Is there an herbal equivalent to Ritalin?

[bluestateguy]

Are there any herbal over the counter subsatnces that do what ritalin does? That is, help concentration?

[GOPisEvil]

1. I hear and see advertisements for this stuff:

http://www.focusfactor.com/?id=2

But I've never used it, nor do I know anyone that has.

[ConcernedCanuk]

2. Gimme a hint, . . what is the Ritalin SUPPOSED to "cure" ?

.
.
.

Most drugs have more than one application, so I didn't even do a google to see what it does..

Any response I might give would have to be a particular complaint/symptom . .

I pretty much "self-medicate",

no prescription drugs for me unless I'm desperate - -

Haven't been "desperate" for over 6 years now

- and better for it . .

[aquart]

7. Ritalin doesn't "cure" anything.

It's an amphetamine. Speed stuff. But for ADD people, it slows you down and allows you to focus by providing a kind of filter that the rest of you have naturally.

[ConcernedCanuk]

10. Ok - I checked on ADD, in my "Bible"

.
.
.

"Prescription for Natural Healing" by Phyllis A Balch,CNC and James F. Balch, MD.

Theres a ton of stuff in there, Vitamins, Minerals, diet reccomendations etcetera

Here's just a few from that book

Under Nutrients, ESENTIAL (not complete, too lazy to type it all)

Cacium and Magnesium
Co-Enzyme A & Q10
Efalex Focus or Kyolic-EPA
Gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA)
Multi-vitamin and mineral
Bitamin B's -

Under Herbs
Bacopin - (memory enhancer)
Ginko Bilboa - brain function and concentration
Ginseng - memory -

there's a heck of alot more

ACTUALLY, you should buy the book,{"Prescription for Natural Healing" by Phyllis A Balch,CNC and James F. Balch, MD.) it's somewhere between 25 - 40 bucks up here

Has paid me back many times over !

Mine is the 3rd Edition, ISBN 1-58333-077-1 (copyright 2000) I suspect there will be newer versions out there

oh published by Penguin - www.penguinputnam.com


hope this helps some

[amazona]

15. quick personal experience comment here

Neither ginkgo nor ginseng do a damn thing in my humble experience. But everyone's bio-chemistry is different of course. But those are the only two herbs on your list that even pretend to assist in focus/concentration to my knowledge. Not familiar with bacopin, though, I might check it out.

[commander bunnypants]

3. Not sure

but they way Ritalin works is by speeding up a part of the brain that is abnormally slow. Part of the frontal lobe I think.

DDQM

[MsFlorida]

4. ritalin alternative

Ritalin is an amphetamine. There really isnt too much that works well OTC, although I have an acquaintance that swears the "other" tobacco is the best yet.

[NewHampster]

8. Not an Amphetamine

Ritalin is a mild stimulant. It is NOT an amphetamine.

It is a stimulant and controlled substance used for ADHD and ADD.

Increases focus, attention and concentration and my ability to refrain from saying something I might later regret. You flaming....

visit CHADD http://www.chadd.org/

http://www.mentalhealth.com/drug/p30-r03.html


:donut:

edit: changed title

[BBradley]

12. Thank you, I was about to pull my hair out...

Not everything that stimulates is an amphetamine people.

[Nlighten1]

5. Maybe you want to try...

Lithium.

[ConcernedCanuk]

6. Dunno about LIthium - fecked up one of my chums liver

.
.
.

now she's on something else,

as well as stuff to keep her liver working properly,

well CLOSE to proper . .

[NewHampster]

9. Good link at NIH

Methylphenidate is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant. It has effects similar to, but more potent than, caffeine and less potent than amphetamines. It has a notably calming effect on hyperactive children and a "focusing" effect on those with ADHD.

From: http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofax/ritalin.html

:donut: :donut: :donut: :donut:

[lazarus]

11. what's wrong with ritalin?

Why not just take it?

You do realise that the active ingredients in herbals is.....chemicals, don't you?

