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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric disorder of children, afflicting about 35% in the U.S. It is often believed to be a physiological brain disorder with a genetic component. Children with ADHD are impulsive,overactive, inattentive, poor learners, and are frequently disruptive, aggressive and uncontrollable.
ADHD is treated medically with stimulant drugs such as Ritalin, oral antihypertensives and antidepressants. While these medications can at times be effective if carefully monitored, side effects are possible, and most of these drugs should not be (though sometimes are) given to children under age six because of risk of toxicity or lack of dosage information due to inadequate testing for adverse drug reaactions in this population. Twenty percent of ADHD children do not respond to the first stimulant drug tried, or have a negative reaction to it.
Clinicians using homeopathy for ADHD have reported good results, but objective evidence has been lacking. Now, a double blind, placebo-controlled study of 43 children with ADHD shows that homeopathy can be effective in treating the disorder.
In a study published in the British Homeopathic Journal, Oct 1997, children afflicted with ADHD were given either a homeopathic treatment or a placebo for ten days, then parents or caregivers rated the children on the amount of ADHD behavior they displayed. Those receiving homeopathic medicines showed significantly less ADHD behavior than those given placebos.
When evaluated in a follow-up interview two months after the study's end, 57% of the children showing improvement with homeopathy had continued to improve, even though they had discontinued the homeopathic medicines; twenty-four percent relapsed by the time of the follow-up; and the remaining 19% continued to experience positive results, but only while taking the homeopathic medicines.
The homeopathic medicines found most helpful for ADHD were Stramonium, Cina and Hyoscyamus niger. Stramonium was specifically indicated when children had many fears, or suffered symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder; children who were physically aggressive benefited most from Cina; and, children with manic or sexualized symptoms responded most favorably to Hyoscyamus niger.
Below is an alphabetic listing of homeopathic remedies and a brief summary of how each might be applied to children with ADHD or ADHD symptomolgy.
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Alphabetical Index of Homeopathic Remedies :
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [A]
- Aconite:
- Indicated especially for those who often have strange and irrational fears, fears and sweating at night, a tendency to fevers, croup, and thirst.
- Anacardium:
- Indicated especially for those who feel put down, isolated, and separated from the world; for those who feel pathological inferiority; those who feel need to prove themselves; test-taking anxiety in which the person goes blank.
- Argentum nitricum:
- Indicated when there is antagonism within the self, the mind is of two wills, the person imagines devils speaking in one ear and angels in the other, like Jekyl and Hyde. It is indicated for people who can be cruel and malicious, often after a history of being abused or belittled; for those who swear; and for those who act as if they lack a conscience.
- Aranea ixabola:
- Indicated for excessive teasing, especially teasing and manipulating by acting cute; for those who act as a mischievous leader, inducing others to disobey; and for those who are fascinated with spiders.
- Arnica:
- Used for children in shock, or who have never been well since a shock or trauma, even trauma from a difficult birth. It is often confused with Sulphur.
- Aurum metallicum:
- Used for children who act like little adults; who want affection, but don't know how to express emotional needs; for those who can be cold to their family, and have a hard time making friends. It is indicated for those who are perfectionist, and who can be bitter and negative; for those who try hard and don't want to fail; for those who tend to sinus problems, nasal congestion, and moaning in sleep; and for those who feel better from music.
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Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [B]
- Baryta carbonica:
- Used for those who can be sweet, timid and fearful or be the class clown, acting goofy and acting out. It is indicated for apparent arrested or delayed mental, physical or social development; for children who are shy, self-conscious, with self-limitation, feeling defective. It is used for those with the fear of looking bad, being laughed at, and criticized; for those who feel incompetent and incapable. It is indicated for those who feel that they are being laughed at, mocked, or criticized; and for those who are timid due to fears, especially the fear of making a mistake. It is used for those who feel that they are being watched; for those who dare not look up; for those who act childish and immature; for those who have difficulty with schoolwork. It is used for those who are backward or behind; for those who are often the teacher's pet; and for those who tend to tics and glandular swellings.
