ADD

ADD, ADHD & Learning Disorders

Attention Deficit Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorders, Learning Disorders, Oppositional Behavior Disorders and Obsessive Compulsive Disorders can be caused by a variety of things.

There has been an alarming connection between these disorders and toxins. Pesticides are of major concern. Pesticides and other toxins can damage the blood brain barrier (http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/bbb.html), once damaged materials that should not be able to enter the brain are able to enter the brain easily (http://www.chem-tox.com/pesticides/index.htm#lawnneurotox). Toxins in foods, personal care products, laundry products, household products, air, and water can enter the brain causing many symptoms including those found in ADD, ADHD, learning and behaviour disorders.

An intolerance or allergy to the dyes and chemicals in laundry detergents and fabric softeners can be a factor in learning difficulties, hyperactivity, restlessness, laboured breathing, and hormone imbalance. In many cases, especially for intolerances, route of entry can be through the skin. See skin permeability.
Allergies to foods, preservative, additives and food dyes are also a common factor in clients with learning disorders or decreased mental function. Food Additives Information http://www.cspinet.org/reports/chemcuisine.htm

Dr. Doris Rapp, Pediatrician http://www.vitalitymagazine.com/node/591

What can you do to help your child:

Toxins enter the body by ingestion, inhalation and through absorption through the skin (anything touching the skin or in the air can be absorbed).

Remove all additives, preservatives, artificial flavours and colours, which can go directly to the brain, from the diet .
Limit sugars, which can go directly to the brain.
Switch to all natural laundry, household and personal care products. (neurotoxins in regular products can go directly to the brain)
Remove all scented products (synthetic chemicals in these products are neurotoxic)
Have your child take a series of detoxifying/healing baths (see main page) Use 1/2 recipe if the child is under 9 years of age. Follow directions on the main page including checking with your regular healthcare provider.

See Toxin List & Symptoms

For more information on toxic effect and children visit the following sites:

http://psr.igc.org/ihwpp1.ppt#18

http://www.iceh.org/pdfs/LDDI/2004NIHMeeting/WallingaLDDI.pdf

Preventing Harm http://www.preventingharm.org/rptdownload.html

(A Resource and Action Centre on Children and the Environment)

"In Harms Way"

Many chemicals widely used by industry and commonly found at home are toxic to the developing brain and can cause developmental disabilities including behavioral and learning disabilities, hyperactivity, attention deficit, lower IQ and motor skill impairment.

Key findings of In Harm's Way include:

An epidemic of developmental, learning and behavioral disabilities has become evident among children.
Animal and human studies demonstrate that many chemicals commonly encountered in industry and the home are developmental neurotoxicants that can contribute to developmental, learning, and behavioral disabilities.
Recent research has produced a glut of information not readily understood by non-specialists.
Genetic factors are important, but particular vulnerability to toxic chemicals may be the result of single or multiple interacting genes.
Neurotoxicants are not merely a potential threat to children.
Vast quantities of neurotoxic chemicals are released into the environment each year.
As scientific knowledge advances the "safe thresholds" for known neurotoxicants have continuously been revised down.
Protecting our children requires a precautionary policy that can only occur with basic changes in the regulatory process.

Body Burden, the Pollution in Newborns Visit http://www.ewg.org/reports/bodyburden2/

Since long term accumulation of toxins within the body can have a detrimental effect on health and lead to multiple chemical sensitivities, all personal care, laundry care, garden and household products used should be natural. Many children experience negative mental symptoms due to the dyes and chemicals in these products. Additives, artificial colours and preservatives should also be eliminated from the diet. There is additional information available at The Big Carrot on http://thebigcarrot.ca/additives.htm

Links:

Vitality Magazine - Dr. Doris Rapp http://www.vitalitymagazine.com/node/591

Air Quality - Student Performance

Air Quality - VOCs

An Inconvenient Truth - DVD

Healthy Schools

www.chemicalbodyburden.org/whatisbb.htm