Chiropractic adjustments, a healthy diet, and supplements to care for your pediatric patients with ADHD, ADD, ODD, and hyperactivity

Everyday in America, it is estimated that 5 million children and young adults take some form of psychological-controlling medication partly because we live in a society that is medicine oriented. The pharmaceutical companies spend billions of dollars to control this high cash-flow market. According to recently published reports, the medicine for the symptom treatment model is failing.

Fortunately, people are more educated now and are challenging health care providers to have different answers for tough questions. Parents do not want their children chemically dependent. A revolution has started, and more people visit natural health care providers today by the millions. Providing patient education is critical in attracting your community to participate in your drugless practice.

I have successfully developed a physiologically correct protocol for emotional and attention disorders that provides consistent, duplicable results. The worse case of behavior dysfunction can show improvement in just 18 days (physiologically proven). How can that be, you ask?

I have observed that the number-one cause for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), attention deficit disorder (ADD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and hyperactivity is the improper metabolism of fats. There is a long chain fatty acid called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) that is needed for brain function. The brain sends its messages on fats. The best ingredients are needed to have proper formation of DHA by the alphalinolenic metabolic pathway.

Essential fatty acids must be consumed in a daily diet. There are two essential fatty acids, alphalinolenic acid (omega 3) and linoleic acid (omega 6). Arachidonic acid (which is not essential) can be made directly from linoleic acid or from milk, meat, and shellfish. DHA can be directly sourced from fish, especially salmon.

It is evident from studies of normal diet choices that omega 3 deficiency is common in the United States. This deficiency is also important because of the role of fat in pain and cardiovascular disease. Omega 3 fats provide pain relief and keep blood vessels pliable.

The main cause of improper fat metabolism and a major reason for today’s Ritalin® epidemic is trans fat or hydrogenated fat consumption. The metabolic pathway is sabotaged when eating from these food groups. Everyday, children are “force-fed” hydrogenated-based foods by the federal government’s school lunch program. The General Accounting Office (GAO) reported recently that 34% of our public school diet is fat (and not the good stuff).¹

The half-life of trans fat is 51 days, which means half of the negative effects of trans fat are still present in the body; in 102 days 25% of the trans fat is interrupting the alphalipoic acid (ALA)-DHA pathway. The half-life of alphalinolenic acid (cis fat) is 18 days, which is when you will see results. By understanding this physiology, you can speak with confidence that you can improve function.

Hydrogenated fat, or trans fat, is found in most snack and fast food items. Every month in America, 90% of all kids between 3 and 9 years old visit McDonalds.² The food item of choice is chicken nuggets, which are 50% fat. Parents and grandparents are rushing through drive-throughs ordering food that results in their loved ones having brain dysfunction, behavioral challenges, loss of focus, and a trip to the pharmacy for more medication.

There are several other factors that can interfere with the production of DHA. Experience strongly suggests that sugar can lead to behavior problems; the reason has not been understood fully by researchers but sugar does deplete the body of minerals and vitamins—a needed requirement to make high-grade brain fat.

The body needs all the ingredients of the highest quality to make DHA. Sugar depletes many constituents essential to making DHA. The average American consumes 139 pounds of sugar a year³ (54 gallons of soda is a part of the problem).

There are natural sugars that can satisfy the sweet tooth and do not upset the nutrient balance including brown rice syrup, maple syrup, pear sweet, fruit source, and stevia. I do not recommend aspartame or the alcohol sugars. Minerals must be supplied to patients or increased in the diet to see the desired results.

A very common dietary imbalance in our society is the B complex deficiency syndrome. A typical presenting body signal is crying without reason, a sense of impending doom, and general paranoia. Do you wake up in the middle of the night? It could be a deficiency of whole food B complex. I do not recommend high-potency B complex. It can lead to other imbalances. B vitamins are needed to be a part of the mix. A great natural source of B vitamins is bee pollen and whole grains. Look for a beekeeper in your area.

A subject that few like to discuss is parasite infestation. We all have parasites. They are a part of the natural ecosystem. The problem occurs when there is an overgrowth and imbalance in the body, often precipitated by antibiotic abuse and overuse.

Our pilot study and clinical-based evidence⁴ revealed an abundance of parasites on phase contrast microscopy of samples from individuals taking Ritalin. Common symptoms are grinding the teeth at night and thrashing in bed or a restless sleep. Parasites eat your food first. They release toxins inside the body that interfere with nerve function. Common sources of parasites include cats in the home; eating sushi, pork, and wild game; poor hygiene; and daycare centers. Parasites also can be passed between family members and friends.

Your goal is to create the consciousness in your patients that they need to consume foods that promote normal fat metabolism with DHA as the end product.

Several other guidelines must be taken into consideration. Preparing meals from home is preferred; minimizing dairy products will promote a balance of the omega 3 and omega 6 oils. Other family members, especially in families with divorce issues must be confronted regarding proper diet. Talk to teachers and others within the circle of influence of your child about poor food choices.

In my experience, when you confidently show patients and family the proper body physiology, many of these involved with behaviorally challenged children accept the information (excluding conventional medical thinkers and pharmaceutical representatives), and make appropriate changes. One of my participants’ mothers said it so simply: “We chose life.”

The protocol used successfully includes no trans fat, no dairy products, and no sugar for 102 days. We provided information for tasty, healthy substitutes.

Supplements should include:

• One salmon oil capsule per night for 18 nights (salmon oil capsules are generally taken only when there is a deviation from the protocol after the initial 18 days);
• One tablespoon of flax per 100 pounds (forever) ;
• Low-dosage, cold processed whole food B complex, six tablets daily for 3 months (three per day after the first 3 months);
• Whole food mineral (suggest alfalfa tablets, six daily);
• Whole food B6 (three daily or 150 mg).

This simple protocol works because the final result is DHA. The debate among research scientists is whether DHA from a vegetable sourced pathway is genetically dysfunctional in individuals with cardiovascular and behavioral health dysfunction. My clinical-based research revealed the diet of these patients does not have the right components (vitamins and minerals). They also eat too much processed, overcooked, dead food. The American population needs to eat more whole food. Trans fat has been overlooked as a sabotaging agent of DHA. Trans fat is found in most meals because it is a part of the convenience lifestyle of most Westerners.

The cutting-edge key component in the program is subluxation correction. The participants’ cervical lordosis curves measured an average of 10°. We manually corrected spinal subluxation on all participants. The results were overwhelming positive responses and comments on an improved sense of well-being, reduced tension, and minimal typical winter cold-flu syndromes.

Physiologically, you are improving your patients’ bottom line of optimal health without medication. Their dependency on medicine will be greatly reduced and/or eliminated. You will attract more new patients and expand your base of happy, satisfied families who will pay, stay, and refer.

Robert DeMaria, DC, DABCO, FASBE, has been in practice for for more than 25 years and currently practices in Elyria, Ohio. DeMaria is a lecturer and the author of Stop ADHD, ADD, ODD, Hyperactivity: A Drugless Family Guide to Optimal Health. He can be reached at drb4health@aol.com  and www.druglesscare.com. 

References
1.  Associated Press. “School Lunches Still Inadequate.” Chronicle Telegram. May 10, 2003:A3.
2. Spike A. “How McNuggets Changed the World.” US News & World Report. January 23, 2001:54.
3. Your Guide to Alternative Sweeteners: Wild Oats, Naturally Knowledge. Number 21;1998:3.
4. DeMaria RF. Stop ADHD, ADD, ODD, Hyperactivity: A Drugless Family Guide to Optimal Health. Drugless Healthcare: Elyria, Ohio; 2003:50.