ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD) MANAGEMENT IN AYURVEDA

DESCRIPTION
ADHD is most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood.
Usually diagnosed in childhood and lasts into adulthood.
Child suffering from ADHD disease may have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors or active.

ADHD SYMPTOMS
Symptoms in children
Symptoms are grouped into three types:
Inattentive.
A child with ADHD:
Is easily distracted
Doesn't follow directions or finish tasks
Doesn't seem to be listening
Doesn't pay attention and makes careless mistakes
Forgets about daily activities
Problems with organizing daily tasks
Doesn't like things that require sitting
Often loses things
Tends to daydream
Hyperactive-impulsive.
A child with ADHD:
Often squirms, fidgets, or bounces when sitting
Doesn't stay seated
Has trouble playing quietly
Always running or climbing on things.
Talks excessively
Has trouble waiting for their turn
Blurts out answers
Interrupts others
Combined.
This involves signs of both other types.
SYMPTOMS IN ADULTS
With age the symptoms of ADHD may change. They include:
Often being late or forgetting things
Anxiety
Low self-esteem
Problems at work
Trouble controlling anger
Impulsiveness
Substance misuse or addiction
Trouble staying organized
Procrastination
Easily frustrated
Often bored
Trouble concentrating when reading
Mood swings
Depression
Relationship problems

ADHD CAUSES
Several things may lead to ADHA may include:
Genes - ADHD tends to run in families.
Chemicals - chemicals present in the brain may be out of balance in people with ADHD.
Changes occur in brain - brain area that control attention are less active in children with ADHD.
Infections, Poor nutrition, drinking, smoking, and abuse substance during pregnancy can affect a baby brain development.
Lead - lead may affect a child brain development.
Brain injury or a brain disorder - Damage frontal lobe can cause problems in controlling impulses and emotions.

UNDERSTANDING ADHD DISEASE UNDER THE AYURVEDA CONCEPT
ADHD is not mentioned in Ayurveda. Some irregular behavior has been recorded in Ayurveda that could possibly be linked with ADHD.
Dhee's vitiation (rational thinking)
Smriti's (memory)
Dhriti (the retaining/intellect force of the mind).
Two subdoses in the part of Smriti that is:
Sadhaka Pitta that monitors emotions and their effect on the heart functioning.
Prana Vata that controls mind, sensory perception, and brain.
Madhya herbs are used to enhance mental function and balance vitiated Vata dosha are the main lines of ADHD treatment.
Vata dosha is responsible for controls movement, expression, activity, the process of thought etc.
In ADHD the child mind is unable to have clear control under the influence of the aggravated Vata Dosha that's why he becoming hyperactive.
Manovaha strotas are mainly affected that block the normal functioning of these channels.

AYURVEDA TREATMENT OF ADHD
Vata dosha affects manovaha strotas.
Ayurvedic herbal treatment or Panchakarma corrects the imbalance of the dosha, improves and normalizes brain problems with memory, intelligence, focus, learning capacity, and speech production.
Psychotherapy, speech therapy, behavioral therapy, etc. well in this disorder.
Ayurvedic medicines and Panchakarma therapies improve the digestive system, intellect, and mental of child.

THE PRINCIPLE INVOLVED IN TREATING ADHD
Deepana and Pachana--
Deepana and pachana maintain digestive fire and digests ama.
Treat appetite,
eliminating the ama by removes canal obstructions
deepana and pachana helps to feed all seven tissues.

Strotoshodhan (cleansing the channels) -
The natural flow of doshas is obstructed that cause loss of attention, learning and memory impairment.
Ayurvedic herbs helping to remove obstruction in channels particularly manovahastrotas because of its penetrating and digestive properties helps to clears the canals by digesting the ama and helps the brain to function normally.

NATURAL TREATMENT FOR ADHD IN CHILDREN
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha improve the nervous system function.
It improve brain function, comprehension and cognitive function.
Reduce tension, anxiety, sleeplessness, boost physical ability, forgetfulness and act as herbal rejuvenation.

Brahmi
It is a great memory enhancing Ayurvedic herb.
It improve cognitive abilities and memory.

Guduchi
Helps to improves digestion
relieves ama,
enhances immunity,
improves cognitive and memory performance,
Relieves anxiety and stress.

Shankapushpi
Increases intelligence and memory.
Shankapushpi help in mental illness, anxiety, depression, relieves sleeplessness, improves metabolism, immunity, and physical stamina.

Ghee
Ghee is highly beneficial for memory improvement.
It can be included in the regular diet and improve digestion, memory, and intelligence.
It feeds and rejuvenates the body.

PANCHAKARMA TREATMENT FOR ADHD
Rejuvenates the brain and nervous system.
It balances the Vata with the Kapha dosha.
Helps to improve the digestion force.

Abyanga
Body oil massage alleviate Vata dosha, relaxes body muscles and soothes the mind.

Shirodhara
This technique involved the pouring of medicinal liquids over the head.
Used to treat heat-related illness.
It calms mind, increases concentration, relieves sleeplessness, depression, and anxiety.
Vata relieving oil and liquid more effective for ADHD patient.