Treating ADHD with Chantell Reagan

The Functional Medicine Radio Show With Dr. Carri

In this episode of The Functional Medicine Radio Show, Dr. Carri’s special guest Chantell Reagan talks about treating ADHD.

Chantell Reagan is a Doctor of Pharmacy and is pursuing a certification from the Institute of Functional Medicine. In pharmacy school she was always taught to use “non-pharmacologic” options whenever possible but didn’t quite take that to heart until her oldest son was diagnosed with ADHD. Her “ah-ha” moment happened while she was reading “The Wheat Belly Diet” by Dr. Bill Davis. It was from this experience that she developed the “4S approach to ADHD”.

Main Questions Asked:

• How does a child get diagnosed with ADHD and what are the treatments?
• What is the functional medicine approach?
• What is a leaky gut and why is it bad?
• What are your recommendations for patients who have these symptoms?
• What is the 4S approach?

Key Points Made by Chantell:

• A questionnaire is used to diagnose ADHD and it’s conventionally treated with medication along with behavioural modification.
• One study has shown that about 50% of preschool age children are on some sort of ADHD medicine.
• The gut is usually the source of our common diseases – including ADHD.
• Leaky gut and a variety of mineral deficiencies can be mistaken for ADHD.
• Leaky gut is an issue where the junctures of the gut are not tight enough to prevent certain elements from passing through.
• Food sensitivities can have far reaching effects on your health.
• There are a fair number of links between gluten and dairy sensitivities and ADHD.
• Using an elimination diet is the best way to see what you need to modify when it comes to foods.
• Toxic chemicals that you expose your skin to can also be a source of problems.
• Probiotic foods, like kimchi and sauerkraut, can be beneficial for your gut as well.
• Being deficient in omega 3 fatty acids can lead to similar symptoms of ADHD.
• 80% of the population is often deficient in magnesium.
• 50% of children are deficient in vitamin D.
• Zinc and iron are important for your brain function and health for a variety of reasons.
• You don’t know what you don’t know – you have to test to learn what your body needs.
• The 4S program starts with stress, checking for exposure to allergens and physical stress. Breathing activities can help.
• Measure sugar intake and balance blood sugar with a healthy diet.
• Sleep is critical. Make a habit of a bedtime ritual, reduce screen time before bed.
• Supplementation, probiotics and minerals are used to make up for deficiencies discovered in testing.

Resources Mentioned:

Book – Wheat Belly: Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to Health

Chantell’s website

Book – Reclaim Your Energy and Feel Normal Again

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