Acupressure and ADHD

[MentalNomad]

So, I vaguely remember reading an article about the effects of acupressure and ADHD. I can't locate it now on Google or Google scholar, but it mentioned that acupressure seemed to help learning disabled children significantly (including those with ADHD), and helped improve deficient memory. I'm not sure how this stands up to analysis, but I'm wondering if anyone here has any insights, or experiences with acupressure. Thoughts?

[Lunacie]

I put "Accupressure + Learning Disabilities" into the search engine.

Is this study what you're remembering?

LEAP

®: The Learning Enhancement Acupressure Program: Correcting

Learning and Memory Problems with Acupressure and Kinesiology.
http://lifeenrichmentcenter.net/downloads/LEAP-Research.pdf

[BR549]

This is what I've found on Acupuncture and ADHD Treatment. This was published July 2011.

www.trialsjournal.com/content/12/1/173

[MentalNomad]

Originally Posted by Lunacie

I put "Accupressure + Learning Disabilities" into the search engine.

Is this study what you're remembering?

Not exactly, but posting that study was much appreciated (and it does seem familiar).

To note that significant improvements in high level academically important functions like reading
comprehension occurred does not offer any explanation as to why they occurred?

However, because of the large number of tests from basal functions to high-level cortical processing used in this study,
it is possible to understand why these changes occurred, in fact why they would have had to occur!
Reading comprehension is one of the highest level academic functions dependent upon many levels
of coherent, integrated processing from the brainstem to the frontal lobes. If processes at any level
are poorly integrated or poorly accessed, then reading comprehension will suffer.
In the LEAP Treatment Group, all children showed poorly integrated functions from the most basal
level of speed visual processing through speed of visual decision-making to auditory and visual
short-term memory to working memory of the frontal lobes. Reading comprehension is especially
dependent upon the higher level working memory functions of self-monitoring and drawing
inferences from what was read to fully understand the meaning of what was read, because with out
meaning there can be no comprehension.

I found the bits about reading comprehension very interesting, especially in regards to working memory. Ironically, while I've seen my own working memory as atrocious, I've always excelled in any verbal task, especially reading comprehension tests.

Though I often comb over a text several times before selecting an answer. In this way, I wonder if reading comprehension tests are accurate when one scores highly (artificial negatives can be present too, I suppose).

Anyway, I'm deviating from topic, sorry.

[Amtram]

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. The evidence is pretty weak on this.

[MentalNomad]

Yeah. For the record I wasn't claiming anything, just raising a topic for discussion.

[Drewbacca]

Originally Posted by MentalNomad

Yeah. For the record I wasn't claiming anything, just raising a topic for discussion.

Well, that just takes all the fun out of it!
But seriously, I can't even take this claim seriously enough to even attempt to play devil's advocate. Although... it might be interesting to discuss the general benefits (if they exist?) of acupressure instead of focusing on a relationship with ADHD.

[MentalNomad]

Originally Posted by Drewbacca

Well, that just takes all the fun out of it!
But seriously, I can't even take this claim seriously enough to even attempt to play devil's advocate. Although... it might be interesting to discuss the general benefits (if they exist?) of acupressure instead of focusing on a relationship with ADHD.

Yes, I know, some here can't wait to pounce on someone, ripping them apart with their vast powers of condescension

Anyway, I've read acupressure helps with stroke and the depression associated with it

http://www.livestrong.com/article/54...re-for-stroke/

A study conducted at the K Oriental Hospital in South Korea concluded that acupressure using the traditional meridian points of acupuncture theory was an effective method of treatment for stroke patients. Acupressure was found to reduce depression, aid with rehabilitation, and help the stroke patients to more easily resume their daily activities. This study was a randomized trial of 28 patients who received acupressure, compared with a control group of 28 patients who did not. The study did not attempt to compare acupressure using the traditional meridians with placebo acupressure at random points on the body. This raises the question of whether the placebo acupressure would have worked just as well.

Obviously, the bold parts raise even more doubts. And I think I read in another article I'd have to locate that sham acupressure had similar results, so there's that as well.

