Treatment of ADHD in Phyto, from children to adults in Montpellier.

ADHD can have a significant impact on daily life, both for children and their parents and for adults. Children with ADHD may experience difficulty in school due to their inability to concentrate on the tasks provided, which affects academic performance as well as long-term confidence and self-esteem. Social interactions can also be complicated due to impulsivity and hyperactivity leading to relationship problems, rejection, bullying, conflict and exclusion. Finally, the impact of this disorder often affects the family sphere. Generally, ADHD children require more attention, time and patience from parents: difficulty doing homework, carrying out daily tasks, managing intense behavior, often excessive and tiring for parents and siblings, etc. so many sources of conflict that are difficult to live with on a daily basis.

Over time, these challenges may persist into adulthood. Adults with ADHD may experience difficulties at work due to their impaired ability to stay focused on assigned tasks. Managing time and responsibilities can become a challenge, affecting work productivity and personal life.

Personal relationships can also be impacted, because impulsivity can lead to hasty decision-making, sometimes damaging to interpersonal bonds. Day-to-day planning can become a challenge, leading to frequent delays and forgetting.

However, with early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, individuals with ADHD can learn to manage these challenges and lead fulfilling lives. Education, therapeutic support and coping strategies can help mitigate the impact of ADHD on daily life, allowing individuals to develop their talents and realize their potential.

Conventional treatment approaches for ADHD typically include the use of medications, such as stimulants (like psychostimulants) that help improve concentration and reduce hyperactivity. These drugs act in particular by inhibiting the reuptake of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which has the effect of increasing its action time in the brain. Indeed, one of the origins of attentional disorders is the insufficient quantity of dopamine. At the level of the central nervous system, dopamine is responsible for our energy and motivation, it regulates mood and the search for pleasure (reward circuit). Dopamine is involved in alertness, exploratory behavior, and addiction. This would explain why people with ADHD tend to fall more easily into addictions. In addition to medications, behavioral interventions are often integrated, involving educational strategies and intervention plans to help children develop social and academic skills. Cognitive behavioral therapies may also be recommended to help manage symptoms and improve lifestyle habits. Educational interventions, including adaptations in the school setting, such as smaller classrooms or personalized learning plans (reduction in the number of exercises, checking understanding of instructions, additional third-time work, for example), are commonly used for helping children with ADHD succeed in school.

Support, encouragement and valuing successes rather than dwelling on failures from parents and teachers are essential in implementing these approaches. Conventional treatment for ADHD is often individualized, with regular assessment to adjust strategies based on each person's specific needs. Although these conventional approaches are often effective, it is important to recognize that they are not universally suitable, and other options, including holistic approaches, may also be explored based on individual preferences and needs.

Attention and concentration disorders as well as hyperactivity and impulsivity are at the heart of the problem. These are very frequently added to: sleep disorders, complicated emotional management, great variability in energy going from an excess of energy difficult to channel to a significant level of fatigue, difficulties in relationships to the other and poor self-esteem…

Personalized phytotherapeutic strategies can be implemented to supporting the ADHD child or adult. We have at our disposal relevant plant categories such as:

• The adaptogenic plants act on concentration via the supply of neurotransmitters such as dopamine: rhodiola, gentian, bacopa, eleuthero, etc.
• The plants for stress and anxiety help manage nervous tension and increase GABA (brain braking system) such as lemon balm, passion flower, orange blossom, angelica, etc.
• The sleep plants promote the memorization process by allowing the storage and encoding of information which is produced during the rest phase: passionflower, valerian, bird's-eye trefoil, ballote, eschscholtzia, chamomile, etc.

To stimulate memory, olfaction is an excellent route of administration because the center of smell is in direct relationship with the limbic system which manages memory. Aromatherapy offers interesting solutions throughessential oils promoting concentration such as vetiver, coriander, rosemary, noble laurel, lemon essence or even soothing essential oils which promote calm and sleep such as lavender, petitgrain bigarade, shell marjoram, chamomile, orange essence…

To help the child or adult with ADHD with their emotions and improve their relationship with others in the family, school, friendly and professional spheres, we can call on the subtle power of flowers. Floritherapy through Bach flowers and contemporary elixirs can allow us to support, balance and pacify emotions by working for example on impatience, relationships with others, self-esteem, anger, feelings of injustice or rejection, difficulty to learn from your mistakes...

The implementation of health and diet advice and the provision of certain food supplements can also contribute to theADHD improvement. We will mention non-exhaustively the vitamins of group B, C and D, omega-3 (EPA and DHA), as well as the choline present in soy lecithin, phosphatidylserine, tyrosine and glutamine to optimize the synthesis of neurotransmitters.

Above all, when the diagnosis of ADHD is made, it is relevant to carry out a dosage of heavy metals (mercury, lead, cadmium) which affect behavior. A forty-day cure of coriander has shown relevant effects on their elimination. A ferritin measurement is also recommended because ADHD children are regularly anemic. If the blood analysis reveals it, a course of iron bisglycinate at 15 mg/day has shown a significant effect on attention skills.

Avoid sugary products, sweeteners and preservatives (sweets, soda, syrup, industrial cakes and cereals, etc.), as well as products rich in saturated fats (fast food, industrial sauces: ketchup, mayonnaise, béarnaise, prepared meals, etc.) . The impact of these products on agitation,anxiety, difficulty falling asleep and to memorize has been demonstrated.

Favor sugars with a low glycemic index and polyunsaturated fatty acids (walnut oil, rapeseed, soy, flax, etc.; fatty fish: sardines, mackerel, anchovies, herring, etc.).

Do not skip meals, especially breakfast. It is recommended to have an intake of protein sources of tyrosine, allowing the synthesis of dopamine (neurotransmitter involved in TFAH).

On the other hand, reduce protein intake in the evening, as this can interfere with falling asleep by opposing the synthesis of serotonin and melatonin.

Adopt a Mediterranean-style diet, rich in fresh and seasonal fruits and vegetables, legumes, fatty fish, eggs, lean meats and dairy products, semi-complete cereals, oleaginous fruits and first-pressed oils. cold.

Examine possible food intolerances which could be sources of dysbiosis.

In adults, excessive consumption of coffee or alcohol leads to a loss of minerals and vitamins essential for memorization.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties with attention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Recent research suggests that the neurotransmitters serotonin and melatonin may play a role in ADHD, paving the way for new therapeutic avenues.

Serotonin and ADHD

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of mood, sleep and behavior. Studies have shown that people with ADHD often have lower than average serotonin levels.

• Serotonin receptor dysfunction : Research suggests that people with ADHD may have less sensitive serotonin receptors, reducing the effectiveness of serotonin in the brain.
• Role in inhibition : Serotonin plays a role in inhibition, the ability to filter out distractions and focus on a task. A deficiency in serotonin could contribute to the difficulties with attention and impulsivity observed in ADHD.

Melatonin and ADHD

Melatonin is a hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. Sleep disruptions are common in people with ADHD, and melatonin may play a role in this link.

• Disturbed melatonin production : Studies have shown that people with ADHD may have disrupted melatonin production, with peaks and valleys at inopportune times.
• Poor quality sleep : Poor sleep quality can worsen ADHD symptoms, such as inattention, hyperactivity and irritability.

Therapeutic implications for ADHD

This research on serotonin and melatonin in ADHD opens the way to new therapeutic approaches:

• Drugs acting on serotonin : Certain medications that increase serotonin levels or improve the sensitivity of serotonin receptors have shown promising results in the treatment of ADHD.
• Melatonin supplementation : Melatonin supplementation may improve sleep quality in people with ADHD, which may in turn alleviate symptoms of the disorder.