Natural Healing: Herbs for ADHD in Children

By Kathi Keville
Published on February 9, 2010

According to a study reported in the Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) and American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) may help children overcome attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In two weeks of treating thirty-six children, about two-thirds of the children with psychosomatic problems showed improvement, as did nearly one-third of those who were overly anxious or shy. After one month, three-quarters of the children displayed far less hyperactivity. Children who had obvious social problems experienced a 44 percent improvement. A larger placebo-controlled study is currently being conducted on the same herbs. The idea of using these herbs for these problems isn’t new. Herbalist Aviva Romm recommends both of them in her book ADHD Alternatives (Storey Books, 2000).


Source: Lyon, M. R., et al. “Effect of the herbal extract combination Panax quinquefolium and Ginkgo biloba on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a pilot study.” Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience 2001, 26(3): 221-228.

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