Children suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) cannot sit calmly at one place, pipe down or follow instructions. Though mental health professionals and parents are familiar with the symptoms, the treatment of this disorder is still a controversial topic.

The FDA has given instructions that ADHD medication such as Ritalin, Dexedrine and Adderall XR should put up warnings about the possible side effects like heart problems, aggression, and even mania, due to the presence of the stimulant methylphenidate in these medicines. This has made some parents, mental health professionals and occupational therapists to look out for alternative treatments.

Can children with ADHD be brought to normalcy without the medications? ADHD came into the psychological dictionary in the early 1980s in spite of being identified as early as the 1900s and is related to the Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Around 3-5% of kids are affected by this disorder, mainly boys. It can affect kids even at the age of 2. The disorder becomes obvious when the kids are unable to concentrate and have a tendency to become inattentive and impulsive. 2.5 million kids take medication for ADHD.

Alternative therapies like using tools like weighted vests and blankets, harnessing children to biofeedback machines, treating kids for imbalances of the inner ear and yeast infections -- even hanging youngsters upside down on the monkey bars and encouraging them to chew gum to burn off energy, have been tried by parents for years.