- Baryta iodatum:
- Used for those who are irritable, hurried, restless, and nervous; who have difficulty concentrating; and who have a canine-like appetite.
- Belladonna:
- Used for those who are forgetful, slow, and have a poor learning ability; sensitive to noise and light; have night terrors and sfear of ghosts; look wild when angry; have large heads, with bright red cheeks. The belladonna person often looks well, even when sick; tends to otitis media; complains of hot and throbbing discomfort; and often craves cold drinks, especially made from lemons and oranges.
- Bismuthum subnitricum:
- Indicated for children who cling desperately to their mothers and are terrified when alone and who tend to be thirsty for cold water, but can have acute stomach pain in which even water is vomited as soon as it reaches the stomach.
- Bufo:
- Used for those who have difficulty relating well to others; have narrow focus; don't understand danger; have seizures or autism; have a slow, coarse appearance; can hug or bite you; masturbate or show a premature interest in sex. These children rely on basic instincts and need instant gratification; are upset when not understood; cannot tolerate music or bright objects; often present with eczema, nail biting, and may have protruded tongue or a gaunt face with stupid expression.
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Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [C]
- Calcarea bromatum:
- Indicated for restlessness in flaccid, chubby children.
- Calcarea carb:
- Indicated for those who feel unsafe; are afraid of robbers, dogs, heights, and airplanes -- any situation with potential risk to physical safety; are cautious and protective; fear that others will perceive their confusion and think them insane; feel as if everything is horrible; are stubborn and methodical; are obstinate and strong-willed; can be slow, hesitating; and of a chunky build; and sweat on the head as infants.
- Calcarea phosphorica:
- Indicated for those who feel frustrated and dissatisfied; act fussy and peevish; for young children who are restless, shy, and fearful, but who love to take chances and play tricks, even act like daredevils. These children feel as if they are away from home and must get home; are athletic; love travel, change, and new experiences; complain of growing pains, especially in the bones; desire smoked meats; tend to have abdominal gas, colic, slightly swollen abdomen; and often have tonsillar hypertrophy.
- Cannabis indica:
- Used for those who feel isolated, disconnected, anguished, terrified, and even sometimes ecstatic. This remedy is indicated for those who feel spacy, confused, and inattentive; have time and space disorientation; fear going insane; feel like everything is a dream with even familiar things which seem strange or unreal (derealization); act as if in a dream or off in space; can't pay attention for long; but are good at science projects until theorizing causes them to lose touch with reality; are absent-minded; can be obsessive-compulsive; appear as if on drugs with a "stoned" look in eyes; and have parents who used marijuana excessively. There are three common behavioral variations of this remedy: (1) presenting as laughing, giggling, and clowning around; (2) presenting as ethereal and airy; and (3) presenting as brassy, loquacious, and liking to dress up in olden-day clothes.
- Capsicum:
- Indicated for those who are intensely homesick, discontented, brooding, irritable, absent-minded, disobedient, and angry; who appear extremely obstinate; who are contrary, even against something they want if suggested by someone else. Capsicum is prescribed for those who fear being censured and are easily offended; who are restless, clumsy, and run into things; who have difficulty sleeping at night, but yawn during the day. It is used for those who can wake in a fright, screaming, or full of fear and who are worse form any draft, even warm air. Capsicum children are often seen in daycare with frequent otitis and bright red ears. They can have a pale face and puffiness under the eyes, as well as rashes.
- Carcinosinum:
- Indicated for those who are fearful, timid, unhappy, worried, and obstinate, yet sensitive to reprimand and music; appear dull of mind, disinterested, and averse to conversation. They can be very sympathetic to others; can be very tidy or very messy; love to travel and will over-extend themselves; frequently suffer from insomnia; and strongly crave or dislike salt, milk, eggs, fat meat, and/or fruit. The onset of symptoms often occurs after a severe reaction to a vaccination. Frequently there is a family history of cancer. These individuals may have brownish cafe-au-lait complexion with many pigmented moles, bizarre tics, or blinking eyes.
