Do Antibiotics Cause Hyper Activity in Children?
Childhood Behavioral Problems Healed Through Natural Means
May 6, 2008
Since the days of Sunset Orange and other E numbers parents have come a long way. We know that we shouldn’t feed our children food that is full of preservatives or that has been highly processed and flavoured. However, many children are still developing behavioural disorders such as ADD and ADHD.
Hyper Activity and ADHD Link to Antibiotics
Naturopathic healers have come to recognize that there is a strong link between childhood behavioral problems and the early use of antibiotics to treat such ailments as ear, nose and throat infections. It is likely that this can destroy the beneficial flora in the digestive tract, allowing yeasts and other harmful organisms to set up home inside our children.
Sugars in the Diet Feed Yeasts and Anaerobic Bacteria in the Gut
Members of the Fungi family, the yeasts multiply in the warm moist conditions in the gut. When children eat sugary foods the yeasts are also fed. They then ferment producing ethanol (alcohol) and carbon dioxide. It is no wonder that children who have intestinal yeasts also experience behavioral issues, tummy aches, low energy, poor concentration, sleep disorders and skin problems.
Food Intolerances Cause Childhood Hyper Activity and ADHD Disorders
Parents may also be unwittingly adding to the problem by giving their children ‘diet’ food to combat obesity. Unfortunately diet foods often contain additives that are stimulants causing the equivalent of a caffeine buzz in the brain. It is like giving a child a cappuccino and then expecting him to be calm!
Treating the Yeast Problem Solves the Hyper Activity and ADHD
How this is done depends upon the age of the child. It is a good idea to use the services of a trained naturopathic healer or kinesiologist.
A kinesiologist can muscle test to gauge the level of the problem and to find which supplements are suitable. They can also test for food intolerances, which are often part of the problem. Even babies and young children can be tested through the use of a surrogate – the mother or the father – who holds the child while the muscle testing is performed.
Helpful Hints for Managing Children with ADHD
Often taste-free powdered probiotics are used since they can be added to the child’s food or drink. Older children can take a tablet form. There are other things that parents can do to help resolve or minimise the problem:
- Give children water to drink, not sugary or diet drinks
- From an early age have them eating healthy food including plenty of fruit and vegetables
- Only use sweets as an occasional treat or reward
- Give healthy treats such as dried fruit and nuts
- Check foods for additives
- Filter tap water or use bottled water as chlorine can aggravate the problem
- Make sure there are sufficient beneficial oils (e.g. fish oil) in the diet for brain development
Eradicating the Yeasts from the Gut to Heal the Hyper Active Child
Eradicating the yeasts and normalizing the gut flora can have a hugely beneficial effect in a relatively short time. Mood swings disappear and the child becomes calmer and more manageable. However it is necessary to keep up the treatment for a few months to make sure the yeasts have been totally eradicated and won’t come back.
Future courses of antibiotics should be followed immediately by a course of beneficial bacteria supplements to ensure that the problem doesn’t recur.
References:
Is This Your Child by Dr. Doris Rapp
Help for the Hyperactive Child by William Crook, M.D.
 |
