HERB - ADHD

[Chevelle]

I know we're getting way off topic with regard to herbs, but if we're
discussing books I can't help but recommend "ADD: A different perception by
Thom Hartmann. Subtitled "A Hunter in a Farmer's World", this book gives
simply the best explanation of ADHD in an anthropological sort of way... and
in the most positive light.  It helped my son understand that different is
not always bad..  but simply different when it suggests that his
characteristics are a 'throwback' in natural selection rather than because
there is something wrong with him.   The idea is that ppl with ADHD have
characteristics that hunter/gatherers would have needed to depend on to
survive. ( i.e. The ability to notice the slightest movement of a leaf that
could mean prey hiding nearby --- This manifests as easily distracted in
school.  ) The trouble for THEM is that our current society and educational
methods favor those of the more 'farmer' type societies. I think it helps to
see ADHD as characteristics and aspects of their makeup that make it harder
for them to do things that 'farmers' can more easily do.

My study seems to suggest that the gender differenciation in manifestation
is often because of socialisation...  not simply gender. Boys are given more
leeway to use gross motor skills to express themselves where we tend to
discourage that earlier in girls. Therefore girls can become more apt to
develop a 'ditzy' kind of inattention/distraction pattern rather than the
'hyper' activity level we're more used to in boys.
----- Original Message -----
From: <ladygrania at juno.com>
To: <herbalist at ansteorra.org>
Sent: June 15, 2000 10:30 PM
Subject: Re: HERB - ADHD


> I believe the book is called "Driven To Distraction".  I don't know the
> authors name.  I have an ADD daughter who is now a young adult.  We used
> conventional medication because they diagnosed her so late.  She was
> already in high school.  I found out that ADD manifests quite differently
> in girls and most treatment and diagnosing patterns are for boys who are
> more ADHD.
> Grania
>


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