I’m going to look into this subject further…

Ritalin is like Prozac in that it can causes mood swings which can lead to depression, especially in young children, and since it’s legalized medication I would add ‘guinea pigs’ to your ‘chemistry set’ of possible hazards to look out for.

On a nutritional angle, choline is an active ingredient found in lecithin a natural occuring substance which can be found in health food stores and has been shown to cause an increase in memory function within just minutes after taking (around 15 minutes to a half hour)

*disclaimer: information anyone can find for online and then discern for themselves one way or another

:wink: …

I think I understand the THEORY well enough as presented, my concern lies in the proof of such. What ‘controlled studies’ exist on the subject – for instance. What [methodology] was used in determining ‘improvement’, if such studies even exist. Before and after IQ tests? – or ‘The Child was more Docile and didn’t bother the Teacher so much’ (only mild sarcasm here) – as applies to Ritalin.

Turning the Brains of millions of children into a ‘chemistry set’ with a strong amphetamine (as is Ritalin), seems a little dangerous to me. Giving your 6 year old kid a double espresso before school never caught on for some reason in all the years of home remedies…did it? :???:

Do you know of any such results or testing?

I draw the distinction here to naturally occurring [NUTRITIONAL] substances that may provide such benefits – and those don’t require a prescription…

your move… :wink:

A branch of that research would be what’s known as “Nootropics”. Nootropics are catagorized drugs which are considered to have a lack of toxicity yet may contain substances which could benefit the user with an increase in intelligence.

Also, I look after my friends brother, Jimbo, from time to time who is mentally handicapped and over the years we have witnessed many reactions to many trial and error prescriptions. Thankfully, and after a hellish ride Jimbo has been a very happy chap for the past ten years after finally finding the right pills for him to take. His brother, John, has autism but has been very lucky over the years with the right medication that does work for him. Again, he is happy and adorable to be with. But another friend, Jack who also is autistic has not been so fortunate and is still trying to find a pill that works for him.

So most pills can and do work, eventually but all said and done, and for most people, I truly believe in diet, exercise, family, friends, a comfy environment, a ‘I can and I will’ attitude (learning to silence the self critical voices not being hard on your self, also to relax the perfectionist OCD), with a goal in life, are all the pills one really needs. A willingness to train and focus the mind as if it were akin to a work out in the gym for your body takes perseverance. I concentrate perfectly well when all around me are at ease, get a real kick too out of helping others when they need it the most. If you are lucky enough to have found your soul partner in life 99% of problems disappear, so I’m told! Love is a drug, no substitutions there.

Honestly speaking, I think us westerners are in too much denial. Consume way too much for our own needs, far too materialistic for our own good, its all me me me, most with booze or druggy issues or some inner perversions that eat away losing clarity of thought. The need to self satisfy/ comfort (short term effects)
is partly due to a result of fear propaganda, laziness, self doubt, lack of education, or the need to escape their uncomfortable environment or even thrill seekers. I remind myself each day how lucky I am compared to those less so and this day is my last as no tomorrow is ever guaranteed. To learn something new, start a new project or aim for a goal is always the hardest time and will take all the concentration and energy you have, but as with learning to drive or riding a bike, after practice practice practice, it becomes second nature. Marina is a prime example of this.

Hope post is not too long and that I added something useful even if helps just one other. One last thing to try out is meditation as can help with concentration issues too.

Be well X
M:)