ADHD Treatments: Is it time to make an oil change?

For quite some time now fats have generally speaking been given a bad reputation. The reality is that 80% of the wall of our cells is made of fat. Our brain is a big “blob” of fat, and those fats need to be “fresh and flexible”.

Nerve cells can only communicate optimally when they have the proper fat insulation. Our hormones are made of cholesterol.

This being said the proportion of the types of fats we eat, influences the health of our body. Certain fats get turned into anti-inflammatory molecules while others are turned into inflammation producing molecules.

Essential Fatty acids are called “essential” because the body cannot make them, we must get them from our diet. Essential fatty acids such as omega-6 and omega-3, should be consumed at a ratio of 3 omega 6 for every omega 3 (3:1). Unfortunately, our modern Western diet is deficient in omega-3 and has excessive amounts of omega-6 (this ratio can be up to 20 Ω6:1Ω3.)

Why is this a big deal? Because studies have shown that the balance between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids is a determining factor in physical and mental well-being. This imbalance can cause a whole host of symptoms and disorders ; therefore it is essential to restore the balance.

In order to thrive, (and heal in particular the ADHD brain), and slow down the aging clock, we literally need to “make an oil change”.

The way we accomplish this is by first augmenting our omega 3 oil intake. How do we do that?

By eating fish twice a week such as sardines, mackerel, salmon, herring, trout, fresh cod fish, anchovies, boquerones, (Shell Fish, Tuna and Halibut have exceedingly high levels of mercury and chemicals. I do not recommend that your child eat them.) Start rotating your oils, meaning using different oils each day such as Flaxseed, Walnut, Linseed or Camelina oil; those oils are extremely sensitive to oxidation so do not heat them, protect them from daylight and keep them refrigerated. You can sprinkle, flax meal or blended chia seeds, on your veggies or salads.  Raw nuts (if you are not allergic) are an amazing snack.

The easiest strategy for the “oil change” is to take an oil supplements such as EYEQ from the Equazen laboratory, or DHA from Solaray.

In cases of Hormone imbalances or neurological problems I usually order a lab test, (red blood cell analysis), to determine exactly what type of omega 3 oil we need to “push”.

                                                                                                                                          

The next step is to reduce the intake of omega 6 oils.

You can accomplish this by decreasing your intake of vegetable oils such as: Sunflower, Safflower, Peanut and Corn oils, and if need be eliminate charcuterie (high in Arachidonic acid, an omega 6 oil) found in meats, smoked ham, cured ham, bacon, sausages, hot dogs, salami, lunch meats...

Finally you probably all know this by now, eliminate  “Trans” fats.

“Trans” fats are hydrogenated fats that are a few molecules away from being plastic! They lodge themselves in the brain and literally harden it! (I wonder if the term lard head applies here.) You can drastically reduce your exposure by avoiding foods such as fast food French fries, potato chips, sweets, cookies, and industrial mayonnaise and salad dressing. Read the labels to find out if what you are buying contains “trans”/ hydrogenated fats or not.

So no need to go to the mechanic, you can make an oil change right from the comfort of your kitchen! 

Dr Muriel Poli,D.C.

TDAH BARCELONA, VIDEO

Me complace comunicar que estoy ofreciendo tratamientos de rehabilitacióncerebral para niños con TDAH y dificultades de aprendizaje.

Este enfoque integral es una interesante alternativa frente a los tratamientos tradicionales, dado que éstos, como demuestra el estudio MTA (de 2006 NIH), en un 50% de los casos no comportan ninguna mejoría de los síntomas y tampoco corrigen las causas.

Nuestra estrategia combina 3 elementos clave:

• Rehabilitación específica de las áreas  "debilitadas" del cerebro, con estímulos  sensoriales y ejercicios físicos de sincronización y ritmo.

• Recuperación de una dinámica óptima de la espina dorsal.

• Contrarrestar los posibles desequilibrios nutricionales, alérgicos y neurotóxicos existentes.

