ADHD Alternatives: A Natural Approach to Treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder [Paperback]

Aviva J. Romm C.P.M. (Author), Tracy Romm Ed.D. (Author)

Book Description

Series: Storey Medicinal Herb Guide | Publication Date: July 1, 2000

A holistic approach to treating ADHD by Aviva Jill Romm, a professional midwife and acting president of the American Herbalist Guild, and Tracy Romm, director of a high school for gifted students, where there is a large population of students diagnosed as ADHD.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

With attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) becoming one of the most commonly diagnosed (and misdiagnosed) disorders of childhood, and with the prescription of Ritalin and other powerful psychostimulant drugs reaching alarming proportions, it is time to take a fresh look at what ADHD is, and what it is not.

In this thoughtful and empowering book, Aviva and Tracy Romm guide parents and educators in taking a more holistic, natural, and effective approach to problems of attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. They offer insights into the root causes of ADHD and share their inspiring advice on addressing a child's unique needs through nutrition; herbal medicine; and loving, understanding parenting that fosters self-esteem, creativity, confidence, and self-discipline.

About the Author

Aviva Romm is a certified professional midwife and president of the American Herbalists Guild. She has been an herbal medicine consultant to Reader's Digest Books and Baby Talk, Self, and New Woman magazines. She is co-author of ADHD Alternatives (Storey Books) and Naturally Healthy Babies and Children as well as The Natural Pregnancy Book. Aviva lives with her husband and her four children in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Tracy Romm, Ed.D., co-authored ADHD Alternatives with Aviva Jill Romm. Tracy is director of a high school for gifted students, where there is a large population of students diagnosed as ADHD.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC; 1 edition (July 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580172482
• ISBN-13: 978-1580172486
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #928,393 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #82 in Books > Parenting & Relationships > Special Needs > Hyperactivity

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Whole Child, January 3, 2007

By 

Stuart N. Holleman (King George, VA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: ADHD Alternatives: A Natural Approach to Treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Paperback)

In a world that believes in taking a pill for every thing that ills you, it is nice to have a resource that looks at the whole child. Both my son's counselor and psychologist were very impressed with this book.

1.0 out of 5 stars Misleading, anti-science and insulting to parents, December 10, 2011

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RASalam (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: ADHD Alternatives: A Natural Approach to Treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Paperback)

As someone with a PhD in sociology who is keenly aware of over-labeling and medicalization AND the daughter of a nutritionist who is not averse to alternative remedies, I found this book to be misleading and potentially dangerous. First of all, herbal remedies are still MEDICINES and have chemical effects and natural does not equal safe. Rather than a balanced approach that recognizes that SOME children do have ADHD, an actual neurological condiition, this book uses ANECDOTAL evidence (which in by book is not REAL EVIDENCE to further their own agenda. I was looking for helpful advice about nutrition and alternatives to use perhaps in conjunction with medication. There are now actually quite advanced diagnostic techniques (and MRI research) that demonstrate the differences between ADHD brain and high energy children within the standard deviations for normative behaviors.I might try some things, like the herbal pillow but too much of the tone is difficult to get past. That said, I would love a thoughtful book that talks about nutrition, yoga, etc. that could be used in conjunction with or as an alternative to conventional drug therapy. This isn't it.

20 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good Natural Meds Advice-Written by the Unexperienced, September 25, 2001

By 

Tricie (Johnson City, Tennessee United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: ADHD Alternatives: A Natural Approach to Treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Paperback)

I bought this book the day before writing this. I was very disappointed because it's written from the perspective of two people, one a teacher of ADHD kids and the other an herbalist who are not parents or have ADHD themselves-so how would they know? They don't. As a ADHD person with a ADHD kid whose father has it too, I have enough blame placed upon me without reading a book that says my child needs more hugs, that we need to cut off the t.v.-she's too hyper to watch it, and that both parents and teachers have failed ADHD kids. It's a case of people thinking they know what is wrong with ADHD kids without truly knowing. My daughter has a double dose and has always been a handful since she was one. They are saying that parents shouldn't take the words of the teachers and parents shouldn't want their kids labeled. Most parents are like me, have been dragging their kids to the peditrician since they were very young begging for someone to listen. I didn't need a teacher to confirm what I knew along time ago. I am though trying the natural approach to ADHD and it works 70 to 80% of the time. I am still working on the right combination though. From the point of view of an herbal approach to ADHD, I appreciate it for giving even more choices than I had, but from the point of view of understanding ADHD, they have not a clue!