ADHD and Ayurveda – by Dr. Sonali

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What is ADHD ?

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) refers to a disorder in which children struggle to pay attention, are extremely active and act impulsively. This disorder can affect children behaviorally and academically as these children struggle with daily activities such as:

• Sitting still
• Focusing on instructions
• Staying organized
• Waiting their turn

The right hemisphere of the brain regulates social behavior, impulsivity, and attention. ADHD is the result of decreased right brain activity.

Understanding ADHD from Ayurvedic perspective

Ayurveda is the world’s oldest and most complete holistic healing science. Ayurveda considers every life form as a unique combination of matter, spirit and mind. According to Ayurvedic theory, there are three main constitutions that make up the body. The constitutions are often referred to as Doshas

• Vata Dosha
  • It controls the functions of movement, activity, the process of thought, expression, perception of sense, etc.
• Pitta Dosha
  • It governs breaking down of food, secretion of enzymes, digestive juices, conversion into energy, assimilation of nutrients, transformation into tissues and production and regulation of hormones
• Kapha Dosha
  • It provides structural integrity to the body. It is the principle that holds the cells together and forms the muscle, fat, bone and ligaments.

ADHD patients have predominant Vata dosha condition.

According to Ayurveda, the main reason for ADHD is vitiation of:

• Dhee (rational thinking)
• Dhruti (Retention of knowledge) and
• Smruti (Memory)

Dhee, Dhruti and Smruti are the main functions of mind. Coordination of these functions determines the behavior of the person. 

Causes of ADHD according to Ayurveda

During pregnancy, the activities and diet followed by the mother or by the child in its development age, can cause imbalance in Vata dosha reducing the quality of the mind and immunity.  These can be considered as probable causes of ADHD.

• Diet
  • Taking diet that reduces mind quality, immunity, and strength such as junk food, preserved and canned food, spicy, contaminated and wrongly combined food, uncooked and excessively cooked food, etc.
• Activities
  • Excessive physical activity more than physical strength
  • Excessive exposure to cold wind or air-conditioned environment
  • Excessively watching television, laptops, phones, etc.

Treatment of ADHD according to Ayurveda

ADHD is the predominant Vata dosha behavioral condition that affects Manovaha Strotas (mind carrying channels). Hence,thetherapy that corrects the imbalance of doshas can prove successful in treating ADHD  this improves memory problems, intelligence, focus, learning capacity, speed production, etc.

In addition to above mentioned therapies, the use of ayurvedic treatment methods will accelerate the improvement in an ADHD patient. Ayurvedic medicines that improve the digestive system, intellect and mental state are mentioned in Ayurveda.

Principles involved in ADHD treatment

Deepana and Pachana

• This principle corrects digestive fire and Ama (toxin or undigested metabolic waste). In this way, it corrects the appetite, removes the channel obstruction by removing Ama.

Strotoshodhana (cleansing the channels)

• The channels carrying out brain functions are affected in ADHD. The natural flow of doshas is obstructed and causes loss of attention, learning impairment, impaired memory, etc.
• Ayurvedic herbs can help in removing obstructions in channels particularly Manovaha Strotas. Because of penetrative and digestive properties of these herbs, the channels are cleared by digesting the Ama and helps the brain to function normally.

Medhya Rasayana

• Medhya Rasayana are medicines which particularly work on mental development and rejuvenate nervous system. They improve memory, concentration, and intelligence.

Natural herbs used for ADHD treatment

• Brahmi
• Guduchi (Giloy)
• Ashwagandha
• Shankhapushpi

Commonly used medicines in ADHD treatment

• Panchagavya Ghrita
• Shankhapushpi syrup
• Mahakalyanaka Ghrita
• Brahmi vati

Panchakarma Therapy

• Abhyanga (Oil massage)
• Shirodhara

Yoga

• One 2017 study showed that in children with ADHD, attention and reaction time improved after eight weeks of practicing yoga twice a week.

Summary

Ayurveda has huge scope and potential in effectively treating ADHD. Ayurvedic approach to treat ADHD includes living a balanced lifestyle with use of natural herbs.

The use of natural herbs, Ayurvedic medicines and Yoga have very significant role in treating ADHD as it does not contain any contraindications and side effects. 

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