Taipei, Aug. 9 (CNA) A doctor who specializes in Chinese medicine said Thursday that electroacupuncture derived from traditional Chinese medicine combined with behavior therapy prescribed by Western medicine eases most symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and reduces the rate of recurrence.
The National Union of Chinese Medical Doctors' Association held a press conference Thursday at which they shared experiences in treating ADHD through a combination of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medical approaches.
A 2010 study published in China indicated that ADHD symptoms were eased through the use of electroacupuncture and behavior therapy, Lin Shun-Ku (林舜穀), a Chinese medicine doctor at Taipei City Hospital, said at the press conference.
The study involved 180 pre-school children with ADHD and experimented with a double-blind trial. The children received the treatment six times a week for 12 weeks and displayed significant improvement, with only 20 percent suffering a relapse after half a year, Lin said.
Similar treatment is already available in Taiwan, said Lin. As a result, most mild symptoms can be treated with Chinese medicine, while electroacupuncture is used to treat severe symptoms such as hyperactivity and impulsivity. The treatment has only minimal impact on the liver and kidney, Lin added.
Children with ADHD should limit their consumption of coffee, tea, soda and chocolate, as they boost the activity of the nervous system. Nutritional and health supplements can also worsen symptoms.
(By Chang Ming-hsuan and CNA intern Wang Szu-chi)
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