- Chamomilla:
- Indicated for those with bad temper, who are very irritable and impatient; who are complaining, frustrated, restless, and thirsty; who are contrary, not knowing what they want; who demand one thing and then want something else. The chamomilla child is fidgety and quiets down once he has attracted attention. He wants to be carried everywhere, but will whine and scream. He will settle down if carried, jiggled, or rocked. These children show aversion to being touched with hypersensitivity to pain, feel pain is unbearable, feel that everything is intolerable, and can become so hyperactive that he will get exhausted and begin to cry. The child shows dullness of the senses with a diminished power of comprehension, as if they were hard of hearing. All symptoms are worse at night
- Cina:
- Indicated for children who are cross, contrary, and disobedient with very difficult behavior. These children do not want to be touched or looked at and turn away when approached. Nothing satisfies them for long. They are restless, fidgety and fretful, especially during sleep. They grind their teeth at night and wet the bed, and may have parasites, such as pinworms. Their sleep is restless, accompanied by jerking, frequent swallowing and coughing. They often sleep on their abdomen or the hands and knees (Medorrhinum). They may have an irritated nose causing a constant desire to rub, pick, or bore into it until it bleeds. Their ears can be itchy. They often show twitching of the face muscles and eyelids, and are even inclined to seizures. Their appetite can be ravenous with strong thirst, and craving for sweets. These children often have large bellies.
- Colocynthis:
- Indicated for those who are easily offended, especially by feeling unappreciated, by insults, or humiliations. They are moody and overly sensitive, and want to be alone. They tend to have abdominal cramps and sciatic pain, and may bend forward for relief.
- Cornus circinatus:
- Indicated for those who don't want to think, read or work. They have an inability to concentrate on thoughts, don't understand what they are reading, and tend to aphthous stomatitis, flatulence, and weakness upon waking.
- Crotalus horridus:
- Indicated for those who are intense, animated, hurried, restless, and talkative. They have many fears, especially that someone might be following them or that they hear footsteps behind them. They fear being alone, spirits, ghosts, snakes; and can strike out in fits of rage. They resent and blame other children for getting them into trouble, report dreams of hairy spiders, and tend to have hives and epistaxis.
- Cuprum metallicum:
- Inidcated for those with anxiety at night, fears of kidnappers or the house catching fire, and are known for sticking their tongues out.
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Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [F]
- Ferrum metallicum:
- Indicated for those who are strong-willed and persistent, fight for their beliefs, have a sluggish mind with difficulty collecting their thoughts, tend to anemia and headaches, are often obese, with an aversion to eggs, and crave or detest tomatoes.
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Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [G]
- Gallic acidum
- Indicated for those who will hurt their loved ones.
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Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [H]
- Helleborus:
- Indicated for those who feel stupid, that they cannot cope with life's challenges, and that their mind is sluggish. They appear dull and unresponsive; often have a history of encephalitis or head injury, and have difficulty memorizing or articulating thoughts. They have a tendency to despair and a strong aversion to making any effort, yet are easily angered. They have been observed to bite their spoon when eating without being aware of it, have a history of fever and/or head injury. One often needs to follow quickly with Hyoscyamus. This remedy picture is often easily confused with Sulphur and Med.
- Hyoscyamus:
- Indicated for difficult children with poor impulse control, even though engaged in premeditated actions; talk excessively with episodes of mania and rage that might include hitting and screaming, also inclined to depression after manic phase; can be manipulative, lying, and violent; seem unable to think; unresponsive to questions or cannot bear anyone talking to them; intense and violent excitability with fear, delirium, and the delusion of being poisoned; feelings of abandonment, jealousy, suspicion; fears of dark, dogs, water; delirious; delusions of animals, of being pursued by enemies, as if s/he might be injured by surroundings; sees ghosts, specters; very animated, seeming silly and foolish; smiling and laughing at everything, often inappropriately; talks nonsense; acts out ridiculous gestures like a dancing clown or monkeys, trying to be center of attention, often with sexual overtones; giddy; love to run around naked, can be a totally shameless exhibitionist with bizarre behaviors for shock value, including cursing; tries to embarrass parents; jealous of their siblings, often may injure them; cannot tolerate being covered up.
