Like medication, your decision to use an alternative treatment for ADHD is a personal and private one. And like medication, you may very well run into those who do not support your decision to use a non traditional treatment for your child's challenges.

I tried alternative treatments for ADHD on my child with limited success and after a year, I found myself back on what worked best for my child, medication. If you plan on using an alternative treatment for ADHD, here are some tips and thoughts from my experiences.

• It can be difficult to find a medical doctor who will support your efforts to treat ADHD with alternatives. I learned that medical doctors have very little, if any, training in nutrition. Also, doctors do not make any money recommending alternatives. However, pharmaceutical companies do offer incentives and promotional items to doctors for promoting their products.

• Some of the larger organizations do not approve of using alternatives. They do promote traditional methods. I have heard complaints from several parents who were treated poorly for even asking about alternatives by some of the large organizations and these organizations do not offer any information to the parent about such treatments. Censoring this type of information is wrong in my opinion. I believe a parent is entitled to ALL information regarding treatment whether they agree with it or not. It is NOT my job to preach what I believe, nor should it be the job of any one else to do the same. Instead, I believe all information should be made available so that the parent can make a well informed decision.

• If the idea of medicating your child with Ritalin, Cylert or other medications concerns you, you might want to try using alternatives first. If alternatives fail to help your child succeed and control the symptoms, then you can consider using meds. This may help alleviate any issues you have regarding giving your child medication, knowing that you tried other ways to control the symptoms first.

• Be wary of salesman and companies who offer amazing testimonials to promote their product. Ask for facts, find out why their products work and do the research yourself. Often times, you can find similar products at a much cheaper price at your local health food store. Be sure that you are comparing apples to apples. For instance, when it comes to minerals, liquid minerals are more expensive than the tablet form, but are absorbed by the body much quicker. Also, the size of the pill or taste of the liquid may be something to consider. No matter how good the bargain, if it tastes like dirt or is so big your child can't swallow it, it is a poor buy at any price. Also speak to your doctor or pharmacist before starting any product or supplement.

• Like medication, alternatives often take several weeks or months before you find the right combination and dosage that works for your child. If an alternative treatment is what you really want for your child, be sure to give it a fair chance.

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  My son's school refused to give my son his nutritional supplements at school. Like medication, he needed doses at noon. When my son's school refused to accommodate me, I went to my doctor and had him sign a medication release form ( a school district form) stating that my son was to get these supplements at a prescribed time. The school was unable to argue with a doctor's written order to give supplements. Since they are lacking a medical degree, they had no basis to argue with the doctor.

• While you may win the battle of supplements with the school, you may run into trouble, as I did, if you are removing your child from medication. Once I removed the medication, my son's principal told me that I would have to sit with him in class everyday to ensure the safety of the other students as well as my child's safety. If this, or something similar happens, you will have to deal with it on a case-by-case basis. Know your rights and your child's rights to a free and appropriate education.

• Remember that most medications are covered by health care insurance and HMO'S. Alternatives are generally not covered and can be far more expensive than medication. If you have a situation where your child absolutely can not take meds due to side-effects and/or other health challenges, be sure to contact your insurance company. I have talked to a couple of parents who were able to successfully get healthcare companies or other agencies to pay for supplements with their doctor's support and a lot of advocating.

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