By  Dr.P.M.Sharma  

According to the ayurveda a human being is an assemblage of four belongings, the corpse, the Mann or the psyche, the Atma the soul and the Buddhi or the intellectual. (Except the corpse other three are virtual.) And hence the human body works like a scheme. If any one of them (excluding the soul) does not execute as per the rules of the physiology; the disease will have effect.
There are three type of the personalities are mainly described in ayurveda, vata type, pitta type and kafa type. Rest personalities are the cluster of any two or three of them. If any un-physiological condition takes place due to any cause; the illness acquires it position in body, mind stuff or in the Buddhi or the intellectual. All human being of any age group can suffer with the psychological or psychiatric malaise. The attention deficit or hyperactivity disorder really one of them and this problem is not new among the growing children. (To know more about the personalities read the article headed “Vedic psychology” in yoga section.)

Definition: -
Attention Deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) refers to a variety of predicament behaviors associated with poor awareness span, impulsivity. ADHD often presents children from learning and socializing well.

Classification: -
ADHD is classified into three subtypes, based on whether hyperactivity or inattention is the predominant symptom.

The three classifications are:
1. Predominant inattention type.
2. Predominant hyperactivity type.
3. Predominant combined type.
Usually children of school age are enthusiastic to be trained about new things all the time. Their power of surveillance and memory increases, and their ability to learn sharpens. If a child is comfortable in school and gets on well with children and teachers, parents are happy that their child is settled and learning.
Some families are not so lucky. Children may encounter problems that the parents do not expect. If the child’s performance compares poorly with other children this also causes unexpected problems.
In case of children with ADHD, a major responsibility is placed on teachers as well as parents.

A NUMBER OF CHILDREN WITH ADHD HAVE HIGH ENERGY LEVELS. WITH PROPER MANAGEMENT THEY CAN BE HIGHLY CREATIVE AND PRODUCTIVE.
It is generally difficult to establish a diagnosis of ADHD in children younger than four or five years pattern is still developing.

Causes:
There is rarely any single cause for ADHD. A combination of psychological factor psychological and biological and environmental factors probably all contribute to this disorder.
1.Brain injuries due to birth trauma or pre-birth problems.
2. Family stress.
3. Educational difficulties.
4. Imbalance in the chemicals of brain and neurological system of child.
5. The child’s temperament, as this contributes to his attitude and personality.

Symptoms
Children with ADHD generally show the following (not all of these) symptoms:
Lack of attention, easily distracted, impulsive behavioral, poor organization skill, low self-esteem and hyperactivity.
Symptoms of ADHD are grouped into three behavioral aspects (Based on diagnostic and statistical manual (DSM-IV) American psychiatric association)
- Inattention
- Hyperactivity
- Impulsivity

Inattention:v - Often fails to pay close attention to details.
- Often fail to finish task or sustain attention.
- Often seems not to listen to what is said to him/her
- Very often disorganized about tasks and activities.
- Often avoids task that require sustain mental effort.
- Often forgetful about daily activities.
- Easily distracted by extraneous stimuli.
- Forgetful.
- Often loses things necessary for tasks or activity.

Hyperactivity:
A child suffering from ADHD exhibits at least three of the following symptoms over a period of five or six months.
- Often runs around excessively.
- Often unduly noisy or has difficulty in engaging in leisure activities qualities.
- Leaves seat in class or where seated is expected
- Often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms on seat.
- Often appears driven or “ on the go”.
- Often talks excessively.

Impulsivity
Some of the following symptoms that persist at least for six months:
- Often blurts out answers before the question have been completed.
- Often fails to wait in lines or wait turns in games or group activities.
- Often interrupts or intrudes on others.

Management:
Attention therapy requires a minimum period of three months to show perceptible improvements and at least a period of nine months to one year to show distinct improvements. The period may vary from child to child.

GUIDANCE BY PROFESSIONALS/ TEACHERS AND AFFECTIONATE INTERACTION BY PARENTS PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN IMPROVING THE CHILDREN AFFECTED BY ADHD.

Children with ADHD generally grow up to be normal youngsters and adults with professional help and supportive therapies of attention.

The management in the Ayurveda:
This disorder is related to the BUDHHI or intellectual, and Buddhi is always be influenced by ADI BALA PRAVRIT (genetic), JANMA BALA PRAVRIT (congenital), ARJIT (acquired). Buddhi always receives his information through the GYANENDRYA or sense organs as well as the psyche and analyses the events according to its natural aptitudes.
The psyche (or responsiveness) is supposed to be responsible for this activity. That is why this is recommended to augment the confidence by counseling according to the patterns of psychotherapy or psychoanalysis system.

The roll of food (BHOJAN):
According to Vedic mythology the food plays the very significant role. The SATWIK, RJASIK and TAMASIK types of personalities are there and food is also classified in the identical categorization according to the effects and known as SATWIK BHOJAN (to increase the spiritual and constructive wisdom), TAMASIK BHOJAN (generates the immoral and vicious wisdom) and RAJASIK BHOJAN (generates the acquisitive wisdom).

Yoga:
Though yoga is useful in older children and plays very significant role because the yoga is simply management of mental activities. Mind is the collection of thoughts. In this case; yoga works as a check on the activities of mind. Checking the vague wanderings of the mind and directing it to useful tasks. Control over the mind means training it to act according to our wishes. HALASANA, PRANAYAMA, MEDITATION, SHEERSHASANA and TRATAK are some useful asanas but the should be practiced after recommendations of yoga expert and consultant physician.

Herbs:
Withania somenifera, Bacopa monnieri, Glycyrrhiza glabra, centella asiatica, Celastrus paniculatus, Convolvulus pluricaulis, Benincasa hispida, Lavandula stoechas, Acorus calamus, Nordostachys jatamansi, Salix caprea, Vitex negundo, Allium sativum, and many more herbs are advised in ayurvedic texts.
BRIHAMRASAYAN, SARASWAT CHURNA, ASHWAGANDHARISHTHA, BALARISHTHA, KUMARKALYAN RAS, and other herbo-minral preparations are being used in India since many years.

Panchkarma:
Though the Panchkarma is not recommended in children but some kinds of moderate activities like massage, Shirodhara, Shiro-abhyang, and moderate Sweden can be utilized under the supervision of an expert.

Remember:
All ADHD suffering children have the equal rights like other children and because they do not know about their malady, therefore they need more intention and more care from their teachers, parents, and friends as well as from the society. Never forget that Mr. Albert Einstein was the one of them when he was a child.
For more knowledge, your comments and free consultation please mail to us at: -

info@ayurvedic-healings.com

Editor
J.A.Y. (Journal of ayurveda and yoga)