Understanding Current Naturopathic Practices in the Care of Children and Adolescents with ADHD
Uncharted Territory:
Understanding Current Naturopathic Practices in the Care of Children and Adolescents with ADHD
Fin Mackenzie | BSc( CM), ADNat, DNut, CRM Dr Jessica Bayes | PhD( Public Health)
Abstract
Attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder( ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition characterised by inattention, disorganisation, and hyperactivity-impulsivity, often continuing into adulthood and significantly affecting daily life. In Australia, prevalence is high among children and adolescents, with concerns about rising diagnoses and heavy reliance on medication. This has raised issues of side effects, stigma, financial strain, and the broader impact on families.
While stimulant medications may show short-term benefits, people experiencing ADHD receive limited guidance on lifestyle and dietary approaches. Although non-pharmacological interventions are well-supported in the literature, their integration into routine care remains inadequately established. Current clinical practice continues to prioritise medication, yet many practitioners recognise the value of multidisciplinary and holistic care. Naturopathic and complementary approaches may offer cost-effective, safe, patient-centred strategies, but their role in ADHD management is not well integrated into mainstream practice, highlighting the need for further investigations. Specifically, understanding naturopathic treatment approaches, appointment structures, clinical accommodations, clinical testing practises, and referrals and collaborations undertaken by naturopaths in the support of children and adolescence with ADHD is needed to promote integration.
Introduction
Attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder( ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by inattention, disorganisation, and hyperactivityimpulsivity, often persisting into adulthood and impairing daily functioning( 1). Globally, ADHD prevalence is rising( 2) and in Australia is said to affect approximately 7.6 % of children aged 3-12 and 5.6 % of adolescents( 3).
Concerns about over-diagnosis and over-treatment are widespread( 4, 5). The National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health( NICE) guidelines( 2009 / 2018)( 6) recommend medicating only in severe cases or when nonpharmacological interventions fail. However, despite 87 % of diagnoses being mild to moderate, two-thirds of children receive medication( 7), in contradiction of these recommendations. This overprescription raises concerns about adverse effects, stigma, and financial strain, with ADHD-related costs in Australia estimated at $ 20 billion( 8). Unnecessary medication can harm children through side effects and psychosocial impacts, while families bear emotional and financial burdens( 9-11).
The Australasian ADHD Professionals Association( ADDPA) guidelines prioritise pharmacological treatments yet emphasise the need for research into non-drug alternatives( 12). Although stimulant medications show short-term benefits, more evidence is needed for non-drug interventions, highlighting a research gap and the absence of consistent guidance on lifestyle or dietary approaches( 13-15).
Current shortages of pharmacological ADHD medications further underscore the urgency of identifying and implementing alternative strategies to support children and adolescents with ADHD( 16-18). This issue is particularly urgent given legislative changes in New South Wales. From
224 | vol31 | no4 | AJNM