ADHD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is commonly diagnosed among children, particularly those in the United States. Drug medications such as Ritalin, Adderall and Trileptal are often prescribed to help alleviate ADHD symptoms. Most of these medications have mild to severe side-effects and can become habit-forming.

A new research study has found that pine bark extract, marketed as Pycnogenol, may be an effective ADHD treatment. Pycnogenol has been shown to reduce hyperactivity in children. It also helped to improve focus and attention span and aided motor skills coordination in the children tested.

Pycnogenol is a natural herbal supplement which has long been used to reduce stress. It is known for its strong antioxidant properties. It actually serves to extend the antioxidant properties that are found in other sources such as vitamin C. It has also been used to help treat inflammation as well as to improve circulation. The latest findings showed that Pycnogenol can be a natural supplement to improve ADHD symptoms.

Pycnogenol has been proven to be a safe and effective treatment for children with ADHD. What's more, the treatment is natural and therefore produces none of the harmful or annoying side effects that other medical treatments often do. This is a tremendous finding for parents who are uncomfortable giving their children traditional prescription medications for ADHD. Many of the current medications are stimulants that can be addictive. For this reason some parents have concerns about giving them to their children for the long term.

The new study which will be published in the Journal of Nutritional Neuroscience, is a continuation of a recent study done by scientists in Slovakia. The new study takes the research even further to measure the hormone levels in children using blood samples. Stress hormone levels dropped in children who took Pycnogenol, which accounted for improved attention span and other ADHD symptoms. Pycnogenol naturally lowers adrenaline levels as well as dopamine levels, thus reducing ADHD symptoms.

Research testing found that children with ADHD have higher levels of stress hormones that can increase heart rate and blood pressure. This can cause irritability, lack of focus and increased excitability. The study shows that children who took Pycnolgenol had decreased levels of the stress hormone and therefore exhibited reduction in ADHD symptoms. The study also shows that the children's ADHD symptoms returned a month after they stopped taking Pycnolgenol. This confirms the scientific evidence that Pycnolgenol works to actually change hormone levels in the body.

These findings are particularly important for those who have children with ADHD. It gives parents an alternative treatment for ADHD – one that doesn't have side effects or addiction possibilities. Parents should consult with their child's doctor before trying any new treatments or before ending any prescription medication. Alvin Toh