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Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [K]
- Kali bromatum:
- Indicated for restless children, who always have to be doing something, especially with the hands, including activities like throwing.
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Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [L]
- Lachesis:
- Indicated for those who are loquacious, agitated and hyperactive, and restless and moody with strong emotions. They may be very jealous of siblings, or even of the same sex parent, and tend to be vengeful, sarcastic and nasty. They can be especially hurtful (and intuitively accurate) with insults; and can have a self-destructive personality, with a marked lack of confidence and a tendency to severe depression, withdrawal, and hopelessness. They hate any kind of physical or behavioral restriction, like tight clothing or being "grounded; and cannot bear authority and run away from home. They tend to self-criticism and irritability; often reproach themselves severely; and may also show aggression which surfaces easily and makes them difficult to live and work with. They are known for suspicion with a marked preoccupation about others; and frequently feel that others are often criticizing them and putting them on the defensive. All symptoms are worse upon waking, when they typically feel unrefreshed and even more agitated, often complaining of a suffocative feeling.
- Lycopodium:
- Indicated for those who are insecure, who act like bullies, and are cocky and boastful, often with overcompensation. They may show a marked lack of confidence and many fears, with underlying cowardice; can be dictatorial and bossy at home where they feel safe; and may have delusions of being a great person. They fear looking bad, need to cover up; are afraid of failure; are afraid to try anything new or to try again having failed once. They fear being injured; may see phantoms and other images; displays both fear and bravado; are usually intelligent and may look older than his years, but often suffers from dyslexia, confusing words or letters. They may show performance anxiety, prefer younger friends, want to please authority figures, tend to have abdominal gas; get more tired, restless, and irritable between 4 and 8 p.m. These children don't want to sit down at the dinner table, but prefer to run around.
- Lyssinum:
- Indicated for those who bite, growl, snarl, scratch, and act rabid. They are easily enraged; angry, but repent quickly, have remorse. They feel tormented and abandoned, as if he has suffered some wrong. These children feel as if they have been injured or abused. They often have a history of abuse, and may be children of violent parents. They strike out at presumed tormentors; and are self-destructive, with an impulse to cut his or her self. They can be defensive, as if being attacked or insulted. They may have a history of dog bite; animal-like behavior; aggravated by sound of running water; may have fears of water or reflected water, dogs, small rooms. They may crave chocolate and salt and have enuresis.
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Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [M]
- Mancinella:
- Indicated for those who fear of evil, devils, and being possessed; may develop fears or obsession with evil after seeing a scary movie; and may have delusions that his or her soul has been surgically removed. The child says someone is taking things away. They may have asthma or bronchitis.
- Medorrhinum:
- Indicated for those who are irritable, agitated, and in a hurry. They may have a racing mind and lust for experience, especially sensual. They may feel a need to hide her/himself, because s/he has a defect or is somehow flawed. They have anticipatory anxiety; delusions that someone is behind him or her or that someone is touching their head; fear that something dreadful has happened; a sense that everything is strange or unreal; a fear of going insane; a terrible memory, and may be forget. They may be mentally dull, unstable emotionally, have fits, can be reckless and impulsive; obsessive-compulsive, rigid; may be cruel or loving to animals; want to stay up late at night, feels better at night, yet can fear dark and monsters. They may have a history of diaper rash as a baby, and later skin rashes and asthma; nail biting; hot feet; and may sleep with their knees to the chest.
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Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [N]
- Natrum muriaticum:
- Indicated for children who act like "little adults," display extreme watchfulness; sit in their mother's laps during the interview; are often tidy, not wanting to lose control; and are sweet, except with their family. They may show silent grief or may have shrieking tantrums; may be confidante to one parent and nasty to other; may have concomitant anorexia; may display shyness with urination, especially in a public place; may crave salt, worsened by the sun; and may dislike slimy foods and fat.
