Can You Cure ADHD With Natural Remedies?

A no-nonsense guide to using natural medicine for ADHD - what we can do and what we can’t do.

It’s a question I’m asked frequently, and also one that I see posted on ADHD forums:

“Can you cure ADHD with natural medicine or naturopathic treatment?”

I have so much to say about this. And I want to set the record straight.

ADHD is a neurotype, which means we are born this way, and we can’t change the fact that we have been given a brain that isn’t like 95% of the population. You can’t change your brain type. Anyone who suggests that you can “cure” ADHD is coming from a place that’s NOT neuroaffirming, as they’re suggesting that you can find a way to be neurotypical. That’s just rubbish.

However, some there are so many factors that can make ADHD symptoms worse, and many of these factors can be modulated with natural medicines.

Here are some examples I see most often in clinic…

Gut Health.

Parasites, bacterial overgrowths (including SIBO), fungal overgrowth, a lack of good bacteria, and increased intestinal permeability (which we used to call leaky gut) can all lead to increased inflammation and neurotransmitter imbalances. This can greatly impact the symptoms of ADHD like brain fog, lack of focus and fatigue. Gut issues can also exacerbate common ADHD comorbidities like depression, anxiety and sleep issues.

Hormones.

Imbalances in hormones (especially in women and AFAB), can impact ADHD symptoms, particularly in the week leading up to your period. We can regulate these with herbs and supplements. Perimenopause is another danger time when ADHD symptoms can flare up - and yep - we have herbs for this stage of life too!

Nutrient imbalances.

Deficiencies in specific vitamins and minerals can impact symptoms like anxiety, agitation, depression, lack of focus, brain fog, low energy levels, low motivation and sleep issues. Sometimes bumping up the right amino acids can also deliver much needed precursors for neurotransmitters, so that you body can make more of the important stuff like dopamine, serotonin and GABA.

Diet.

Our blood sugar levels can greatly impact energy levels, focus (especially in the afternoons), and mental health. A good ADHD-savvy naturopath will tweak what you eat to help you to have more focus and less crashes in the late morning and mid afternoon. This may also help with food cravings. Your practitioner may also check to see if there are any food allergies or intolerances causing an immune response and driving inflammation.

Exposure to toxins/viruses.

Environmental medicine comes into the picture as well. We look at your exposure to things like mould, heavy metals and viruses as these can all impact inflammation, mental health and sleep.

As you can see, there’s so much we can do. But it’s important to find someone with a neuroaffirming approach.

Be careful going to anyone who’s claiming to “cure” or “treat” ADHD with natural medicine, as that’s totally misleading. What we’re actually addressing from a professional standpoint are the drivers that can make symptoms of ADHD and its comorbidities worse.

But at the end of the day, you’ll still be an ADHDer, and that’s ok! (Would you really want to be neurotypical anyway?) The aim instead is to be an ADHDer who feels calmer, more focused and better able to face the world everyday.