Hello, my son is 14 and was diagnosed with ADD in kindergarten. We have tried everything under the sun to help him over the years. We have been to mnay doctors, specialists, physcologists, tried many meds, diets etc ...

Some of the things we tried gave some help but none seemed to give enough, like many parents of an ADD child we had good and bad years. Last Year was a "bad" year! Last year I began a search and resorted to the world wide web for more answers, I read lots of material, went to alot of forums, and sat through alot of chats where nobody seemed to talk about ADD much .

Anyway to make a really long and frustrating story short as I can I came across another mom that shared she had heard that ADD was linked to chemical exposure, thought well that sounds easy enough but my son hadn't been exposed to any major chemicals .. WRONG! He was exposed everyday to harsh chemicals that I didn't consider harsh like bleach, laundry soap, shampoo, dishwasher detergent, lysol, etc... I used this stuff to clean my house how could that be hurting him .. I wasn't some neat ultra clean freak, don't get me wrong my house was clean I just didn't think it was excessively clean enough to harm my children.

The things I then learned made my hair stand on end! I spent alot of time researching this theory, reading everything I could and immediately started reading labels, sounds reasonable right. WRONG again. So many companies have patents on formulas they don't have to list those trademark secrets.. well alot of them are hiding things we should know!

I started replacing everything I could with all natural products, this was time consuming and frustrating until I came across another mom in a chatroom who led me to a wonderful company that makes all natural products, then I could shop in one place for all my products, that was a huge time saver and money saver too!

She had told me how it had helped her child with Asthma .. no more breathing treatments for her, I thought well I'm sure it will help but I don't know about no meds for my son ... Guess what .. no meds for my son now and he is doing great .. this is the same child who got a social advancement from middle school last year to high school this year becasue he was failing not to mention the behaviour problems we had with him last year .. his lowest grade now is a C and that is only in one class the rest are A's and B's, he used to have sleeping problems ... not anymore ...

My whole family is healthier and happier ... Get rid of the toxic dump you have in your house find a company you can truly get all natural products from. You'll thank youself, I know I do. I only wish I would have known then what I know now!

I don't think I can mention the name of the company I buy all my products from on here but research it, ask around ... I'm sure you'll find out .. they have helped alot of people. I was os excited about what they have done for us I decided I wanted to tell the whole world about it !!!!

P.S. Bleach is one of the worst things for a child with ADD .. get rid of it in your house! My poor child was wearing nice white shirts and sleeping in nice clean white sheets all the while I was poisoning him!

That's really interesting...I wonder why we have never heard of any studies done about chlorine bleach and AD/HD.

I've often wondered about the correlation between environmental pollution and neurological problems in kids. They're being exposed to a lot of chemicals from a very early age, and we really don't know what effect those chemicals might have on developing brains. Going back later and proving associations between pollution exposure and medical conditions is tough, because we are all exposed to so many bad things.

I agree .. check out this article:

CREATE A SAFE AND HEALTHY HOME
CLEAN UP YOUR INDOOR POLLUTION


Dr. Joyce Woods worked as a medical/surgical nurse, public health nurse, nurse educator, nursing school administrator, occupational health consultant. She holds Bachelor of Nursing, Bachelor of Arts (Specialist), Master of Education degrees, and has completed her doctoral degree in the area of “Indoor Air Pollution, and .it's effect on your health"

