-IBIS-1.5.0-
tx
mental/emotional
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder/ADD
botanicals

primary herbs

• Avena sativa (Wild oat)
: calms the nervous system; one dose daily for one month (Zand, et al, p. 268); 100 g to a full bath (Schilcher, p. 100)
• Anemone pulsatilla (toxic ): morbid mental excitement (Felter and Lloyd, p. 1592)
• Atropa belladonna (toxic): in 3x attenuation: nervous excitement with wild and furious delirium, hysteria (Felter and Lloyd, p. 339)
• Ferula asafoetida: hysteria, emotional attacks associated with flatulent distention of the abdomen (Felter, p. 221)
• Gelsemium sempervirens (toxic): flushed face, bright eyes, increased heat of head, great restlessness and excitation (Felter, p. 387)
• Chamomile: effective and time-proven relaxant; one cup of tea at bedtime, as needed.
• Cimicifuga racemosa: puerperal, suicidal despondency (Harper-Shove, p. 30)
• Conium maculatum (toxic): mild maniacal excitement (Felter, p. 320)
• Datura stramonium (toxic): with alternate fits of weeping and laughter (Harper-Shove, p. 30)
• Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian ginseng): modulates blood sugar metabolism and aids adrenal function; 300-400 mg daily of concentrated, standardized extract of roots and rhizomes or 2-3 g of dry, powdered roots and rhizomes, in 2-3 divided doses; for children use one-half the adult dose (Brown, p. 275, 278)
• Eschscholtzia californica (California poppy): sedative and anxiety-reducing effects
• Evening primrose oil: corrects the essential fatty acid deficiency noted in some ADHD children; 2 to 3 grams daily; recommended by the Hyperactive Children's Support Group of Great Britain. (Colquhoun and Bunday, 1981)
• Ferula asafoetida: hysteria, emotional attacks associated with flatulent distention of the abdomen (Felter, p. 221)
• Gelsemium sempervirens (toxic): flushed face, bright eyes, increased heat of head, great restlessness and excitation (Felter, p. 387)
• Humulus lupulus (hops): nervous excitability in fevers, sedates, produces sleep (Felter, p. 408); especially indicated with restlessness and anxiety states, sleep disorders; infuse 1 tablespoonful of hop strobiles with 1/4 liter of boiling water; leave for 10 minutes, for 1 cup of hop tea; 1 cup per day for children up to 3 years old is usually sufficient; with older children, the dose may be increased to 1 cup, three times daily; a pillow containing hops strobiles can also be effective (Schilcher, p. 60 - 61)
• Hyoscyamus niger (toxic): acute or recurrent mania, epileptic mania, puerperal mania, delusional insanity (Felter and Lloyd, p. 1036)
• Hypericum perforatum (St. Johns wort): for sedative action, especially with nervous restlessness and sleep disorders; infusion of 1 teaspoonful of the cut-up herb (with minimal stems) with 200 ml of boiling water on to; leave for 10 minutes; daily dosage of 1 one cup for young children, 2 - 3 cups for children above 3 years old; fluidextract: 5 drops twice daily for young children, 10 drops up to three times daily for schoolchildren (Schilcher, p. 61, 118)
• Lavandula angustifolia (lavender flowers): especially indicated with restlessness, problems going to sleep, functional epigastric symptoms, nervous stomach and intestinal symptoms due to nerves". Dosage: Pour 150 ml of boiling water on to teaspoonful of lavender flowers, cover, and leave to infuse for 10 minutes. (Schilcher, p. 60)
• Melissa officinalis (Balm leaves): especially indicated with "problems going to sleep of nervous origin, functional gastrointestinal disorders;" infuse 1 tablespoonful of cut-up balm leaves with about 150 ml of boiling water for 1 cup of balm tea, cover the container and leave for about 10 minutes; infants are given 1 cup in divided doses over the day, young children up to 3 cups daily (Schilcher, p. 60)
• Passiflora incarnata (passion flower herb): specific for "nervous restlessness".
Dosage: infuse 1 tablespoonful of the cut-up herb with 150 - 200 ml of boiling water, leave on a low flame for 5 minutes; young children are given 1 cup per day, children of 3 years and over, up to 3 cups daily. (Schilcher, p. 60; Ellingwood, p. 107))
• Scutellaria (Skullcap): a relaxant and calms the mind; one dose, three times a week, for three months. Note: This herb should not be given to a child less than six years old. (Zand, et al, p. 268)
• Valeriana spp.: hysteria (Felter, p. 685)


complementary herbs

Certain botanical scents may calm a hyperactive child.
Mix 1 drop each of rosemary, sage, lavender, and chamomile oil in 1/8 cup of olive oil, and jise this aromatic oil to rub your child's feet and spine at bedtime. Native Americans traditionally use rosemary and sage to relax the mind. (Zand, et al, p. 268)

• Sedative Tea for Children: (Species nervinae pro infantibus):
Melissa officinalis conc. 30.0 g
Lavandula angustifolia tot. 30.0 g
Passiflora incarnata conc. 30.0 g
Hypericum perforatum 10.0 g
Dosage: according to age, 1-3 cups daily; for one cup, pour approximately 200 ml of boiling water on to 1 tablespoon of the mixture (Schilcher, p. 61 - 62)

• Sedative Tea - standard Commission E mixture:
Valeriana officinalis conc. 30.0 g
Melissa officinalis conc. 30.0 g
Passiflora incarnata conc. 10.0 g
Dosage: according to age, 1-3 cups daily; for one cup, pour approximately 200 ml of boiling water on to 1 tablespoon of the mixture (Schilcher, p. 62)

footnotes

Brown,Donald. Herbal Prescriptions for Better Health. Prima Publishing, Rocklin, CA, 1996.

Colquhoun I and Bunday S. A lack of essential fatty acids as a possible cause of hyperactivity in children. Med. Hypotheses. 7:673-679, 1981

Schilcher, Heinz. Phytotherapy in Paediatrics: Handbook for Physicians and Pharmacists. medpharm Scientific Publishers, Stuttgart, 1997.

Zand, Janet, Walton, Rachel, and Rountree, Bob. Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child. Avery Publishing Group, Garden City Park, NY, 1994.