- Natrum sulphuricum:
- A specific remedy for depression after head injury. It is often seen with grief after parents' divorce. Children who want this remedy have a strong sense of duty to family; can be suicidal; suffer existential anxiety and may have a nihilistic attitude toward life; have sadness relieved by music; often experiment with drugs; are born older; and tend to have asthma and warts.
- Nux moschata:
- Indicated for children who pass out with the slightest injury or no obvious provocation; are giddy, spacy, and mentally confused. These children can be the perfect child - cooperating with parents, sharing, doing chores, going to bed on time; and tend to sleepiness, constipation and dryness of eyes, mouth and tongue.
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Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [O]
- Opium:
- Indicated for children with difficulty concentrating; spacyness; painlessness of an obviously painful complaint; being out of touch; having complaints from fright or after head injury; having constipation; having sleep apnea; and the mother often having been given drugs during pregnancy or labor.
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Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [P]
- Phosphorus:
- Indicated for children with the fear of being unloved, isolated, and having lost all their friends; children who are psychic; and children who see ghosts, spirits, specters. They may have a sense of being on a distant island; are concerned that they have an incurable disease; are gregarious, bubbly, and good-natured; are sensitive, sympathetic, and kind; are sweet and compassionate; and can be spacy.
- Platina:
- Indicated for children who are insecure, volatile, flirtatious, arrogant and contemptuous (usually girls); are forsaken and unloved with a need to reconnect to people, but have the illusion that others are physically and mentally inferior; and underneath have feelings of failure, rejection, and a lack of confidence. These children want to look good; and can be very forward with even young girls putting out a sexual message and tend to be jealous of other women. These children may be emotionally stuck, tending to live in and dwell on the past. They can have strong feelings of anger, indignation and paranoia. They may have overwhelming and aggressive impulses that provoke the most severe depression and confused states, alternately indescribably happy and laughing at the saddest thing, then insufferably sad, hopeless and terrified by any serious thought. They need excitement or melodrama; can be very restless children who cannot remain in one spot and may experience marked anxiety with trembling, as well as oppressed breathing and violent palpitations.
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Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [S]
- Scorpion:
- Scorpion is used for children who are violent if provoked or just for the fun of it, for children whose parents fear being harmed by the child; for children who lack conscience and compassion for the suffering of others. These children are detached, like solitude, can attack if bothered; and are indifferent to pain or pleasure.
- Stramonium:
- Indicated for children who are violent or fearful; who are severely hyperactivity, easily terrified, and inclined to violent agitation and fits of rage; and whose speech is loud, fast, and possibly incoherent. These children show feelings of terror and abandonment; are afraid of the dark, dogs, evil, suffocation and abandonment. Their thirst is great, yet they dread water. They have fears of death; believe s/he is always alone, and are especially afraid to be alone at night, become overly vigilant to combat these fears and become violent if controlled. They have nightmares and night terrors that become increasingly worse between midnight and 2 a.m. They often awake screaming; see ghosts, specters, spirits; have a horror of glistening objects; have delusions of animals, of danger; are clinging. They are aggressive; bite, kick, strike; use threatening language; can have seizures or personality change after a head injury, frightful episode, or trauma (especially being chased by dogs). They can be useful in autism or Tourette's. These children can be sweet all day and have terrors at night.
- Sulphur:
- Used for children who are egotistical; try to control feeling with mind; hate being scared; feel as if they are being scorned; have delusions that s/he has been disgraced; are messy and tattered but think they look fine. These children can be lost in thought, absent-minded, spacy; forgetful, loses things; has visions; full of theories and dreams, loves science fiction; can be a loner with limited social skills; prefers computers, reading, mechanical things.
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Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [T]
- Tarentula hispania:
- Indicated for children who are frenzied, are worse with music; act wild and crazy; love to sing and dance; feel as if never enough time; feel as if s/he has been insulted; sense of a stranger in the room. They see faces on closing eyes; have episodes of raving delirium; are mischievous and sneaky; tease and hide; cut things; hurried, always restless.
