Chiropractic: Physicians Plus

80 Sumner Avenue · Springfield, MA 01108 · Phone: (413) 732-4800 · Fax: (413) 739-4239

CONDITIONS AND CONCERNS

ADHD

The Hyperactive Child and Chiropractic

Much controversy surrounds using mediations to control hyperactive children. Prescriptions for antidepressant medications for children and teenagers rose substantially during the 1990s, US researchers have found. In 1994, 13 to 19 out of every 1,000 children were prescribed an antidepressant. "The expanded utilization of antidepressants for the management of behavioral and emotional disorders of youth in the 1990s was prominent," they advise that more research is needed to strengthen the evidence that the medications are appropriate for children and teens.¹ Drugs designed to control these children are dangerous, unpredictable and are not getting to the cause of the child’s problem. One question that should be asked is this. Why are so many more children today being diagnoses with ADHD over just a decade or two ago? Are their really that many more problem children today over a few years ago?

Many contemporary researchers and authors are suggesting that the rise in diagnosis of ADHD is due to several factors. These factors include dietary factors, long term adverse results of medications and immunizations, and neurological factors from interference to the nervous system. All of these suggestions negate the use of chemicals to correct the fundamental malfunction. In other words, many experts are suggesting other means of dealing with the problem rather than drugging the child.

Diet is an important component in children who have been diagnosed with ADHD. Sugar seems to be identified by many as a main contributing factor. Many breakfast cereals contain high concentrations of sugar, as well as other preservatives.²

Research suggests that chiropractic manipulation has the potential to become an important nondrug intervention for children with hyperactivity.³ Further investigation in this area is certainly warranted. Chiropractors have long maintained that neurology plays a strong part in hyperactive children. The medical approach often consists of drugs to affect the function of the nervous system. The chiropractic approach is removal of interference from the nervous system to allow proper function. Chiropractors recognize this interference comes from factors such as proper nutrition, diet and subluxations. It is the subluxation aspect of interference to the nervous system that chiropractic is most concerned with in a hyperactive child. Chiropractors work to remove subluxations, thereby eliminating interference to the nervous system and allowing the hyperactive child to neurologically function normally. With this approach, as well as attention to diet and other toxins, chiropractic has offered many families and alternative to potent and dangerous drugs for the hyperactive child.

Additional reading material is here.

1. Pediatrics 2002;109:721-727.
2. Chiropractic Health and Research
3. Giesen JM, Center DB, Leach RA. JMPT 1989; 12:353-363. PMID: 2607226 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]