Ear acupuncture and nutrition for ADHD

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Posted on 11/06/2019 in Current Affairs

About four to six percent of children in the Netherlands have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Does your child have trouble planning, organizing, and listening? Difficulty separating main points from details? And does he find it hard to sit still, relax, and prefer to stay busy all the time? This can be very tiring and challenging, even for your child. With ADHD, your child also has qualities that will be beneficial later on. They have an above-average sense of justice and dare to be honest. They also feel a great sense of freedom.

Effect of Nutrition on ADHD
Research published in 2011 has shown that ADHD symptoms can significantly decrease in children following the RED diet (Restricted Elimination Diet): 60% of the children no longer met the criteria for ADHD after following this diet. The RED diet is a short-term fewfoods diet where a limited number of 'safe' foods are consumed. After the trial period, it becomes clear whether and, if so, which foods should be permanently eliminated from the diet. On average, this amounts to about five foods. Elimination of sugar and certain food additives (including glutamate) appears to have a positive effect in many cases.

But how does the RED diet work?
To find out, Wageningen University is now conducting research on 100 boys with ADHD. In this study, for the first time, the effect of the fewfoods diet on brain functions is being investigated using MRI scans. It will also determine the effect on microorganisms in the gut and on various factors that can be measured in blood, saliva, urine, and stool. The aim is to find biomarkers that can predict how a child with ADHD responds to certain foods. This way, they hope to find a simple way to determine which children are affected by diet.

Nutrition to Smooth Out Extremes
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it is common practice to provide different nutrition to children with hyperactive behavior or concentration disorders. This helps to moderate extreme behavior. In TCM, for ADHD, you choose nutrition that brings calmness to your body and mind.

Does your child have hyperactive behavior or poor concentration?
Give him or her the following foods. They have a calming effect and improve concentration.

Grains and Starch: buckwheat, brown rice, wheat bran, oat bran
Vegetables: alfalfa, celery, soybeans, eggplant, coconut, cucumber, Chinese cabbage, zucchini, olive, radish, chicory, carrots, cauliflower, white cabbage,
beets, peas
Fruit: banana, apple, tangerine, fig, pineapple, plum
Herbs: fenugreek, soy sauce
Snacks: rice cake with alfalfa or with cress, olives

What your child should avoid is sugar-rich, highly processed, fried, or fatty food or caffeinated products, such as energy drinks.

Ear Acupuncture
It is still in its infancy, but the NADA protocol* is being used in more and more places for children with ADHD, autism, and adolescents with behavioral problems. The treatment involves needling five specific acupuncture points in one of the ears. It reduces tantrums and nervousness and improves cognitive functions by enhancing communication between the two brain hemispheres.

Dr. Michael Smith conducted research on children with ADHD in 2000. Since then, children with ADHD are often treated with NADA, among other methods, and with good results. On the website of NADA South Africa, you can see that a child has much more peace to draw a picture after the therapy.

* NADA: National Acupuncture Detoxification Association protocol (USA), also used in addiction issues

Want to know more?
Check out the 'find an acupuncturist' section at the top of the page for a well-trained NVA acupuncturist.