[Lunacie]

Hmm, I wasn't sure whether to share this, but what the heck.

I've been having Migraine attacks for most of my life, they've always been
more frequent in the summer. A friend recommended I see her chiropractor
who also did accupuncture. She did accupuncture treatments 3 times with
no benefit so I decided I was wasting my money and stopped going.

Then I fell and broke my upper arm, which triggered daily Migraines. After
the regular doctor was not able to help, my daughter suggested going to
the Chinese clinic for accupuncture. I didn't jump on the idea, but finally
she convinced me to give it a try, thinking these doctors have a lot of
training in accupuncture and know what they're doing.

After just two sessions, the migraine vanished. The doctor (a Russian lady)
recommended having about 10 sessions, twice a week. The headache
would come and go with alternate sessions. I timed it to end the sessions
while the headache was gone, and have not had to deal with daily
migraines in the last 2-3 years, just the usual migraines now and then.

Now I'm talking about accupuncture instead of accupressure, and Migraine
Disorder rather than ADHD - but there are similarities in both techniques
and both disorders. If I could afford to give accupressure a trial for my
ADHD, I'd be very willing to do so.

[Amtram]

Unfortunately, there are no well-designed studies that show any consistent, measurable benefit from acupuncture or acupressure.

And hey, MentalNomad - don't knock "vast powers of condescension"!! Sometimes they've been attained by learning from decades of stupid mistakes!

[MentalNomad]

Originally Posted by Amtram

Unfortunately, there are no well-designed studies that show any consistent, measurable benefit from acupuncture or acupressure.

And hey, MentalNomad - don't knock "vast powers of condescension"!! Sometimes they've been attained by learning from decades of stupid mistakes!

As to your first point, true there seems to be a lack of studies delving into the intricacies of analyzing, concerning acupressure.

Concerning vast powers of condescension and learning from stupid mistakes, well then where's mine? :P I guess I may be lacking that crucial learning component. Regardless, I think certain individuals condescend out of insecurity, my old man has done that to me all my life, on the simplest of tasks. I suppose that's why I'm hypersensitive to even the slightest whiff of it.

[Drewbacca]

Originally Posted by MentalNomad

And I think I read in another article I'd have to locate that sham acupressure had similar results, so there's that as well.

There's a part of me that is seriously considering opening up my own acupressure studio despite my absolute lack of training!

Originally Posted by Amtram

Sometimes they've been attained by learning from decades of stupid mistakes!

You mean you actually learn from your mistakes? What medication are you taking again?

[MentalNomad]

Originally Posted by Drewbacca

There's a part of me that is seriously considering opening up my own acupressure studio despite my absolute lack of training!



You mean you actually learn from your mistakes? What medication are you taking again?

As to the latter yes, where is this magic drug, a product of sorcery no doubt! :P

Concerning the former, I've been tempted to succumb to the ministrations of acupressure simply because NOTHING ELSE IN PSYCHIATRIC MEDICINE HAS HELPED ME! I still can't find that article I originally read months back.

Excuse me, I'm a little excited today.

[Drewbacca]

I'm skeptical of acupressure as treatment for ADHD, unless the ADHD is entirely caused by sleep issues. I found a few published articles that show at least a little improvement for insomnia, migraines, and anxiety... all things, which won't eliminate ADHD but perhaps will make it more tolerable. I think it's important not to lose sight of the fact that ADHD tends to resemble a stack of pancakes with syrup and butter and more pancakes... any little bit that we can remove helps to get a better picture of whether or not the chef burnt the bottom pan cake.

[MentalNomad]

Oh, I'm very skeptical as well. I just think many people don't comprehend my level of desperation, and how many things I have tried in the past. I would be interested in research that details with prolonged poor quality sleep and ADHD-esque symptoms, though. My dad has sleep-apnea (there are different types), and I've read there is a possible genetic component, and my blood-oxygen levels were tested as "low normal" so at the end of the day I'm still confused about all of this.