Clinical Study for ADHD and Homeopathy

By Caroline Walrad, Ph.D., CN

Homeopathy once again proves effective in clinical trials. Ten remedies that were shown effective in this study are brought to life in this article. Perhaps you may see yourself in one of the homeopathic remedy personality descriptions.

I believe that homeopathic remedies can balance the ADHD child and allow the anticipation anxiety, restlessness and lack of concentration of the hyperactive child to quiet. Combined with adequate diet and other facts found in this issue, there may not be a need for medications. As you read you will come to realize that the best path to wellness is a more natural joyful path. This is a path without side effects.  - Article by Caroline S Walrad, Ph.D., CN

ADHD Homeopathic Switzerland Study
Homeopathic Remedy Pictures

Clinical Study Design for ADHD and Homeopathy

A carefully controlled clinical trail has shown that homeopathy does significantly improve attention deficit. This study was published in the July 27, 2005 online edition of the European Journal of Pediatrics. The study was conducted in Switzerland. It followed 62 children diagnosed with ADHD. All children were carefully diagnosed with a number of screening instruments to verify the diagnosis of ADHD, excluding other diagnoses. The study involved three phases. First the children were treated with a constitutional homeopathic medicine individualized to their case. Only the children who improved by at least 50 percent on an ADHD rating scale were included in the second phase of the study, a crossover trial with a placebo group. Following that crossover phase, the children were then treated again with their homeopathic medicine in an open label phase.

The Conners Global Index is a 10 item rating scale containing the most important ADHD symptoms. These symptoms are temper outbursts, excitability, impulsivity, over-activity, crying often, inattentive, fidgeting, disturbing other children, easily frustrated, failure to finish things, quickly changing moods. Rating: 0 never, 2 for often, 3 for very often. Therefore the higher the score is the more prominent and severe the symptoms. Other assessment instruments included standardized achievement and intelligence tests. This was the primary device for measuring improvement.

The medicines used included Calcarea carbonica (15), Sulphur (8), Chamomilla (5), Lycopodium (5), Silicae (5), Hepar sulph (4), Nux vomica (4), China (3), Ignatia (3) and Mercurius (3). Each of the following was used in one case only: Capsicum, Causticum, Hyoscyamus, Phosphorus, Phosphoric acid, Sepia and Staphysagria. Each was used on a daily basis. No other treatment of any kind was permitted during the course of the study.

The progress under homeopathic treatment was assessed with the parents only at intervals of four weeks. After an unlimited period of observation, children eligible for the crossover phase of the trial were randomly assigned to either receive the appropriate homeopathic medicine or a placebo in a blinded trial. During the second period of the crossover phase, the groups were switched. Following the crossover phase, the children were then treated with their homeopathic medicine in an open label phase of the trial.

CLINICAL RESULTS

Results showed that children did not improve while taking placebo, but continued to improve while taking the homeopathic medicine during the blinded phase of the trial and in the post-crossover phase. The median Conners rating for ADHD symptoms dropped from 19 at the start of treatment to a median of 8 within six weeks after the crossover phase of the trial. During the blinded trial the children receiving placebo had a high CGI rating of 12 compared to the homeopathic group with a rating of 9. After all children were returned to their homeopathic medicine, both groups returned to the low symptoms level they had achieved before the crossover phase (median of 8)
The authors formed a definitive conclusion from this study. “The results of this trial point to the effectiveness of homeopathy in the treatment of ADHD.”
(www.hpakids.org/holistic-health/articles)

Homeopathic Remedy Pictures

Homeopathic remedies are made through a process called potentization. The final product is the energetic frequency of the substance. When taken in pellet form under the tongue, the body is instantly messaged with the frequency and healing is allowed to begin. The goal is to match the proving symptoms of the remedy with the client’s symptoms. Homeopathy has the power to allow the body heals. The proper remedy for the individual must be selected wisely.

In the ADHD Switzerland study the following remedies proved most effective: Calcarea Carbonica, Sulphur, Chamomilla, Lycopodium, Silica, Hepar-sulph, Nux vomica, China, Ignatia and Mercurius. Each of these remedies will be briefly explained. Descriptions are taken from The Spirit of Homeopathic Medicines by Didier Grandgeorge, MD and The Homeopathic Treatment of Children by Paul Herscu, N.D. and The Souls of Remedies by Rajan Sankaran.

Calcarea Carbonica

This is one of the most important constitutional remedies for children. It is reported that almost 40% of children are ‘Calc Carb’s’ when born. The main mental symptom is fear. Bad news, ghost stories, dark shadows and fright for any reason upset them. These children can be quite stubborn. They like to do things their own way in their own time. Because of their apprehension about the future and the need to finish tasks, they do not like breaks or changes in routines. The babies are generally chubbier and a bit flabby. It is common for them to have a distended abdomen and perspiration on the head, especially during sleep. The bones are weaker that other remedy types (poor calcium assimilation). They are generally slow in learning to walk and to talk. They have a strong craving for sugar, eggs and milk products. They generally do not desire meat. Calcarea carbonica is by far the most common remedy for epilepsy, especially if it occurs during dentition.

Sulfur

There are two main areas of stress for the Sulfur type child: intestinal gas and skin. The Sulfur child commonly has eczema. They don’t like to bath or wash and like to wear their clothes until they truly wear out. They like to collect things. They are generally more ‘hot’ and take off all unnecessary clothing. They love fat, meat and sweets. Sulfur children are usually quite friendly and love to have fun. They can be quite messy and appear very independent. The rules are usually broken and they want to do everything themselves. They tend to be careless with their possessions. They need very little sleep and you will find them up by 6AM and very hungry by 11 AM. They have fear of heights, welfare of the family and showering. They would rather not bathe.