- Tuberculinum:
- is indicated for those who revolt against restriction and need to feel free. They always desire and seek change, travel and new experiences; always feel dissatisfied; and feel as if there is never enough time. They are afraid of (and often torment) dogs, cats; have delusions that s/he can fly, that someone is following her/him, that he is surrounded by animals; feel everything is strange; are compulsive and uncontrollable; are destructive; throw tantrums; break things; are precocious; and are often malicious.
- Tuberculinum aviare:
- Indicated for those who show extreme restlessness with great weakness; diminished appetite of long duration; and a tendency to otitis.
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Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [V]
- Veratrum album:
- Album is indicated for those who are inconsolable after fancied misfortune; have a racing mind and agitated actions; and are driven to act on impulses. They may show religious mania; are overly religious; feels s/he is in communication with God; delusions that s/he is a great person or somehow distinguished. They have delusions of animals; are always busy but often fruitlessly so; have impulses to kiss or touch others; are hurried, restless, and fidgeting, poking others; and are precocious.
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Homeopathy for ADHD: Alphabetical List of Remedies: [Z]
- Zincum metallicum:
- Indicated for children who are fidgety and restless, and especially known for restless feet and legs. These children have an overactive nervous system; twitch, jerking, and even have convulsions; and are sensitive, irritable, and prone to rage. They often make mistakes in writing and speaking; feel like they have committed a crime; can have tendency to lick everything; and may look like little old people.
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List of Articles & Information on Homeopathic Treatments for ADHD:
National Center for Homeopathy Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients: Homeopathy, Nutrition and Herbs for ADHD Children What to Avoid While Under Homeopathic Treatment Demystifying Homeopathy: ADD/ADHD An Alternative To Ritalin: Homeopathy as a Highly Effective Treatment for ADD/ADHD ADHD, ADD and Homeopathy as a Safe, Effective and Natural Alternative to Stimulants and Other Medications Holistic Medicine Resource Center: Homeopathy Internet Resources
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What others in the field think of Homeopathic Treatments for ADHD:
Homeopathic Treatment of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Crossover Trial
Publication:European Journal of Pediatrics, Volume 164, Number 12, December, 2005
Authors:
Heiner Frei, Regula Everts, Klaus von Ammon, Franz Kaufmann, Daniel Walther, Shu-Fang Hsu-Schmit, Marco Collenberg, Katharina Fuhrer, Ralph Hassink, Maja Steinlin and André Thurneysen
Abstract:
An increasing number of parents turn to homeopathy for treatment of their hyperactive child. Two publications, a randomised, partially blinded trial and a clinical observation study, conclude that homeopathy has positive effects in patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The aim of this study was to obtain scientific evidence of the effectiveness of homeopathy in ADHD. A total of 83 children aged 6 - 16 years, with ADHD diagnosed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV criteria, were recruited. Prior to the randomised, double blind, placebo controlled crossover study, they were treated with individually prescribed homeopathic medications. 62 patients, who achieved an improvement of 50% in the Conners Global Index (CGI), participated in the trial. Thirteen patients did not fulfill this eligibility criterion (CGI). The responders were split into two groups and received either verum for 6 weeks followed by placebo for 6 weeks (arm A), or vice-versa (arm B). At the beginning of the trial and after each crossover period, parents reported the CGI and patients underwent neuropsychological testing. The CGI rating was evaluated again at the end of each crossover period and twice in long-term follow-up. At entry to the crossover trial, cognitive performance such as visual global perception , impulsivity and divided attention, had improved significantly under open label treatment ( P<0.0001). During the crossover trial, CGI parentratings were significantly lower under verum (average 1.67 points) than under placebo ( P =0.0479). Long-term CGI improvement reached 12 points (63%, P <0.0001).
Conclusion:
The trial suggests scientific evidence of the effectiveness of homeopathy in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, particularly in the areas of behavioural and cognitive functions.
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Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Psychiatry
Department of Family Medicine / University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine
Previously
Coordinator for Integrative Psychiatry and System Medicine
Program in Integrative Medicine / University of Arizona College of Medicine
Clinical Program Director, Continuum Center for Health and Healing,
Beth Israel Hospital / Albert Einstein School of Medicine
Medical Director
Center for Complementary Medicine / University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
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