Integrative Diagnosis for ADHD Treatment

How Integrative Diagnosis for ADHD Treatment Takes This Condition Seriously—But Differently

Too many concerns from school about your daydreaming child?  Or, do you find your mind floating out of the window like a balloon, making drafting an email a 2-hour chore? 

Whatever the case, sometimes these could be the earliest and most basic signs of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). This neurological condition has plagued millions worldwide, affecting the lives and professional careers of a cohort that could have been every nation's greatest asset.

Clearly, conventional ADHD treatments are not working—at least on their own. What we need is a different perspective to tap and uproot ADHD early; an integrative diagnosis for ADHD does just that. 

What is ADHD?

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common childhood disorder that can persist into adolescence and adulthood. Symptoms include difficulty concentrating and paying attention, difficulty managing behavior, and hyperactivity (overactivity).

In 2022, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) estimated an ADHD prevalence of 6 million (9.8%) among youngsters aged 3-17 years between 2016-2019. 

About 15.5 million adults in the U.S. were diagnosed with ADHD in 2023; about half of these people were diagnosed as adults. 

In that, one-third took stimulant drugs to navigate through life, another 71.5% struggled to get the right prescription drugs, and more than 50% admitted to having used telehealth to get help for their condition at some point.

The condition commonly presents as—ADHD symptoms:

• Inattentive and distracted: Not paying attention, like having trouble following directions, staying on and continuing tasks, or staying organized.

• Hyperactive: Includes things like moving around a lot (sometimes when it's not proper), being restless, or talking too much.

• Impulsive: Like talking over other people, cutting them off, or not being able to wait your turn

One could have one or a combination of symptoms as a child or an adult. 

Medications have been the mainstay for ADHD treatment for years, until recently; the treatment options for ADHD saw a shift of scenes because -

• A CDC Health Advisory 2024 anticipates that drug shortages and unstructured access to ADHD-treating providers raise worries about the risk of harm, overdose, and higher demands for counterfeit pills in the illicit drug market.

• Telepsychiatry for ADHD management can compromise quality of care, incomplete diagnosis of ADHD, and misuse and diversion of prescribed drugs. 

• Stimulant medications for ADHD—long-term stimulant use in kids may delay normal growth and development. About one-third of users report side effects like insomnia, appetite loss, and stomach pain.

• The non-stimulant meds, on the other hand, may cause issues like nausea, fatigue, liver problems, and even seizures.

Altogether, making it more critical to look beyond the symptoms, uncover root causes, and take a holistic, personalized approach to ADHD care. 

Integrative Medicine for ADHD—An Overview

Integrative medicine for ADHD puts all aspects of the condition in one basket—the causes, the medicines, the effective lifestyle changes, and behavioral therapies—from ADHD-treating practitioners treating NOT ADHD, but you as a person. 

The logic of ADHD treatment with Integrative Medicine is simple. 

The human body is a machine, where one malfunctioning part can impact multiple others. Similarly, ADHD is a complex condition influenced by various individual and internal dysfunctional factors, making it more complex than a single cause or quick-fix solution like just meds and therapy. 

ADHD treatment with Integrative Medicine is the art and science of mixing the best of conventional medications (like medications when truly needed) and natural, science-backed options—like diet changes, supplements, therapy, and coaching—based on the factors that caused ADHD in your case. 

You may question if these unconventional ADHD treatments without drugs, like Integrative Medicine, truly work. Your fears are justified. Most non-drug treatments for ADHD aren't backed by a lot of proof.

However, certain studies say that 80% of people who use herbal preparations and other natural products say that these are the best things that have helped them. From nutritional deficiencies to poor gut health, there are more and more scientific connections that prove that ‘healing from within’ can reverse ADHD.

ADHD Treatment With Integrative Medicine—the Strategies

Integrative medicine is a combination of the best of many worlds; here’s how we approach it:

Root Causes of ADHD—to Rule Out Causes

Need to break this to you—ADHD has no ONE cause.

It is a combination of genetic, neurological, environmental, nutrient, lifestyle, and individual-specific factors.

