ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER IN CHILDREN AND ITS MANAGENENT IN AYURVEDA.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is the most commonly diagnosed childhood psychiatric disorder, characterized by extreme and persistent restlessness, sustained and prolonged motor activity, difficulties in sustaining attention and impulsivity. Children with this disorder are reckless, and prone to accidents. Due to poor attention and lack of persistence with tasks they may have learning difficulties. As the condition continues, many develop minor forms of antisocial behavior particularly disobedience, temper tantrums and aggression. Low self esteem and mood fluctuations are common and they are often unpopular with other children. Kashyapacharya has clearly mentioned that feeding with vitiated breast milk will lead to various diseases in the child. Mana is said to be "Annamaya". Cchandyogya Upanishada has given a simile of curd. Like Ghee is the essence of curd, similarly the finest essence of food is mana, i.e. it gives nourishment to mind.Excessive ingestion of any one particular rasa leads to various disorders some of which are at the level of psyche. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is the most commonly diagnosed childhood psychiatric disorder, characterized by extreme and persistent restlessness, sustained and prolonged motor activity, difficulties in sustaining attention and impulsivity. The name Attention Deficit Disorder was first introduced in 1980 in DSM-III, the third edition of the ‘Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders’ used in psychiatry. In 1994 the definition was altered to include three groups within ADHD; the predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type; the predominantly inattentive type; and the combined type. Children with this disorder are reckless, and prone to accidents. Due to poor attention and lack of persistence with tasks they may have learning difficulties. As the condition continues, many develop minor forms of antisocial behavior particularly disobedience, temper tantrums and aggression. Low self esteem and mood fluctuations are common and they are often unpopular with other children. The high prevalence, ability to affect nearly every aspect of life, persistence and functional impairment it causes, makes ADHD a disease of utmost importance to affected individuals, their families, our health and educational systems and for society as a whole.