Begin by thinking of your home as a toxic waste dump. The average home today contains 62 toxic chemicals - more than a chemistry lab at the turn of the century.
More than 72,000 synthetic chemicals have been produced since WW II.
Less than 2% of synthetic chemicals have been tested for toxicity, mutagenic, carcinogenic, or birth defects.
The majority of chemicals have never been tested for long-term effects.
An EPA survey concluded that indoor air was 3 to 70 times more polluted than outdoor air.
Another EPA study stated that the toxic chemicals in household cleaners are 3 times more likely to cause cancer than outdoor air.
CMHC reports that houses today are so energy efficient that "outgassing" of chemicals has no where to go, so it builds up inside the home.
We spend 90% of our time indoor, and 65% of our time at home. Moms, infants and the elderly spend 90% of their time in the home.
National Cancer Association released results of a 15 year study concluding that women who work in the home are at a 54% higher risk of developing cancer than women who work outside the home due to the toxic chemicals used in todays home.
Cancer rates have almost doubled since 1960.
Cancer is the Number ONE cause of death for children.
There has been a 26% increase in breast cancer since 1982. Breast cancer is the Number ONE killer of women between the ages of 35 and 54. Primary suspects are laundry detergents, household cleaners and pesticides.
There has been a call from the U.S./ Canadian Commission to ban bleach in North America. Bleach is being linked to the rising rates of breast cancer in women, reproductive problems in men and learning and behavioral problems in children.
Chemicals get into our body through inhalation, ingestion and absorption.
We breathe 10 to 20 thousand liters of air per day.
There are more than 3 million poisonings every year. Household cleaners are the Number ONE cause of poisoning of children.
Since 1980, asthma has increased by 600%. The Canadian Lung Association and Asthma Society of Canada identify common household cleaners and cosmetics as triggers.
ADD/ADHD are epidemic in schools today. Behavioral problems have long been linked to exposure to toxic chemicals and molds. Use of Ritalin has skyrocketed since 1990.
Chemical and environmental sensitivities are known to cause all types of headaches.
Labeling laws do not protect the consumer - they protect big business.
The New York Poison Control Center reports that 85% of product warning labels were either inadequate or incorrect for identifying a poison, and for first aid instructions.
Formaldehyde, phenol, benzene, toluene, xylene are found in common household cleaners, cosmetics, beverages, fabrics and cigarette smoke. These chemicals are cancer causing and toxic to the immune system.
Chemicals are attracted to, and stored in fatty tissue. The brain is a prime target for these destructive organics because of its high fat content and very rich blood supply.
The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has found more than 2500 chemicals in cosmetics that are toxic, cause tumors, reproductive complications, biological mutations and skin and eye irritations.
Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, circulatory disorders, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, and hormonal problems are diseases commonly related to chemical exposure.
Pesticides only have to include active ingredients on the labels, even though the inert (inactive) ingredients may account for 99%, many of which are toxic and poisons.

More facts from Indoor Air Pollution Seminar held on October 23rd, 1999.

Our homes should have a complete change of air 3 or 4 time a day. New homes are built so air tight that it is impossible to get a complete change of air. We should leave our windows open on each side of our house for better cross ventilation.

