There are millions of children in America who suffer from some form of attention deficit disorder (ADD). If the symptoms include hyperactivity, the psychologists slide in an H (ADHD). In either case, modern medicine has no cure, only treatments. A few enlightened pediatricians advocate a dietary approach, recommending any of several "ADHD diets", but the vast majority prescribe drugs throughout childhood. These drugs are not benign; they are controlled substances similar to cocaine. In fact, doctors and pharmacists are required to account for each and every pill. Unlike other drugs, a physician cannot simply phone in a prescription for ritalin. You must pick it up at the office and hand-deliver it to your pharmacy. At the same time, you are told that your child can take this drug every day for years without serious complications. You don't need a medical degree to realize this is absurd. And if you've been on insulin, or hormone replacement therapy, or blood pressure medication for years, you know, from first-hand experience, that deleterious side effects are inevitable. If there is even a 10% chance of effectively treating ADHD, or any other chronic condition, without medication, or with less medication, the patient is advised to take this "road less traveled". It just might make all the difference.
Don't assume, based upon the above paragraph, that I am steadfastly anti-drug. I have given my son ritalin, and other meds, and they even helped for a while. But then they stopped working, and side-effects began to appear. If a prescribed medication works for you or your child, that's great. Still, you might wonder if there is another way; and in my case we had to find another way.