ADHD and ADD
ADHD is a neurobiological developmental disorder in which problems with attention and/or hyperactivity and impulsiveness are at the forefront. The way ADHD is expressed varies greatly. Some people are easily distracted, forgetful and have difficulty planning and organizing. In others, physical or inner restlessness, impulsiveness, irritability and a constantly active head stand out.
The term ADD is still widely used for people whose attention problems are mainly present without clear hyperactivity. Nowadays, ADD is no longer a separate diagnosis, but it is covered by ADHD with a predominantly inattentive image.
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can be used in addition to complaints associated with ADHD. This includes not only attention and hyperactivity, but also sleep, energy, emotions, irritability and digestion.
Common symptoms
ADHD can express itself differently in children and adults. Also, certain characteristics may change throughout life.
Common complaints and characteristics are:
- difficulty in holding attention for a longer period;
- be rapidly distracted;
- forgetfulness and regularly losing stuff;
- difficulties in planning, organising and completing tasks;
- delay or difficulty in getting started on tasks;
- inner or physical restlessness;
- impulsive action or reaction;
- difficulty waiting or thinking before doing anything;
- become rapidly overstimulated;
- irritability and difficulty regulating emotions;
- a busy head and effort to calm down thoughts;
- sleep problems and fatigue.
In the predominantly careless image, concentration problems, forgetfulness and difficulty in organizing can be strongly present, while hyperactivity hardly stands out.
In girls and women, inattention and inner restlessness are relatively common, while in boys and men marked hyperactivity and impulsiveness are more often seen. This sometimes allows ADHD to be recognised later in girls and women.
Possible causes
ADHD does not come from a single cause. Genetic predisposition plays an important role. In addition, differences have been found in the development and functioning of brain networks involved in, among other things, attention, impulse control and the regulation of behaviour.
Several biological and environmental factors can influence the development and expression of ADHD. Factors such as sleep deprivation, prolonged stress and overstimuli may enhance existing symptoms, but do not automatically become the cause of ADHD.
Other mental or physical problems may also cause symptoms similar to ADHD or occurring alongside ADHD. An official diagnosis is therefore made by competent healthcare professionals.
How can acupuncture help with ADHD and ADD?
Within Chinese medicine, the treatment is not only determined by the diagnosis of ADHD. It examines which complaints are in the foreground and which underlying TCM pattern fits.
Therefore, someone who has difficulty concentrating and quickly becomes mentally tired can be treated differently than someone whose hyperactivity, impulsiveness, irritability and poor sleep are central.
Depending on the picture of complaints, treatment may be directed at:
- support mental and physical rest;
- support concentration and mental brightness;
- improve sleep and recovery;
- improve Qi's flow through voltage and irritability;
- Reduce heat of fire in the event of strong restlessness and impulsiveness;
- Reduce Dampness and Phlegm in mental fog and heaviness;
- Qi, Blood or Yin support when fatigue or insufficient recovery is involved.
Acupuncture can be used in addition to psychoeducation, psychological guidance and medication.
How can Chinese herbal medicine help with ADHD and ADD?
Chinese herbs are also selected based on the individual grievance image and the underlying TCM pattern. Two people with the same ADHD diagnosis can therefore receive a different herbal treatment.
Depending on the pattern, treatment may be directed at:
- support mental rest and concentration;
- Reduce heat of fire in strong hyperactivity and irritability;
- Reduce Dampness and Phlegm in mental fog and concentration problems;
- support the Spleen in case of fatigue and digestive problems;
- Support Yin when inner restlessness coincides with insufficient recovery;
- Qi and Blood support fatigue and mental exhaustion.
Herbs can be used daily between treatments and can therefore have a different role than acupuncture. When using ADHD medication or other medicines, possible interactions are taken into account. Prescription medication is not adjusted or stopped without consultation with the treating doctor.
How does Chinese medicine view ADHD and ADD?
Within the traditional Chinese medicine ADHD is not seen as one fixed imbalance. The Western diagnosis describes the condition, while TCM then looks at how complaints are expressed with the individual person.
A person with particular concentration problems and mental fatigue may therefore have a different pattern within TCM than someone with hyperactivity, impulsiveness, irritability and sleep problems at the forefront.
The TCM approach to these types of complaints may involve different organ systems, including the Heart, the Liver, the Spleen and the Kidneys. These names mean wider functional systems within TCM than only the anatomical organs.
The Heart is connected to the Shen, a concept that includes consciousness, mental rest and emotional functioning. When the Shen is restless, for example, inner restlessness, impulsiveness and sleep problems can occur.
The Liver is connected to the free movement of Qi and to the Hun . The Their is associated with ideas, plans, direction and mental movement among others. When these functions are disturbed, it can be combined with restlessness, irritability and difficulty to calm down mental activity within TCM.
The Spleen is inter alia connected to the Yi: the ability to focus attention, process information and hold thoughts. If the Spleen does not function properly, TCM can cause concentration problems, worry, mental fatigue and forgetfulness.
Among other things, the Kenyans are linked to constitutional construction, growth and development as well as to the support of the brain and mental functions.
Constitutional construction and the current picture of complaints
Constitutional predisposition within TCM can be an important background. That does not mean that ADHD is simply caused by a 'weak' TCM organ system or that constitutional construction can be removed with treatment.
It is more useful to distinguish between the predisposition for ADHD and additional TCM patterns that can influence the way complaints express themselves .
In addition, someone can develop Spleen-Qi deficiency and Phlegm, which increases fatigue, mental fog and concentration problems. In someone else, Heat of Fire can combine with more hyperactivity, impulsiveness and irritability. A shortage of Yin can contribute to a combination of fatigue, insufficient recovery and inner restlessness.
