From the webpage of Dr. Paul Suglia: http://www.collegeclub.com/~suglia/


ADD & ADHD: ALTERNATIVES TO RITALIN?


Did you know that the disorders commonly known as Attention Deficit 
Disorder and Attention Deficit with Hyperactivity Disorder are not new? 
ADD was previously referred to as MINIMAL BRAIN DYSFUNCTION IN CHILDREN. 
Did you also know that there are alternative treatments to these 
disorders -- alternative to placing a child on Ritalin, that is? Here I 
will focus on Ritalin, its dangers and misuse, alternative treatments, 
and some contemplations about the controversy surrounding the use of 
Ritalin.

According to the 1996 edition of the Physician's Desk Reference, the 
leading source of information on prescription drugs for physicians, the 
drug RITALIN, which is widely used to treat ADD and similar disorders, 
is an extremely dangerous drug. In fact, it is obviously OVERPRESCRIBED 
by physicians when, according to the PDR, there really is no definitive 
test to even diagnose one with having ADD! Diagnosis is solely based on 
the subjective observation of the child's behavior by the physician! 
Also, the PDR states that they are not quite sure how Ritalin induces 
its stimulating effect. It goes on to say that Ritalin SHOULD NOT BE 
USED for all children with this condition: "Stimulants are not intended 
for use in the child who exhibits symptoms secondary to ENVIRONMENTAL 
FACTORS and/or primary psychiatric disorders..."

The PDR describes the CONTRAINDICATIONS for the use of Ritalin. Oddly 
enough, it should not be used if the child has symptoms of marked 
anxiety, tension, and agitation! Also, it should NEVER ever be given to 
a child under the age of six years because its "safety" has not been 
determined.

What are the POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS from the use of Ritalin? The list is 
quite surprising: suppression of growth, seizures, hypertension, blurred 
vision, inhibition of other drugs' actions, drug abuse and dependency, 
further agitation, nervousness, insomnia, hair loss, skin rashes and 
disorders, anorexia, nausea, dizziness, heart palpitations, headaches, 
abnormal gait or movements, drowsiness, chest pain, abdominal pain, 
weight loss, and rarely the development of Tourette's Syndrome.

IF YOUR CHILD IS ON RITALIN, HAS YOUR PHYSICIAN TOLD YOU ANY OF THE 
THINGS YOU HAVE READ SO FAR?? Now here are some surprising facts and 
figures about ADD/ADHD and Ritalin:

1. The American Psychiatry Association reported in the 1994 Diagnostic 
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, "There are no laboratory 
tests that have been established as diagnostic in the clinical 
assessment of [ADD]."

2. A book was recently written by Peter R. Breggin, M.D., director of 
the Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology in Bethesda, 
Maryland, entitled "Toxic Psychiatry" in which he describes how the 
prescribing of such drugs as Ritalin and Prozac have gotten way out of 
hand and are being prescribed for conditions for which they clearly have 
no benefit. He and his wife Ginger Rose Breggin also co-authored two 
books entitled "The War On Children" and "Talking Back To Prozac" which 
both have tremendous insight into the pharmaceutical industry and the 
FDA. Dr. Breggin believes that what we call the child's attention 
deficit is actually our own lack of attention on the child's needs: 
"There is no medical, neurological, or psychiatric justification for the
 ADD diagnosis."

3. According to Fred A. Baughman Jr., a California pediatrician, ADD 
"was invented, in committee, at the American Psychiatry Association in 
1980."

4. According to the 1972 Consumer's Union Report on Licit and Illicit 
Drugs, Ritalin is considered a class II controlled substance, which is 
in the same category as Coca leaves, amphetamines, and speed.

5. Click here to see some astonishing and thought-provoking studies 
involving Ritalin .

If you don't want to risk harm to your loved one, there really are 
ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS to placing a child on Ritalin. All of these 
treatments involve natural therapeutics, such as herbal therapy, 
nutrient supplementation, and even regular chiropractic care. There have 
been TONS of articles and books written about alternative forms of 
therapy. I am finding out about them all the time. Here, I will share 
with you just a few facts that I have recently read about:


1. Dr. William Van Horne of Marietta, Georgia recently spoke on a local 
radio station in Atlanta about the tremendous results he has seen with 
ADD and ADHD patients who have received herbal therapy with vitamin and 
mineral supplementation.


2. A book was recently written entitled "Is This Your Child" by Dr. 
Doris Rapp, a board certified pediatric allergist. In it, Dr. Rapp links 
emotional disturbance disorders to the existence of food allergies which 
can be alleviated by diet modification.


3. The Feingold Association of the United States cites many studies that 
have been done linking many somatic illnesses, including learning and 
behavioral disorders, with environmental influences, mainly food 
additives and allergies.


4. Homeopathic treatments have been safely and effectively been used in 
the treatment of some symptoms frequently associated with Attention 
Deficit Disorder and hyperactivity. Information is available from the 
Homeopathic Educational Services at 2124 Kittredge St., Berkeley, CA 
94704.

5. Dr. Mary Ann Block wrote an article in the March 1998 issue of the 
American Journal of Natural Medicine in which she reports on a 
prospective eight-year study on the long-term effects of Ritalin which 
began in 1991. She points out that at thusfar 80% of the subjects 
continued to have the ADHD symptoms, while 60% had advanced into to 
Opposition Defiant Disorder (ODD) and Conductive Disorder (CD) 
diagnoses. She also reports that the fact that any young person who has 
taken Ritalin after the age of twelve years is permanently disqualified 
from joining the military. Dr. Block points out the necessity to 
investigate underlying causes of the ADHD symptoms FIRST, such as 
hypoglycemia, nutritional deficiencies, thyroid dysfunction, and 
allergies/sensitivities. In conclusion to this article, she reports that 
cranial manilpulations and modifying one's learning styles do have 
positive benefits in treating ADHD.

6. Dr. Tedd Koren of Philadelphia, PA wrote an article in the 
November/December 1991 issue of The Digest Of Chiropractic Economics 
describing a study done on the efficacy of the chiropractic adjustment 
in alleviating the symptoms of learning impaired children. The study was 
done by the Psychoeducational and Guidance Services of College Station, 
Texas in conjunction with the Texas State Chiropractic Association. The 
results of the study concluded that those children who received REGULAR 
chiropractic care showed a 20%-40% improvement of their condition as 
compared to those who were being treated with medication!

In conclusion, I will mention an article that appeared in the 
March/April 1997 issue of Today's Chiropractic. In this article, Dr. 
Eric H. Plasker contemplates, "What if Albert Einstein was on Ritalin?" 
Einstein, and other great minds as well, was expelled from several 
schools because of his horrible behavior and defiance. Would he and 
other great geniuses have ever obtained their infamy if they were ever 
placed on Ritalin? The article goes on to point out the percentages of 
Ritalin use in schools today (the state of Georgia having the highest 
usage) and the percentages that medical doctors are enjoying monetarily 
whenever they prescribe such a drug. Dr. Plasker points out that the 
prescribing of Ritalin is causing a high rate of drug abuse among its 
users, and he entertains a DRUG-FREE APPROACH to the treatment of ADD 
and ADHD disorders.