Chamomilla

Chamomilla children are excessively irritable and known for their tantrums. This remedy is a homeopathic salvation for teething pain. These children are sensitive to pain and external influences. They are sensitive to the wind or fresh air. The child wants to be carried and is quieted only when rocked. Anything they cry for is usually rejected when received. They do not want to be spoken to or touched. They have a fear of others approaching them. Emotions are felt in the stomach. They are generally hot and thirsty and yet feel better in a warm bed. You will usually see a redness of one cheek only. They have a desire for change and are discontented with everything.

Lycopodium

Lycopodium personalities have an extreme lack of self-confidence and thus have an aversion to undertaking new things. (Expects failure). There are two distinct types of Lycopodium children: those with fear and apprehension in every area of life and those that are bossy, dictatorial and controlling. The main feeling of this remedy picture is feeling small, yet wants to be big. They have a love of power. If this person remains small, his survival will be difficult, he will be humiliated and he will be nowhere. The focus is on becoming bigger, more powerful and reaching a higher position. Yet, deep down lacking confidence, they feel incapable. This can develop in them an anticipatory anxiety from this lack of confidence. Cowardice may be hidden by an outward show of bravado. This reminds me of the Lion in the Wizard of Oz or the Playground Bully. Lycopodiums usually have digestive issues such as gas and stomach distention a couple of hours after eating. Their pains move from right to left. They like to eat often, crave sugar, are sensitive to pain and fear monsters and ghosts. Lycopodium exhibits cognitive problems and usually helps with dyslexia and mistakes in motor skills.

Silicae

Silicae children feel an inner weakness. They can stand defiant and obstinate. The main concern of a Silicae person is “What will others think of me?” A Silicae personality wants others to understand his greatness. They can develop tremendous anxiety and apprehension with a sever fear of failure. You would see this before and examination as severe anxiety. They push themselves. Silicae children are generally tall, thin, chilly, timid, pale skinned and slow in development. They do not require company and do not react well to being consoled. They can be yielding, mild, delicate and refined.

Hepar sulph

Hepar sulph children and adults have a tremendous fear of being alone. They are very concerned about the health of relatives. They feel, though, that people whom they depend on for support treat them badly, put them down and humiliate them. The intensity of reaction of the Hepar sulph child is seen in violence. They become very violent, so much so that they want to set things on fire and want to kill (usually with a knife). They are very hurried, especially in speech, quarrelsome and very dissatisfied. It seems that nothing pleases the Hepar sulph personality. They have great chilliness and worse from cold of any kind. They do not like pressure or touch of another. They feel better in wet weather.

Nux vomica

Made from the Marking Nut, Nux vomica personalities always feel that they must be in a ‘process’. They feel like they must get tasks done no matter what. Not only do they feel hopeful about this, they feel fulfillment on completion of their goals. A Nux vomica child will come into the office and have goals throughout the session and be upset if interrupted. They desire freedom to ‘move forward’ at all costs. The marking nut has a hard outer shell and the seed, from which the remedy is made, contains strychnine. Always on the move, the hard shell is a barrier to penetrate. This can create irritability, passion and being fastidious (everything in order). Nux vomica children are not patient. They are competitive, independent, fault-finding, and oversensitive to noise and light, are chilly, crave stimulants and can wake between 3-4 AM. My clinical experiences alert me to those children from long labors. Nux vomica may be their remedy. The Nux vomica child tends to have colic from birth. The liver and other digestive organs are balanced and detoxification is stimulated by Nux vomica.

China

Delicate and artistic children, China officinallis may bring these exhausted children into balance. They have a sense of beauty and may have psychic sensitivity. This sensitivity may be too much if touched, in cold air and wind and oversensitivity to odors. They desire to have the best things and are full of plans and ideas. The mind seems to be most clear in the evening. They may stay up at night from activity of the mind. China is a wonderful remedy after a tremendous loss of fluids or other discharges. The China person becomes extremely exhausted.

Ignatia

Ignatia personalities usually have a sensation of a ‘lump in the throat’. Most of the world is hard to swallow. They seemed to be always disappointed. The mood is alternating and perhaps unstable. There may be bursts of uncontrollable laughter one part of the day and crying the next. They may find it hard to cry, but feel like it most of the time. Igantia amara is one of the finest remedies for grief. Grief may come from a loss of a loved one, an accident, separation, or even a loss of something hoped for. In some way, they have felt unloved and abandoned. Ignatia has its own form of depression. The feelings come from self-reproach or feeling guilty, inner conflicts, disappointments, silent grief and brooding, feeling they are criticized and feeling shame. The Ignatia person may find themselves eating away their grief and putting on body fat. A strong relationship exists between needing Ignatia and sensitivity to tobacco smoke.

Mercurius

Mercurius children feel they are being dominated, suppressed and contradicted by an extremely dictatorial authority. They feel attacked from all sides and have the delusion they are surrounded by enemies. They can be dictatorial. Mercurius children will avoid people, secluding themselves from social situations. They do not like to be approached or touched. There is instability on all levels. They are fascinated with themselves and are therefore usually selfish. Quite capable of being loving and friendly, it is reserved for those they trust most. There is extreme restlessness and anxiety ‘in the blood’. Usually up at night and sleepy during the day, it can drive them even further away from other people. They have a lack of self-confidence. There is an internal hurriedness with slowness in acting. The reverse can be true, too. Mercurius children can act in a hurry without thinking. These can be over talented precocious children who skip a grade, or again among the leaders of teenage gangs. There is an inner conflict between desire for law and order and violent impulses. They are extremely sensitive to criticism and contradiction. Mercurius individuals perspire all over the body and the perspiration are worse at night.