As the first step in integrative diagnosis, we record a detailed history of ADHD or similar diagnosed neurological cases in the family (for genetic factors), the lifestyle of the mother during pregnancy (for environmental exposures), eventful birth (premature birth, low birth weight, and early exposure to stress or trauma, such as family adversity, can significantly impact a child's development) and other traumatic incidents.

Then, specific lab tests like:

• Consistent nutritional deficiencies for zinc, omega-3, iron, magnesium, vitamin-D and vitamin B6

• Heavy metal exposures to rule out lead and mercury toxicities.

• Food sensitivities: ADHD cases are more likely to have allergic reactions to food dyes, alongside food allergies and sensitivities, than non-ADHD persons.

• Hormonal testing: Dopamine—both too much or too little of this "feel-good" brain chemical can cause issues with focus and behavior. Hormones like estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone can affect attention, mood, and impulsivity—especially when they’re out of balance. ADHD may show different hormone patterns, like higher SHBG and lower DHEA.

Personalized ADHD Treatment with Integrative Medicine

No two brains are exactly alike, so why should treatment be?

Based on the age, symptom type, severity, health history, and the tests, we devise a personalized integrative diagnosis for ADHD. It combines conventional care with holistic therapy. 

Conventional ADHD Management—Medications

Let’s get your medications right first. 

Medications, especially stimulants, are still the most common and often effective treatment for ADHD. They can help with focus, impulse control, and overall functioning—especially when symptoms are severe.

But they don’t work the same way for everyone. Some people have side effects and others don’t get long-term benefits. In integrative care, we view meds as a tool—not the whole toolbox—to use doses that work best together with adjuncts that make you healthy from within.

We add natural supplements if deficiencies and toxicities have been primary contributors to your ADHD - 

• Nutritional supplements:
  Good-quality multivitamins can help fill nutrient gaps and may support mood, emotional balance, and behavior in ADHD. 

Many of these nutrients work best when taken consistently, and some benefits may take a few weeks to appear.

• Herbal supplements:
  They are used as adjuncts to support the therapy. Some of the common nerve-nourishing herbs include ginseng, saffron, Pycnogenol (Pine Bark Extract), and Bacopa Monnieri (Brahmi). Remember, herbs are powerful and should be used with guidance.

Behavioral Therapy for ADHD

Behavioral therapy techniques can help manage ADHD by learning coping strategies and skills to break patterns of symptoms. This type of treatment focuses on changing negative thoughts and habits and focuses on the positive ones.

For example: 

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - counseling to manage thoughts, build healthy habits, and handle everyday challenges. 

• Executive functioning coaching to strengthen coping techniques. It teaches practical skills like time management, planning, organizing the desk, etc.

• Mind-body therapies like yoga, meditation, and deep breathing help control attention and focus while also reducing stress.

• Regular exercise and sports can help channel hyperactivity.

Lifestyle Modifications for ADHD Treatment Without Medication

This involves changes in eating habits, sleep hygiene, and physical activities. 

• Whole foods, like an apple over applesauce, and an anti-inflammatory diet (based on the tests) may help manage ADHD symptoms, especially when paired with more fruits and veggies.

• Elimination diets: Food sensitivity testing can guide this—simple changes like avoiding dyes, dairy, or gluten may help. 

• Easy-to-cook fresh meals, not processed or frozen, help. Batch prepping is helpful in case food gets difficult to manage. 

Are You Looking for an Integrative Diagnosis for ADHD Treatment?

Integrative medicine for ADHD treatment gives a broader, unbiased view of this condition. Less than 15% of people with ADHD are likely to be correctly diagnosed and treated, which can have serious social and professional impacts, leading to the need for integrative medicine. 

This way you are not leaving scratching the surface. Instead, as practitioners of integrative medicine, we have a team of expert professionals who will handhold you to peel back the layers, connect the dots, and heal you as a person whilst managing ADHD.

Are you, your kid, or a loved one looking for ADHD management options that don’t feel repetitive, dependent, and ineffective? Then connect with us so we can hear your story and to feel free to schedule an appointment or call us on +1 866 362 4246 to learn more..