[NewHampster]

13. Good one

thank you

[amazona]

16. some people have v. bad reaction to ritalin

I think it's fair to assume that if the OP is looking for alternatives, that Ritalin has some difficulty for that person. Heck, years back, we had a guy on Ritalin tear off his clothes and go screaming naked through LSU campus. It does affect some people in an amphetamine-like way and can cause paranoia and other psychiatric symptoms; not everyone can take the drug.

[NewHampster]

17. I agree - Just trying to protect my personal lifeline

Some of the newer 1 dose drugs sound good and I know many people are happy on ADDERALL

My only complaint about Rit is that I got it 10 or 15 years to late.

Now what would I do for some of those old time 70's dexis (mil) the greenies ...... :evilgrin:

[amazona]

14. for concentration, several but...

...they all have side effects. Ephedra (but don't take too much or you'll have jitters) plus it tastes horrible and is now technically illegal though it's hard to imagine being prosecuted for using it. Caffeine works for many people but same issue -- jitters if too much. Studies have shown that nicotine increases concentration but the side effects are too well known to need further discussion here. Hey, don't look at me like that, Mormon tea (ephedra), coffee, tea, and tobacco are all perfectly good botanicals right out of nature's herbal.

Since I have rather severe side effects from too much caffeine, I use chocolate (theobromine) on occasion when alertness is needed past my normal hour but I am not aware of this doing much good for those who are not caffeine sensitive.

On Edit: Maybe I should mention, when doing using chocolate, I use hot chocolate, not candy bars! I think maybe a liquid gets into the system faster. Or maybe I am just deluded and even hot water would do the same trick to keep me awake -- I just know that caffeine causes such problems for me that I have to use something else.

[Dogmudgeon]

18. Ritalin's dangers

It's a very safe, well-researched, and clinically familiar drug. The problem is that it's prescribed indiscriminantly to children. When you have 20 million children taking a drug, you're certain to have some who have bad problems with it.

It works like amphetamine, but induces less euphoria and has less of an addictive potential. But it's still Schedule 2 and subject to abuse.

If you need it, you should get it. 100 of the 5mg tabs cost about $30-$40. Obviously, you should educate yourself and talk to your physician about his/her clinical experience with it.

Good luck!

--bkl

[Elad]

19. Sure...

Improve your diet, cut out sugar and "white" carbs, replace with complex carbs (whole grains, veggies), watch less TV (your brain is trained by TV/video games to be lazy), and make sure you're getting plenty of essential fatty acids (EFAs). EFA supplementation provides EPA and DHA, which are the building blocks for your brain, and are often used to help kids with ADD/ADHD. The best way to get EFAs is through a fish oil or flax oil supplement, taken daily. Fish oil provides already-converted DHA and EPA, so is easier on your body and works faster/better, but can also be high in mercury and other heavy metals/taste bad. Flax oil requires your body to convert the fats itself into EPA and DHA, so you won't get as high of a turnover rate, but you won't risk side-effects from heavy metal contamination. EFAs will also help you lose weight, improve your heart health, lower your cholesterol, and improve your skin/hair health.

[afraid_of_the_dark]

20. I've heard Gingko Biloba is used for this purpose...

but I don't know if it really works. You have to be careful with some of the herbal medicines, especially if you are taking other supplements - some of them don't like to play together very well. You could do some serious damage to your innards.

I'm not big on medicating, but if you have to, it's best to do it under a doctor's supervision.

[Az]

21. Kinda like using a shotgun to treat a hang nail

Herbs are not extracted drugs. They contain a host of other active ingrediants that have their own individual effects. Since there is so little testing done (and none required for the way they are marketted) its a scatter shot instead of a guided slice. Add in the fact that there is no regulation on the concentration of the various active ingrediants in them and you are basically playing roulette with your body.

[tsakshaug]

22. on Adderal

Having lived a healthy lifestyle..exercise daily, no TV, no red meat, grains, no white sugar and all that I still have ADD. I have worked with other methods of treatment before medicating. None worked. This works