Herbal Medicine For ADHD In Children | with Michele Grosvenor

Every child with ADHD is wonderfully unique, but the challenges that come with the diagnosis—difficulty concentrating, hyperactivity, emotional overwhelm—can feel anything but magical. As a naturopath, I see the potential of gentle, evidence-informed herbal medicines to bring calm, clarity, and balance to a child’s day-to-day experience.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children can often feel like you are navigating a constant whirlwind of distractions, impulsivity, and restlessness. While medications like stimulants are commonly prescribed, there are also herbal plant-based options available that can help support your child’s focus, calm, and overall well-being with this condition.

A Natural Approach to ADHD

I commonly prescribe herbal medicines to provide gentle support to children’s nervous systems and their brain health. They have a long history in ancient and traditional systems of medicine and come in a variety of forms to make it easier to administer to children. Below are some of my favourites ADHD avatars, their personality traits and why I use them.

Herbal Avatars In Children With ADHD

Brain Power – Brahmi

Brahmi’s brain power properties are due to the active constituents it contains called bacosides. When these cross the blood brain barrier it acts as a nootropic enhancing your child’s memory, focus, attention span and information processing. This can be very helpful for children who struggle with concentration and recall issues. Bacopa also enhances the signalling of certain neurotransmitters in the brain such as serotonin, dopamine and GABA, so it also has a calming anxiety reducing effect.

The Professor – Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo is one of the oldest living trees in the world, dating back 200 million years. Its action in ADHD works in 2 ways. Firstly, it modulates dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine levels to improve communication between neurons and secondly, through its microcirculatory properties it improves blood flow to the brain increasing oxygen and nutrients levels. This translates to better focus, mental clarity and attention span as well as helps with mood and anxiety.

Bye-bye Brain Fog – Maritime Pine

Maritime pine packs a punch with both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties due to its high polyphenol compounds it contains. When these compounds enter the brain the high levels of Vitamin C & E they contain helps reduce oxidative stress, a type of internal rust, which disrupts the brain’s balance. Maritime pine lifts the brain fog cloud in ADHD children allowing for sharper focus and attention. It also helps with calming the nervous system in more hyperactive children.

Sunshine for the brain – Saffron

Renowned as the world’s most expensive spice, Saffron’s bright orange colour is like sunshine for the brain. It is most revered for its mood enhancing properties, but recent small-scale studies have touted it as nature’s Ritalin, where it was found to be comparable to methylphenidate in reducing hyperactivity and inattentiveness in children. It also was found to improve sleep duration and can help with sleep onset both areas where children with ADHD can have issues.

Calming the spirit – Passionflower

Passionflower I often used to help promote relaxation. It is especially helpful in children who experience anxiety, restlessness or trouble focusing due to overstimulation. It has a calming effect on the nervous system, promoting relaxation without causing sedation. It is quick acting and can be very effective in managing anxiety especially around school tests, exams and presentations.

Nature’s nurturer – Chamomile

Chamomile is well-known for its calming effects, and I often use it as a mild sedative to help with sleep and relaxation. Children with ADHD often have trouble winding down, especially at bedtime, which can affect their mood and behaviour the next da. Chamomile has gentle sedative properties which can also help reduce anxiety, settle sore tummies and promote better sleep leading to a more rested and happier child.

Herbal medicine can be a good accompaniment to other treatment options where support areas not being addressed, often with fewer side effects. These herbal avatars are just snapshot of the potential herbal medicine can play in managing common ADHD symptoms in children. Just as each child has their own unique personality, matching the correct herbs with the child is key to supporting their overall wellbeing.

Love Michele

If you’re curious about how herbal medicine might support your child’s focus, mood, and sleep—alongside other treatments or as a gentle first step—Michele would love to help. Book a consultation with Michele to start exploring natural ways to nurture your child’s unique strengths and support their wellbeing.

Michele has years of experience supporting families and taking a personalised approach to match your child’s individual needs with the right herbs.