  

Si las historias incluyen: padres que lo han "intentado todo" y los síntomas de su hijo no remiten, o bien un parto difícil o traumático, o niños que nunca han gateado, o postura encorvada, o torpeza o distracción, en tales casos se puede haber producido un retraso cerebral que yo puedo ayudar a corregir.

Nuestro objetivo es que los niños con TDAH tengan la oportunidad de superarse, expresar sus talentos, recuperando la autoestima y mejorando su vida familiar. 

Dra. Muriel Poli,DC 

Dr Muriel Poli's latest video on ADHD

My goal here at Vitalia Quiropractica is for ADHD kids to have the opportunity to excel, express their unique gifts while regaining considerable self-esteem, and having a harmonious family life. 
So this new video is my latest step toward that objective, enjoy:

Dr. Muriel Poli,DC's keys to achieve success in overcoming ADHD naturally

Our keys to achieve success in overcoming ADHD naturally are: 

●Rehabilitating target specific “weaker” areas in the brain                               ●Restoring dynamic and fluid spinal mechanics                                              ●Harmonize nutritional, metabolic, allergic or neurotoxic imbalances

Your child will have an opportunity to excel and express his/her unique gifts, while regaining considerable self-esteem.                                                  You and your spouse will get a chance to regain a harmonious family life.

If your child’s history
includes: You have “tried everything” and your child still has significant symptoms, difficult birth, slouching posture, never crawled, eats lots of fish/seafood, allergies, frequent ear and throat infections, hyperactive, clumsy, very distracted; he/she may have developmental delays in the brain which we can help to correct.

Some of the tools Dr. Muriel Poli,DC employs are:

Network Spinal Analysis: A gentle Chiropractic method that consists in reestablishing the “phone lines” between the brain and the spine and postural muscles, so that they can better recharge the cerebellum, which activates the brain.

Brain Enhancing Exercises: She stimulates the “weaker” areas, found during the neurological examination, with specific individualized rhythmic and synchronizing exercises, using for example: a metronome and a balancing exercise while stimulating vision or smell, to trigger the neuroplasticity of the brain. She may use a very gentle laser, to help rehabilitate cranial nerve function.
Orthomolecular supplements: Your child may activate more his brain cells when concentrating, and need more anti-oxidants; or need low blood sugar support…

Healthy Diet: To address some nutrient deficiencies and to benefit the entire family.                                                                                                     Allergy Resolution: Immediate response allergies, food intolerance, peptide accumulations, can cause large behavioral changes.

Detoxifying: Using natural chelating substances, that help to bind and remove Heavy Metals which are neurotoxic.

Somato-Respiratory Integration: Oxygen is the number one "nutrient" the brain cells require.
Functional Laboratory Tests: New generation of sensitive laboratory tests, designed to show us how the Nervous system functions.

Dr. Poli offers an integral brain based treatment alternative, to traditional approaches which have shown at best a 50% improvement of symptoms (2006 MTA study), without changing the root causes of the brain dysfunctions.

For more information you can: visit vitaliaquiro.com or call 34-93 414 22 49 or info@vitaliaquiro.com

Carrer Muntaner 318, 4-2 . 08021 . Barcelona

Is ADHD real?

I have had a number of parents ask me this question and it would seem that it stems from the tremendous amount of conflicting information around the causes and treatments available.

ADHD is now the leading childhood disorder in the United States and throughout the world, affecting 10% of US children ( CDC numbers from 2007, no estimates for 2012 are available).

The good news is that over the last decade, a growing number of scientific studies have shown that ADHD and Learning Disabilities have a biological basis in the brain. The current breakthroughs in neuroscience have identified “weaker” or developmentally delayed brain areas, to be involved.

