impulsive-hyperactive. However, whilst each type has different traits, symptoms common to both forms include: restlessness, the inability to focus, defiance, aggression, and boredom. It generally starts to affect children before the age of seven and no known medical cure presently exists.
When a person experiences ADHD, the function of several areas of the brain become impaired, such as the frontal lobes – which are responsible for cognitive functions such as concentrating, learning, memorising and organising. If the functions of the limbic system are compromised, symptoms can include: violent mood-swings, verbal-outbursts, impulsive-tactility and extreme-anxiety. Finally, if the inhibitory cortex mechanisms are disrupted, behaviours can include decreased temper-control, the inability to make decisions, the failure to process information and hyperactivity.
As no medical cure for the condition has been developed, the majority of treatment for ADHD is structured around various forms of therapy. These include techniques such as “stop and think”, therapy and “biofeedback”, which have been proven to have a positive impact on some patients.
However, more recently, some health practitioners have started to use nutritional-supplementation as a means of controlling and managing symptoms. This is achieved by providing the patient with portions of flaxseed, primrose, borage, fish oils and encouraging them to follow a diet that is high in proteins and low in carbohydrates. It is thought that that these foodstuffs and herbal-supplements can help to optimise and regulate brain-function, and dietary-experimentation has become an increasingly popular treatment for ADHD sufferers.