Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) :
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common behavioral disorder that affects approximately 3% to 5% of school-aged children. ADHD occurs three to 10 times more often in males than in females. According to the National Institutes of Health, common symptoms of ADHD generally include:
Inattention:
-Fails to pay close attention to details and/or makes careless mistakes at school while engaging in other activities
-Fails to complete tasks and/or has difficulty organizing tasks
-Has difficulty maintaining attention in tasks or activities
-Does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
-Unable to follow more than one instruction at a time
-Is easily distracted
-Is forgetful of or during daily activities

Hyperactivity:
-Constantly fidgeting, squirming in seat, or moving
-Wandering or leaving in situations when child is expected to stay
-Has difficulty participating in activities quietly (i.e., reading or taking a nap)
-Runs or climbs in inappropriate situations
-Talks excessively

Impulsivity:
-Blurts out answers before questions have been completed
-Has difficulty awaiting turn
-Interrupts others
-Displays disruptive behavior

While necessary for treatment, diagnosis is difficult and often requires more than one visit to a healthcare provider. Nevertheless, early treatment is important and has been shown to positively alter the education and social development of affected children. While certain medications are useful for children with ADHD, multiple strategies are required to effectively manage ADHD for an extended period of time. Preliminary evidence indicates that functional medicine may improve symptoms of ADHD.

Alzheimer's Disease:
Alzheimer's disease is a slowly progressive, degenerative disease of the brain. It is the most common cause of dementia and can result in impaired memory, thinking, speaking, movement, and behavior. According to the National Institutes of Health, as many as 4 million Americans currently suffer from Alzheimer's disease.
Because they resemble signs of natural aging, certain symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are often overlooked.

The following are the most common indicators of Alzheimer's disease:
-Disturbances in or loss of memory, especially for recent events
-Impaired expression or comprehension of written or spoken language
-Difficulty in decision making and problem-solving
-Agitation - a state of increased arousal, irritability, and tension.
-Difficulty in carrying out tasks with multiple steps
-Impaired judgement
-Intellectual decline
-Confusion or disorientation, hyperactivity, and overt hostility
-Depression
-Anxiety
-Poor hygiene and appearance
-Loss of balance and coordination
-Impaired motor function
-Rhythmic tremors in a hand or foot, particularly when at rest

The causes of Alzheimer's disease are not entirely known but are thought to include genetics and environmental factors; overproduction of free radicals (unstable and potentially damaging molecules generated by normal chemical reactions in the body or taken in from the environment); or abnormal deposits, often referred to as plaques, in the brain.

While there is no cure, studies suggest that certain herbs, nutritional supplements, and lifestyle adjustments may help slow the progression and improve symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

Depression:
People who are depressed often feel sad, frustrated, angry, and miserable. Whether it's mild, moderate, or severe, depression can cause feelings of rejection or loss, lack of self-esteem, and lack of energy - possibly interfering with normal day-to-day activities.

According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 19 million American adults suffer from depression in any given one-year period. While it is perfectly normal for most people to feel sad on occasion, a person with chronic depression feels many of the following symptoms for an extended period of time:
-Insomnia (can't sleep) or hypersomnia (excessive sleep)
-Changes in appetite that can result in weight loss or weight gain
-Fatigue or decreased energy
-Feelings of guilt or self-hate
-Feelings of hopelessness
-Difficulty concentrating or functioning normally
-Feeling agitated, restless, or irritable
-Sudden bursts of anger
-Feeling inactive and withdrawn from family members and friends
-Thoughts of death or suicide

There are several different types of depression including:
-Major depression - Patients with major depression experience five or more of the above symptoms on a long-term basis (at least two weeks). Major depression is severe and persistent, and one episode can last for up to 20 weeks.
-Dysthymia - Dysthymia (also known as mild or chronic low-grade depression) is characterized by fatigue and feelings of sadness and emptiness. Symptoms are similar to those of major depression, but are much less severe.
-Atypical depression - Atypical depression usually affects women more than men, and is characterized by increased appetite, hypersomnia, heaviness or rigidity in the arms or legs, and extreme hypersensitivity to rejection.
-Psychotic depression - Patients with psychotic depression experience the normal symptoms of depression, but can also have delusional thoughts and auditory and visual hallucinations.
-Bipolar Depression - Patients with bipolar depression (also known as manic depression) experience extreme mood swings - happy one moment and extremely depressed the next.
-Postpartum depression - Postpartum depression, which consists of the normal symptoms of depression, affects approximately 8% to 20% of American women following pregnancy and delivery.
-Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) - Women who suffer from PMDD generally experience severe depression or irritability for one week prior to or during menstruation. PMDD is different from premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
-Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) - People with SAD generally experience mild depression that comes and goes with seasonal changes. Researchers believe that SAD is caused by decreased daylight in the fall and winter months.

If you have symptoms of depression, it is important to discuss them with your healthcare provider. As with most conditions, diagnosis of the problem is the first step toward proper treatment.

