Would you willingly take potent amphetamines if you knew they would help you focus your attention? Would you give them to a child?

That’s exactly what the most common treatment has become for one of the most over-diagnosed disorders in history – “Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder” (ADHD).

The medical establishment generously prescribes Ritalin, Adderall, and Dexedrine – drugs more powerful than cocaine. The fact is the drugs psychiatrists are handing out like candy for ADHD are entirely unnecessary and dangerous to you . . . and your children. But you won’t hear about natural remedies that are just as effective as these dangerous and addictive drugs.

Today, I’ll offer some perspective on the “prevalence” of ADHD and give you treatment options that don’t involve expensive, powerfully psychoactive drugs.

Don’t Worry About This “Epidemic” Just Yet . . .

First, let’s take a step back for a second. Before World War II, we just didn’t diagnose ADHD at all. In 1985, about 500,000 people were diagnosed with ADHD. By 2000, that number had skyrocketed to 7 million. To put this in perspective: about a half million people develop this disease every year, on top of those diagnosed the previous year.

The government says that as many as 20 percent of American children suffer from the syndrome. And by some estimates, approximately 30-70 percent of children who show symptoms of ADHD will continue to suffer from it as adults.

For many mental health practitioners, ADHD is their “bread and butter.” Yet as I write this, there’s still no objective test for the diagnosis of ADHD. Kind of makes you wonder, doesn’t it? If we are in the midst of a new and sudden “epidemic” here, shouldn’t someone be seeking out the real cause?

Legal Profits on Legal Drug Abuse?

Ritalin, Adderall, and Dexedrine – these are at least as strong as methamphetamine and cocaine. And, if you compare brain scans of people on any of these drugs, you’ll see that they light up the same areas of the brain – in exactly the same way.

Incredibly, the pharmaceutical giants, the medical mainstream . . . even the US government have always known this. In fact, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) sets production quotas on these drugs—just like any other dangerous, addictive drug people might use and abuse.

And by the way, when it comes to ADHD drugs, people really do abuse them. The number of ER visits for these legal drugs is approaching the same number as visits for cocaine and heroin. Emergency rooms recorded 613,053 treatments involving cocaine and heroin in 2005, compared with 598,542 visits involving pharmaceutical abuse.

The popularity of this treatment is turning more and more young people in this country – millions and millions – into “users.” This has done nothing to put a brake on the prescription craze.

ADHD is a windfall for the pharmaceutical industry. Sales of methylphenidate (the chemical name for Ritalin) totaled $60 million in 2004 alone. And during the five-year period this graphic tracks, the average cost of an ADHD drug nearly doubled, from $39.03 in 1999 to $76.49 in 2003.

Let’s drop the drug-for-everything model of healthcare and take a look at some real causes for the behavioral symptoms behind the “ADHD epidemic” . . . and find some safer solutions.

In a word it’s diet.

Get the Right Kind of Fuel for Brainpower

The bad fats that make up a big part of the modern diet are sabotaging our body’s capacity to build and maintain our brains. There’s compelling evidence that many people have trouble focusing, paying attention, and thinking clearly . . . because of the kinds of fat they eat.

You’ve probably heard of “good” fats and “bad” fats. You have to get them in the right ratio. Many contemporary health problems are linked to a drastic reduction in the amount of omega-3s in the modern diet.

• · Before the onset of modern animal husbandry techniques, beef contained more omega-3s than wild-caught salmon.
• · Dietary sources of omega-3s have plummeted during the last 50 years.
• · The average American currently consumes twenty times as much omega-6 as omega-3 fatty acids – 20:1 instead a healthy 2:1.

A number of recent studies have drawn a clear link between omega-3s and brainpower.

Two studies published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids can actually prevent “cognitive decline,” a fancy term for losing your ability to understand and think clearly.

In the first, researchers examined diet and thinking ability in healthy men who were 79-89 years old. They reviewed the same group 5 years later. They found that men who ate fish regularly were mentally sharper than those who didn’t. The benefit was the result of omega 3s, a nutrient found in abundance in fish.

In the other study on 2,200 older folks, those with high omega-3 blood levels had a better “way with words” than those who didn’t. They could recall words, names, and phrases without difficulty. And they were better able to keep track of what they and others were saying.

So here’s how to take the first step to get back your native source of omega-3’s: Eat lean meats, preferably wild-caught fish or grass-fed, organic beef. Eggs and nuts are also good sources of omega-3s. Supplements in the form of cod liver oil are also a great source. A tablespoon a day is an excellent first line of defense against ADHD.

This also applies to the young. Boost levels of omega-3 in their diet, and you’ll see results. In fact, I know a number of psychiatrists who prescribe pharmaceutical grade fish oil for patients suffering from mood disorders.

Try These Drug-Free Cures

Has your doctor or psychiatrist ever mentioned DMAE? I’d guess “no.”

This is a natural, fundamental brain stimulant found in anchovies, sardines and other fish. Studies show it increases levels of acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is a foundational compound of your brain’s memory and learning capacity.

DMAE provides a safe and non-addictive solution to a variety of cognitive and behavioral problems. DMAE can temper mood and ease behavioral and learning problems. In one study, hyperactive kids showed improvement in just 12 weeks.

In another study, children with learning disabilities did better in concentration and skill tests. And there were no side effects such as an increase in heart rate and blood pressure as there is with drugs.

Recent research has uncovered other readily available, natural supplements that are highly effective in treating the symptoms of ADHD, including the amino acids 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC), glutamine, and tyrosine.

5-HTP is what’s known as a serotonin “precursor.” Serotonin is a chemical in the brain known as a “neurotransmitter” that regulates mood and alleviates anxiety and depression. I recommend doses of 50 to 100 mg doses three times per day with meals.

Acetyl-L carnitine, also known as ALC, increases the formation of acetylcholine. It also increases brain cell energy production and helps control impulsivity. The ideal dosage is 1,500 mg twice per day between meals.

Tyrosine, another compound that lifts mood by boosting the production of neurotransmitters, has also been shown to be highly effective treating ADHD. The recommended dosage is up to 5,000 mg per day for children and up to 10,000 mg per day for adults.

They’re available at your local vitamin shop.

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Dr. Al Sears is fast becoming the nation's leading authority on longevity and heart health. His cutting edge breakthroughs and commanding knowledge of alternative medicine have been transforming the lives of his patients for over 15 years.

Learn more at http://www.alsearsmd.com.

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