Researchers looked at 133 scientific studies to find out what complementary therapies (treatments used alongside or instead of traditional medicine) might help children with ADHD. They found 65 different therapies being studied, including brain training exercises, supplements, herbal remedies, and special diets. The most popular option was neurofeedback, a type of brain training that appeared in 38 studies. While many of these treatments show promise for reducing ADHD symptoms, scientists say more research is needed to prove which ones actually work and are safe for kids.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: What alternative and complementary treatments are being used and studied for helping children with ADHD manage their symptoms
  • Who participated: This review analyzed 133 published research studies about children ages 1-9 with ADHD from around the world. The studies were published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese.
  • Key finding: Researchers found 65 different complementary therapies being studied. Neurofeedback (brain training) was the most common, appearing in 38 studies. Fish oil supplements were the second most studied (14 studies), followed by Ginkgo biloba herb (6 studies) and special elimination diets (5 studies).
  • What it means for you: If you’re looking for additional ways to help a child with ADHD, there are many options being researched. However, you should talk to your doctor before trying any of these treatments, as some have more scientific proof than others. This review shows what’s being studied, but doesn’t prove all of these treatments actually work.

The Research Details

This was a scoping review, which means researchers searched through scientific databases to find and organize all the published studies on a topic. They looked at five different scientific databases and found 1,444 articles initially. They then carefully selected 133 articles that met their requirements: studies about children ages 1-9 with ADHD, published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese, with no limits on when they were published or what type of study they were.

The researchers organized all the therapies they found into four main groups: mind-body therapies (like brain training and meditation), supplements (like vitamins and fish oil), herbal medicines (like Ginkgo biloba), and dietary changes (like special diets that remove certain foods). This organization helped them see which types of treatments were being studied most often and which were most popular among doctors and families.

A scoping review is useful because it gives a big-picture overview of what research exists on a topic. Instead of doing their own experiment, the researchers looked at what other scientists have already studied. This helps doctors and families understand what options are available and where more research is needed. It’s like creating a map of the scientific landscape rather than exploring one small area in detail.

This review followed strict guidelines from the Joanna Briggs Institute, which is an organization that sets high standards for how to do this type of research. The researchers were careful to include only peer-reviewed articles (studies checked by other scientists). However, this review doesn’t tell us which treatments actually work best—it just shows what’s being studied. The fact that a therapy appears in many studies doesn’t necessarily mean it works better than one that appears in fewer studies.

What the Results Show

The researchers identified 65 different complementary therapies being studied for childhood ADHD. These therapies fell into four main categories. Mind-body therapies (treatments that involve the brain and body working together) were the most studied group, with neurofeedback being by far the most common—appearing in 38 different studies. Neurofeedback is a type of brain training where children learn to control their brain activity using computer feedback.

Supplements were the second most common category. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (healthy fats found in fish oil) appeared in 14 studies, making it the most-studied supplement. These are the omega-3 fats that many people take for brain health. Herbal therapies were less common, with Ginkgo biloba (a plant extract) being the most studied herbal remedy in 6 studies. Dietary therapies, which involve changing what children eat, were studied least frequently, with special elimination diets (where certain foods are removed) appearing in 5 studies.

The researchers found that many of these therapies show potential for helping reduce ADHD symptoms in children. However, they emphasized that ‘potential’ doesn’t mean proven—it means the early research looks promising and more testing is needed.

Beyond the main findings, the review revealed that complementary therapies are being used and studied worldwide, showing that families and doctors in many countries are interested in these options. The variety of therapies being studied (65 different ones) shows there’s no single agreed-upon alternative treatment for ADHD. The fact that neurofeedback dominated the research suggests it may be the most developed and studied alternative approach, though this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the most effective.

This review adds to existing knowledge by organizing and summarizing what’s known about complementary ADHD treatments. Previous research has looked at individual treatments, but this review brings them all together in one place. It confirms what many doctors have observed: families are interested in trying alternatives alongside or instead of traditional ADHD medications, and researchers are working to test whether these options actually help.

This review has several important limitations. First, it only looked at studies published in three languages (English, Spanish, and Portuguese), so research in other languages was missed. Second, the review doesn’t evaluate whether the studies were high-quality or low-quality—it just counts how many times each therapy was studied. A therapy mentioned in many studies might actually be less effective than one mentioned in fewer, better-designed studies. Third, the review doesn’t tell us which treatments actually work best for which children, because different studies tested different things in different ways. Finally, the researchers note that many of these therapies still lack strong scientific proof, meaning more research is definitely needed.

The Bottom Line

Based on this review, neurofeedback appears to be the most-studied complementary therapy for childhood ADHD (moderate confidence level). Fish oil supplements are the second most-studied option (moderate confidence level). However, the researchers emphasize that more high-quality research is needed before any of these can be recommended as proven treatments. If you’re considering any complementary therapy for a child with ADHD, discuss it with your pediatrician or ADHD specialist first. They can help you understand the current evidence and whether it’s appropriate for your child.

Parents and caregivers of children with ADHD who are interested in complementary approaches should pay attention to this research. Teachers and school counselors who work with ADHD children may also find this helpful for understanding what families might be trying. Healthcare providers treating children with ADHD should be aware of these therapies so they can discuss them knowledgeably with families. However, children with ADHD who are doing well on current treatments don’t necessarily need to try anything new.

If a family decides to try one of these therapies with their doctor’s approval, it typically takes 4-12 weeks to see whether it’s helping. Some therapies like neurofeedback require multiple sessions over several months. It’s important to keep working with your doctor during this time and not stop any current ADHD treatments without medical guidance.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • If trying a complementary therapy, track ADHD symptoms daily using a simple 1-10 scale for focus, impulse control, and activity level. Also note which therapy was used and when. This helps you and your doctor see if the treatment is actually helping.
  • Start by researching one specific therapy with your doctor (like neurofeedback or fish oil supplements) rather than trying many things at once. This makes it easier to tell if something is actually working. Set a specific start date and plan to check in with your doctor after 4-6 weeks.
  • Create a simple weekly log noting: the therapy used, how many sessions or doses, any changes in focus or behavior, and any side effects. Share this with your doctor at regular check-ins. This data helps determine if the therapy is worth continuing.

This review summarizes what research exists on complementary therapies for childhood ADHD, but it does not prove that any of these treatments work. Many of the therapies discussed still need more scientific testing. Never start, stop, or change any ADHD treatment without talking to your child’s doctor first. Some complementary therapies can interact with medications or cause side effects. This information is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice from a qualified healthcare provider who knows your child’s specific situation.