ADHD and Chinese Medicine

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is becoming a very common childhood neurodevelopmental diagnosis.   What many people may not know is that Chinese herbs are very effective at calming anxiety, increasing ability to focus and think clearly, as well as settling the emotions and calming moodiness.  We have both worked with ADHD in our practices and want to share some of what we have learned in this process.  First and foremost, each child is unique which means that each child’s herbal formula will be constructed differently to address both the root cause and specific symptoms that s/he is experiencing. Chinese medicine does not separate out the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual levels associated with health imbalances, in either the explanation of what is causing it or in the treatment strategy.

These multi-dimensional aspects of health and well being are fully integrated in Chinese medicine, all of which can deepen not only the understanding of a specific health condition, but also the comprehensive way to address it. This means that issues classified as behavioral or emotional disorders in western medicine can easily be diagnosed and thus treated successfully with acupuncture, herbal medicine, and medical qi gong. We have seen good success using herbal formulas in these situations and tend to use this modality, combined with medical qi gong. There are several important similarities that all the children who have come to us in our practice with a diagnosis of ADHD share and which we will discuss here.

The liver in Chinese medicine represents the wood element.  It is an organ that has an abundant vital life force, or Qi, associated with it, embodied by its color of green.  Think literally of the green shoots of life that survive winter to burst through the ground with vigor.  It is birth energy that will come forth at any cost and can become frustrated when it gets stuck or blocked in any way. The liver functions as our filtration and detoxification system to eliminate toxins, be they environmental, emotional, hormonal, etc.  In Chinese medicine, the liver is responsible for regulating the smooth flow of Qi in the body.

On a physical level the liver represents the body’s ability to filter and detoxify itself and too many things coming at it – toxins in the environment, in food, emotional stress all can overwhelm the liver and decrease a child’s ability to filter.  This looks like anger, irritability, or frustration, even outbursts of rage.  It can also be depression or anxiety, with a clenching, knotted stomach. Over physical signs can be headaches or even migraines, eye issues like red or irritated eyes, and skin conditions.  You will likely see that any physical or emotional issues increase under stressful conditions.

For more information about the liver in Chinese medicine and how to care for it, click here for more information.

In Chinese medicine, the spleen is associated with the earth element  and the emotion of worry.  The spleen is responsible for transporting and transforming Qi, and transforms our food into usable energy and blood.  It is the organ that digests and assimilates our life experiences, our emotions, new information, as well as our food.  In Chinese medicine, the spleen/pancreas and its organ pair, the stomach, perform this function. We like to refer to the spleen as your inner earth and ability to deeply trust and feel supported, nourished, and stable.

A strong spleen is important for students who are constantly being exposed to new information that needs to be assimilated and digested.  New situations, new information, new people, new experiences, if they are to be usable, must be digested.  Too much of any of these can weaken the spleen’s transformative and metabolic functioning.  Physically this can present as a lack of appetite, ruminating thoughts, difficulty falling asleep, constipation (or loose stools/diarrhea), decreased immune functioning, fatigue, obsessive compulsive behavior, as well as digestive issues such as bloating or gas.

Eliminating sugar is one of the first dietary recommendation we recommend for anyone with a weak spleen.  Sugar overstimulates the spleen and weakens the body’s digestion and immune capacity.  What results is typically ruminating thoughts, insomnia (i.e. trouble falling asleep), and anxiety. For more information about how to manage food and diet in a way that best promotes good digestion and assimilation, click here.

The liver and spleen have an intimate relationship, one that is known as the parent-grandparent relationship – this interaction is known as the control cycle in Chinese medicine.  This means that one tends to control the other by exerting influence over it.  What it means is that when the liver gets out of control, it likes to boss the spleen around, and when the spleen is weak, it becomes more easily influenced and invaded by the liver. The simple explanation is that when we have too much coming at us we can not easily digest and assimilate it.  This stresses the system out, weakens the immune system, and can lead to chronic health issues later in life like diabetes, high blood pressure, to mention a few of the most common. How it manifests in each individual depends on that person’s unique constitution and environment, as well as factors such as food/diet, exercise, and the relationships they have throughout their life.

The practical application of this concept is that we need grounding and to be grounded in our lives, through our daily practices, through the food we eat, and in our relationships.  When we do not have this internal grounding in our bodies, all of these aspects of our lives tend to suffer. We need this grounding to keep us from running too fast and too long, as well as to be able to digest and understand what we are experiencing.

The heart is also an important organ system in Chinese medicine when discussing the ability to concentrate and to remain calm. The Chinese character for the heart is a tree with empty limbs (pictured below). This is because the heart is meant to be a quiet reservoir of stillness and peace. If the liver is agitated or the kidneys (water element, reserves of the body) are weak then the kidneys many not be able to cool the heart and the liver may adversely affect the heart. This will then prevent proper focus or concentration. Also, physically this can present as someone who can sit still and is easily distracted or agitated.

In western society, we tend to focus on fixing the problem as quickly as possible.  Or more specifically on fixing the person involved.  It is possible to substitute Chinese medical solutions like herbs for pills. While Chinese medicine can successfully address signs and symptoms of ADHD, it is also essential to look at the overall environment to better understand what is the cause of stress and anxiety??

Because kids spend so much time in school, this is one environment  that should be examined to determine whether or not it is a good match for your child.  Is what they are expected to learn developmentally appropriate? Or maybe your child has a different learning style that is not accounted for in a traditional educational environment? This is important because you do not want to use herbs or pills to pacify the physical signs that something is not right.

Kids experience anxiety and emotional reactions for a reason.  It is their way of saying that something is not right for them, that they are overwhelmed or uncertain of how to handle a situation.  Giving a child a diagnosis of ADHD is subtle yet profound label, in that it directs responsibility away from other factors and influences (even if they are acknowledged the result if still that the child’s reaction is a problem or an issue) and places it squarely on a child as a  medical condition that needs to be fixed or eliminated. In essence, the child becomes the puzzle that needs to be fixed.

Chinese medicine simply offers an explanation for how what we experience on the emotional and spiritual levels can impact our physical health.  And simply understanding these connections can open up further insights on how to identify and resolve factors that may be influencing and contributing to the individual situation. It provides a lens that does not narrow the focus to the child alone but, by it’s very nature, broadens the lens to include a more holistic picture.

Chinese medicine recognizes the subtle indicators, be they emotional or physical, that something is out of balance.   The Yellow Emperor’s Classic, one of the most important and oldest Chinese medical texts states, “The sages of antiquity did not treat those who were already sick, but those who were not sick… When a disease has already broken out and is only then treated, would that not be just as late as to wait for thirst before digging a well, or to wait to go into battle before casting weapons?”   Chinese medicine gives a roadmap for understanding the subtle clues that things are not in harmony and balance, as well as for addressing things proactively, such as an emotional trauma or environmental exposures.

Chinese medicine offers a clear understanding of the symptoms and etiology of ADHD.  If you or someone you love, child or adult, is suffering from any of these symptoms we discussed,  you can contact us for a consultation to understand the unique pattern that is contributing to the symptoms and to help determine a holistic approach, including an herbal formula that our body and spirit create a more balanced internal environment.  Click here for more information about how to schedule.