Victory Over ADHD: How a Mother's Journey to Natural Medicine Reversed Her Children's Severe Emotional, Mental, and Behavioral Problems

Deborah Merlin shows how conventional medicine totally failed to deal with these boys who had various traits of autism, ADHD, aspergers and Tourette's syndrome. Alternative medicine ended chronic ear infections, and later brought remarkable mental recovery with amino acid supplementaiton. However, I have to rate the book lower, because a large section of the book by another author is not reliable information. As I have had a terrible time searching for what I could believe in nutrition, in the process of writing HONEST NUTRITION, I recognize what looks like exaggerations, perhaps bigotry; at least carelessness with truth. What Larry Cook writes could be very important, if you can discern what parts of it you can believe. The last chapter, by a third author, brings our vital, generally unknown information about mercury toxicity. Read it!

Deborah Merlin's story of raising twin boys with ADHD is both compelling and instructive. You will find yourself rooting for the boys as you read of their struggles growing up, and for their mother as she fights the traditional health-care system. Larry Cook adds his expertise in holistic medicine, making a solid scientific case for a more natural approach to ADHD and related conditions. This is an excellent book that will change the life of any family with kids experiencing these problems.

Imagine having twins. It could be twice as much fun or it could be double the trouble. Now imagine having twins with special needs. That's what Deborah Merlin went through when she delivered two premature babies in 1988. One of her children was so ill that he remained in intensive care for several months after his birth, and Deborah had to visit him and take his brother along with her. Both boys had developmental delays and were diagnosed with attention deficit disorder. Numerous doctors insisted that Deborah and her husband, Chris, put the boys on Ritalin. Chris refused so Deborah searched for a natural solution. Not only did she find help for her two sons, but she also discovered a new way of living that improved her own health tremendously: it decreased her allergies and her son's, improving their stamina and energy, at the same time as reducing sinus and ear infections. Victory over ADHD is a fascinating book. The first half is a mother's account of her battle against the health-care system. Even if we have not experienced Deborah's struggle, we instantly empathize and relate to the sad fact that many of us have been disappointed or forsaken by conventional medicine. The second half of the book is written by Larry Cook, who has written and studied holistic medicine extensively. He discusses the potential toxicity of vaccinations, mercury, toxic metals, allergies and neurological deficits in great detail. Merlin and Cook make a great team. They have written a powerful book that will resonate with all parents of children with special needs, as well as those with healthy children. The book also makes a strong argument for early intervention for children with developmental and neurological problems.