These TCM patterns are not the same as the cause of ADHD. They are used to understand the individual grievance image and adjust the treatment accordingly.
A recognizable combination of complaints and physical characteristics is called a TCM pattern. Two people with the same ADHD diagnosis can have different patterns and therefore be treated differently within TCM.
Below are some patterns that may occur with ADHD-like symptoms. Other patterns are possible and multiple patterns can be present at the same time. This allows you to recognize yourself in different patterns. Not everyone with the same pattern has all the symptoms mentioned; the pattern is determined based on the overall picture.
What is a TCM organ system?
A TCM organ system describes a group of connected physical and functional processes and is wider than just the anatomical organ with the same name. Read more at TCM basics .
What is a TCM pattern?
A TCM pattern is a recognizable combination of complaints and physical characteristics that indicates which imbalance according to TCM is in the foreground. Read more at TCM basics .
Most common TCM patterns
Heart- and Liver-Fire
Brief explanation
With this pattern strong mental and physical activity is at the forefront. Fire means a state of strong internal heat and activity within TCM. This makes it difficult for the Shen to unwind. This pattern fits especially with a pronounced hyperactive and impulsive grievance and much less with the predominantly inattentive type.
Common symptoms
Strong restlessness or hyperactivity, impulsiveness, fast and much talk, quickly distracted, irritability, anger or emotional eruptions, difficulty sleeping relaxed and badly. There may also be signs of Heat, such as a warm feeling, thirst, a red face or red and irritated eyes.
Examples where this pattern may occur
ADHD where hyperactivity, impulsiveness, emotional disorder and sleep problems are at the forefront.
Phlegm-Fire disturbs the Shen
Brief explanation
Here strong mental activity goes together with Phlegm. Within TCM, Phlegm can interfere with mental clarity, while Fire creates extra activity and restlessness. At the same time, someone can be pressured and impulsive as well as chaotic or difficult to focus.
Common symptoms
Strong distraction, restlessness, impulsiveness, a constantly active or chaotic head, difficulty organizing thoughts, irritability, restless sleep and sometimes heavy or full feeling, mental fog or indigestion.
Examples where this pattern may occur
ADHD where hyperactivity and impulsiveness combine with chaotic thinking, mental fog or trouble to organize information.
Spleen-Qi-deficiency with Phlegm
Brief explanation
The Spleen is connected to the Yi within TCM and with it, among other things, with concentration and retention and processing of information. When the Spleen is weakened, Dampness or Phlegm can also occur. This may give a sense of mental heaviness or fog. Therefore, this pattern is more attentional problems and mental fatigue than pronounced hyperactivity in the foreground.
Common symptoms
Difficulty concentrating, quickly distracted, forgetfulness, difficulty keeping information, mental fog, difficulty planning and organizing, fatigue, heavy feeling and sometimes low appetite, bloating stomach or other digestive problems.
Examples where this pattern may occur
Especially ADHD with a predominantly inattentive image, when concentration problems are associated with mental fatigue, heaviness or indigestion.
Heart-Blood- and Spleen-Qi-deficiency
Brief explanation
According to TCM, insufficient Qi and Blood are available to support both the Yi and the Shen. Here too, attention problems can be at the forefront, but compared to Spleen-Qi deficiency with Phlegm we often see obvious exhaustion, peaking, emotional sensitivity and a mild or restless sleep.
Common symptoms
Concentration problems, forgetfulness, difficulty keeping information, much peaking, mental and physical fatigue, low energy, light sleep, palpitations and sometimes low appetite or other digestive symptoms.
Examples where this pattern may occur
ADHD with predominantly inattentive characteristics where concentration problems coincide with fatigue, peaking and sleep problems.
Liver- and Kidney-Yin-deficiency
Brief explanation
Yin stands for rest, nutrition and recovery within TCM. When Yin is insufficient, mental activity can be slowed down less well and relative Heat can arise. This can combine inner restlessness and concentration problems with signs of insufficient recovery.
Common symptoms
Concentration problems, inner restlessness, rapid distraction, irritability, mild or restless sleep, fatigue, dry mouth or throat, warmth in the evening or night, night sweats and sometimes dizziness or ringing in the ears.
Examples where this pattern may occur
ADHD where attention problems and inner restlessness coincide with chronic sleep problems, fatigue and signs of Yin deficiency.
Outlook
ADHD is a neurobiological developmental disorder. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are therefore not aimed at making the diagnosis go away. The treatment goal is in the case of complaints that are currently at the forefront, such as inner restlessness, irritability, sleep problems, mental fatigue or concentration problems.
The course of treatment varies from one person to another, depending among other things on the nature and severity of the symptoms, age, sleep, daily load, possible additional conditions and regular treatment. It is useful to determine specifically which complaints are being treated, so that it can be assessed during the course whether they actually change.
In the initial phase, once a week treatment is a usual directive. In case of pronounced complaints more frequently treatment can be appropriate. If improvement occurs and it remains stable, the frequency can be reduced.
Regular treatment and support, such as psycho-education, practical structure, psychological guidance, sufficient movement, attention to sleep and if appropriate medication, may remain important components of the treatment.
Contact
Do you have ADHD or do you still use the term ADD for your complaints and want to know whether acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine can fit in with your situation?
During a first consultation we discuss not only attention, impulsiveness and restlessness, but also, for example, sleep, energy, emotions, irritability, digestion and other physical complaints. Based on the overall picture, a treatment plan will be drawn up that matches your situation.
You can make an appointment directly online or contact us for more information.