To illustrate how developmental delays play out, I use the analogy of a philharmonic orchestra. The brain is the conductor, the musicians with their instruments representing the different areas of the brain with their specific role, and the music, which corresponds to behavior, emotions and thoughts. The conductor moves back and forth to cue/activate the left or right side of the orchestra /brain. The musicians do not usually all play at the same time or same at the same volume. Each musician must not only play the right notes, but play them a precisely the right time. Timing is everything. If the a poorly trained conductor focuses more on the left side of the orchestra, the right side can become confused or slow down, the two sides become disharmonious, because one side has become dominant. Furthermore if five or seven musicians/areas of the brain are playing off key, the music becomes disharmonious. The conductor is unable to do anything about it. In either case additional training/rehabilitation is needed. The same goes for the brain.

Factors that can cause or contribute to the brain developmental delays that produce true ADHD, are as I understand them to be are: stressful pregnancy or birth, birth trauma, failure to crawl, rigid areas in the spine, poor posture with weak core muscles, sedentary lifestyle (not enough physical play), allergies and the inflammation they trigger, intestinal inflammation, chronic inflammation, nutritional deficiencies, metabolic (body chemistry) imbalances such as blood sugar levels or neurotransmitter levels. Environmental toxins and psycho-social factors (IE bullying or abuse) are also part of the picture. Yes, there is a genetic involvement, but it does not determine a child’s fate, meaning that the activities of the genes can be modified.                                                                                                                                                                      Indeed about 85% of all the genes in a human are dedicated to building and shaping the brain, the new science of Epigenetics and research in Neuroplasticity are showing that these brain-building genes are selectively turned on or off, during the developmental stages of the infant, child and throughout life. Epigenetics has demonstrated that it is a child’s environments and stimulation, for the most part, that flips the “on or off switches” of the brain-building genes. A dramatic example of this would be the failure to thrive of an infant that is neither touched nor loved, which can result in the infant actually dying.

Now when it comes to treatments, conventional Medicine’s approach to ADHD has not significantly changed in the last 40 years; it is all about managing the symptoms. Psychological treatments are also about better managing the symptoms and the complications that arise from them.                                                                                                                                                         The end result, which the MTA study (multimodal treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, conducted by the US National Institute of Mental Health) illustrates that after 2 years of a combination of medication and psychotherapy 50% of children still have “full blown” ADHD symptoms, and that 50% have improved symptoms, as long as they are on medications and receive therapy. Clearly better results need to be achieved, and can be achieved.

Thanks to Neuroplasticity research and the new advances in diagnostic testing, showing us how the brain is actually functioning, such as Functional Laboratory Testing, some genetic testing, SPECT imaging and special EEGs,  are now available diagnostic tools. Furthermore the breakthrough Functional Neurological physical examinations and brain rehabilitation treatments, developed by Dr. Frederick Carrick,D.C. are other advances.  (Dr. Carrick is a Chiropractic neurologist, who is accomplishing a small revolution in the field of neurology, in the mid-1990s, he gained attention for bringing comatose patients out of their vegetative states using manual stimulation.)

For the most part traditional medical doctors are unaware of these recent developments; and while some of them are, they do not know what to do therapeutically with the information, at this point.

Aside from the medical route, there are some therapy programs that help with for instance visual processing, auditory processing, nutrition or academic skills, but they are all focused on a few particular problems and none of the offer a comprehensive brain based therapy.

A specialized branch of the Chiropractic profession does have a comprehensive and holistic approach to helping the areas of the ADHD brain, that have some catching-up to do.

I have received my post graduate training and specialization in integral brain based therapy.

In my office we provide specific individualized rhythmic exercises and sensory-motor stimulations to trigger the neuroplasticity of the brain, in target specific areas affected. Furthermore, normalizing the spine and postural muscles is key to jumpstarting the “weaker” brain areas. The brain also needs to be fed and inflammation prevented, this implies looking at the nutritional building blocks, allergies, blood sugar levels, digestion, absorption and much more, which we address.

You can visit my website to read more about my treatment approach at: vitaliaquiro.com (English section) or my Youtube channel: Vitalia Quiropractica. I regularly give presentations on the new neuro-scientific discoveries related to ADHD and Learning Disabilities, and the treatment solutions I offer.  You can also contact my office at 34-93 414 22 49 or email at info@vitaliaquiro.com