I'm wondering if anyone has tried tryptophan for ADD/ADHD? I started my daughter on it 2 months ago and we have seen some positive results. For those of you who aren't familiar, tryptophan is one of the essential amino acids, and one that isn't manufactured by the body, so it needs to be acquired in foods or other forms. Tryptophan converts to seratonin which in turn converts to melatonin, which has a "feel good" or calming effect on the brain.

My daughter is 6 and in kindergarten. Her behavior at school is not good but her attention span and focus is really bad. She is extremely food sensitive and we have not felt comfortable with prescription drugs of any kind. She also has RAD (reactive attachment disorder) which in her case calls for anti-anxiety meds more than attention meds. (The anxiety hampers her attention span.) At home she has a short attention span but is able to sit and work on things for a long time, which she cannot do at school.

Anyway, was wondering if anyone else was trying tryptophan or other natural alternatives to medicine.

Jane

Interesting, very interesting. I have always been a warm milk mom. My kids make jokes about how I raised them on warm milk. Sometimes I hid it in teas etc. My son was food sensitive, as I am. I'm really interested in this topic, as my youngest may either be adhd, early onset of bp ( with two recovering parents, it turns out that likelyhood is high), but either way she is hyperactive, grouchy, has mercurial moods, but bright and can be the sweetest of sweets. We hope to have her diagnosed as soon as is possible.From there we will cross those other bridges.

What IS Tryptophan, and is it safe? (http://www1.adhdguide.net/pharmacy/supplements_de/tryptophan.htm)

IMPROVED NUTRITION A MUST FOR CHILDREN WITH ADD OR ADHD (http://www.healthy-start-alaska.com/Illness/add-or-adhd.htm)

Amino Acids and ADHD or ADD (http://www.adhdezine.com/aminoacids.html)

Lack of association between the tryptophan hydroxylase gene A218C polymorphism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in Chinese Han population. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11496362&dopt=Abstract)

Very interesting. My daughter sometimes gets these bursts of energy/anxiety--says she "feels like doing things fast," at bedtime and warm milk with honey has always helped.

I hadn't thought of it during the day though.