Headache:
A headache refers to any type of pain in the head. Although painful and annoying at times, the majority of headaches do not result in serious complications. Numerous factors have been implicated in the cause of headaches:
-Abnormal levels of serotonin a hormone involved in the transmission of nerve impulses in the blood
-Certain medications
-Certain foods
-Excessive alcohol consumption
-Skipping meals
-Dehydration
-Sun exposure
-Sleeping too much or too little
-Hormones and the menstrual cycle
-Certain odors
-Stress
-Infection in the head or neck
-Low blood sugar
-Depression or anxiety
-Jaw clenching or teeth grinding
-Withdrawal from caffeine and other stimulants

There are several types of headaches, including:
-Migraine headaches - Migraine headaches can be classified into two groups: the classic migraine and the common migraine. Both classic and common migraines involve throbbing and pain on one or both sides of the head. Classic migraines are usually accompanied by an "aura" or visual disturbance (such as a flash of light).

Cluster headaches - Cluster headaches are similar to migraine headaches, but are generally characterized by pain situated behind an eye. Whereas migraine headaches are more common

in women, cluster headaches are more common in men.
Tension headaches - Tension headaches are one of the most common types of headaches and generally involve pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck. Patients who suffer from tension headaches often report tightness in the head and neck muscles.

Sinus headaches - Sinus headaches can cause a deep or severe pain in the front of head and face. Sinus headaches are generally caused by infection or inflammation of the sinuses.

Vertebrogenic and myogenic headaches - If you have pain in your head and lack of movement in your neck, you may be experiencing a vertebrogenic or myogenic headache. Whereas vertebrogenic headaches are caused by dysfunctional or irritated vertebrae, myogenic headaches are caused by strained or irritated neck muscles.

In order to reduce the frequency, duration, and intensity of your headaches, your healthcare provider will try to pinpoint the cause and type of headache you are experiencing.

Hypertension:
Hypertension is a condition characterized by high blood pressure. According to the National Institutes of Health, high blood pressure generally includes:

1.) Systolic blood pressure that is consistenly higher than 140. Systolic blood pressure is the "top" number of a blood pressure measurement, which represents the pressure generated when the heart beats.
2.) Diastolic blood pressure that is consistenly higher than 90. Diastolic blood pressure is the "bottom" number of your blood pressure measurement, which represents the pressure in the vessels when the heart is at rest.
Hypertension affects approximately 50 million Americans, or one in four adults. Unless severe, hypertension is generally not accompanied by any symptoms. However, it is a serious condition that can greatly increase one's risk of having a heart attack or stroke. The following risk factors are associated with hypertension:
-Genetic predisposition or family history of hypertension
-African-American descent
-Excessive alcohol consumption
-Excessive sodium intake
-Sedentary lifestyle
-Obesity
-Depression
-Anxiety

Lifestyle adjustments and other functional medicine approaches have been shown to prevent and reduce the risk factors of hypertension. These include - but are not limited to - maintaining a healthy body composition (muscle-to-fat ratio), reducing salt intake, exercising regularly, limiting alcohol consumption, and eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

Hypercholesterolemia:
Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance that is present in virtually all parts of the body including the nervous system, skin, musle, liver, intestines, and heart. While cholesterol is essential for normal functioning, high levels of cholesterol in the blood (i.e., hypercholesterolemia) can greatly increase one's risk of cardiovascular disease.

Cholesterol can be divided into two main types: low density lipoproteins (LDL) and high density lipoproteins (HDL). LDL is generally considered the "bad" cholesterol, while HDL is considered the "good" cholesterol. Hypercholesterolemia results from 1) high levels of LDL cholesterol, 2) low levels of HDL cholesterol, and/or 3) a low ratio of HDL to LDL cholesterol. The normal range for cholesterol is between 140 and 200 mg per deciliter (mg per dL) of blood. Levels between 200 and 240 mg per dL indicate moderate risk, while levels above 240 mg per dL indicate high risk. In addition to genetic predisposition, researchers have discovered that hypercholesterolemia is associated with several risk factors, including:
Disease Risk Factors:
-Diabetes
-Hypothyroidism
-Cushing's syndrome
-Renal (i.e., kidney) failure
-Polycystic ovary syndrome

Drug Risk Factors:
-Birth control pills
-Hormone replacement therapy
-Corticosteroids
-Diuretics
-Beta-blockers

Lifestyle Risk Factors:
-Obesity
-A diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol
-A diet low in fiber
-A sedentary lifestyle
-Excessive alcohol consumption
-Stress
-Smoking cigarettes

While conventional drugs (i.e., statin drugs) are sometimes necessary and important for those diagnosed with hypercholesterolemia, they often fall short in reducing risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease. A great deal of examination conducted over the last few decades has identified select nutrients and herbs, as well as other functional medicine approaches that have a profound positive effect on cholesterol levels.