Accidental poisoning -
Top three culprits - Household cleaners, bleach and medications. In the USA the #1 cause of accidental poisoning is Dawn Dishwashing detergent WHY? Because it is the #1 seller.
Tide contains Lye and is the #1 polluter and it is also the #1 seller. Deep Woods Off has an ingredient called DEET. DEET causes seizures in children and adults.
Inert (or inactive) ingredients in products are protected by trade secrets and very dangerous.
In the work place Material Safety Data Sheets must accompany any product used. The work place and the outdoors are considered legal environments while the air in homes is not.
The ideal rate of humidity is between 35% and 45%. Anything higher causes mold.
When we use humidifiers or dehumidifiers with standing water we are encouraging mold growth with the standing water.
The ideal temperature in the home is between 68 degrees and 72 degrees, anything higher makes chemicals more active.
When we shower, the hot water combined with the chlorine in the water, can cause major headaches.
Using aerosols causes dizziness.
Steam from our dryer vents is extremely toxic, because of the chemicals from dryer sheets and residue from laundry soap and bleach.
Chemicals used to dry clean clothing are very dangerous and can cause cancer. When you bring dry cleaning home, you should hang it outside for at least 3 days.
Dry-cleaning chemicals are the same cancer causing chemicals that are found in mothballs.
There are 4700 chemicals in tobacco smoke.
Chemicals from carpets and plastic have been found to cause kidney and liver damage.
More products that contain Formaldehyde
Shampoos
Antiperspirants
Toothpaste
Baggies
Floor waxes
Wax Paper Mouthwash
Tupperware
Permanent Press clothing
Furniture polishes
Some symptoms caused by formaldehyde are:
Allergies, cancer, immune system failings and asthma
Products that contain Phenols
Mouthwash
Baking Powder
Computers
Acne medications
Wallpaper
Sugar Substitutes
Some symptoms caused by phenols, which are absorbed by lungs, and skin are: (besides being possibly fatal) Caustic burns, kidney and liver damage and hyperactivity
"Lysol" is even more dangerous than we thought.
Lysol contains phenols and dioxin (Agent Orange). Fungicides used on fruit trees in the Okanagan, BC and in south-western Ontario have been found to cause babies in both areas being born with no eyes or very tiny eyes.
When using Chlorine, antiseptics or bleach in industrial areas you are required to wear impervious protective clothing, hard hats, boots, gloves, apron or coveralls, chemical goggles or fullface shield and use in well ventilated areas.
When using Easy Off make sure all your skin is covered, wear protective clothing, do not breath in and don't get on your enamel, (if this product will hurt the enamel on your stove, can you imagine what it will do to us.)
Air fresheners desensitize the nerves in your nose so you cannot smell.
1970 - NTA's were banned
1980 - Lobbying by Proctor & Gamble brought back the use of NTA's in our products. NTA's mean more suds - more suds mean less clean - more toxic danger!
Studies on the suds in toothpaste found the suds to be laundry soap.
Our immune system is very powerful, like a janitorial system Giving our bodies good nutrition means our body can repair itself and be able to handle what we face in the world.
Household chemicals cause all kinds of symptoms - from cardiovascular problems, panic attacks, anxiety attacks to bedwetting.
Eliminating the cause of the environmental illness is more effective and much less expensive than treating the symptom.

Prevention - 80% - 90% effective
Treatments - 50% - 60% effective

Here are some interesting links on ADHD and Chemical Exposure:

http://www.childenvironment.org/factsheets/adhd.htm
http://www.familyeducation.com/article/0,1120,23-21397,00.html?relinks
http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2000/108-8/heindel-full.html
http://www.stonyfield.com/MenuForChange/Study2.cfm

I am finding this thread very interesting!!! I am a sole beleiver in all natural. I make my own soap, lotion, candles, etc.... I have noticed a difference in all of our skin being that non of the "drying" chemicals are present in anything that I make. My mom and dad only use my soap, lip balm, and candles. They say that it is by far the best they have ever tried :D !! I cured my grandma's psyrosis (spelling) in 2 weeks and even her doctor couldn't do that ;) . But I new am thinking that I need to look a little deeper into this.

Thanks for the info
Robin

I encourage everyone to check into safer products for your home, not just for those w/ ADD or ADHD either .. did you know that in 1989 a house subcomittee asked the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health to analyze 2,983 chemicals used in personal care products and 884 were found to be toxic ? Of those 778 can cause acute toxicity, 146 can cause tumors, 218 can cause reproductive complications, 314 can cause biological mutation, and 376 can cause skin and eye irritations. That is just personal care items we use like shampoo, deodorant, soap, toothpaste, etc .. just imagine since 1989 what all is in your local store now not to mention the other chemicals in your home like all the new improved cleaning stuff under every sink in your house. Check it out .. do your research, you'll be amazed and appaled at what you find. We are poisoning ourselves and children daily and most are totally unaware of it. You go Rockin Robin and keep making your soap !!! Who says the doctors have all the answers .. God has them and he gave them to us in all natural forms on this earth ..not in man made chemicals.

If you think this is crazy just walk down your local grocery store aisle and tell me what you smell when you walk down the laundry detergent aisle, or the cleaning aisle .. this stuff is closed and you can smell it and ingest it ... it does the same thing in your house only on a smaller scale so you dont realize it ... why do you open a window when you use some of these cleaners..what happens if you don't .. did you know that an EPA report stated that indoor air pollution is one of the nations most important enviromental health problems?

Christin

Interesting Post