Anti-Stress Nutrition Programme to Improve Mood,
Health, Behaviour and Learning
By Brenda Sampson
BENEFITS OF THE FEINGOLD PROGRAMME
Dr. Patricia Holborow Ph D. and the Queensland Hyperactivity Association, in conjunction with the Psychology Department of the University of Queensland, conducted a survey of 170 families using the Feingold programme for a hyperactive child. The following notes were taken from their report, which was published in the Association's newsletter.
There are some very interesting findings. For instance, the report says, "In view of the common impression that hyperactivity should be diagnosed before the Feingold programme is recommended, it was interesting to see that the items showing greatest change, were (in order): effectiveness of punishment, truancy, throws self around, unhappiness, nightmares, inability to fall asleep, gets stiff and rigid, twitches, sets fires."
Learning: In the area of learning, reversals in writing and spelling showed most change; then reading difficulty, spelling, maths, and finally untidy writing. Fear of school was reduced, and children were making more progress. 31% of the respondents reported an improved school report.
Allergy: 42% of the children had had allergy diagnosed; 65% had allergy in other members of the family.
Use of the Programme: 64% said that the whole family uses the Feingold programme, and of these, nearly 60% said that they find the programme either 'very beneficial' or 'quite a lot of benefit'.
Health: Health improvements were dramatic. More than a third said they need to see a doctor less often after using the programme. In the following list, the two figures show the percentage of hyperactive children who were ill with the disease as frequently as daily, once a week, or once a fortnight, before and after using the Feingold programme. For example the number of children who had sore throats frequently reduced from 10 to 1, children who had tonsillitis frequently reduced from 7 to 0.
Sore throat (10:1) Tonsillitis (7:0) Bronchitis (2:1) Colds (6:0) Flu (1:0) Bed wetting (31:15) Urinary tract infection (2:0) Diarrhoea (10:2) Constipation (13:5) Stomach Pain (24:7) Pain in Legs (13.2) Joint Pain (6:3) Head Ache (15:5) Ear infection ((2:1) Epilepsy (2:1) Twitching (12:5) Eczema (9:8) Fungal infections (2:0) Mouth Ulcers (4:0) Cold sores (2:0) Rash round mouth (10:2) Other rash (8:2) Puffiness or swelling (9:4)
A child wrote this letter to Christine Herbert who started the Hyperactivity Association of New South Wales.
Dear Christine
My mother asked me to drop a line and tell you about the programme. I sincerely think
it is fantastic! Before I was on the programme, for fourteen years I have had terrible
nightmares, even on one occasion walking out into the street. Also I had it
terrible at school. No friends and always being picked on due to my hyperactivity.
For the past eight months it's been different, no more nightmares and I now
am beginning to make some friends, although I still have to prove to the kids
that I am a different person. I feel good in myself and am very grateful to
Dr. Feingold.
