East Asian traditional medicine for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents: a scoping review.

Researchers conducted a comprehensive review of East Asian Traditional Medicine (EATM) treatments for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents under 18 years old. They examined 198 studies from databases in English, Korean, Chinese, and Japanese to understand how treatments like herbal medicine, acupuncture, and manual therapy are being used for pediatric ADHD.

The review found that herbal medicine was the most commonly studied treatment (104 studies), followed by other modalities like massage and ear acupuncture (41 studies), acupuncture (26 studies), combined treatments (20 studies), and manual therapy (7 studies). Most research came from China and was published in Chinese. The studies included 169 randomized controlled trials, 19 controlled clinical trials, and 10 systematic reviews.

The results showed promise: over half of the controlled trials (53.7%) reported positive effects from EATM treatments compared to control groups. However, the review identified significant gaps in research quality. More than half of the studies failed to report whether any adverse events or side effects occurred, making it difficult to fully assess safety. Additionally, many studies lacked standardized diagnostic criteria for ADHD, which makes comparing results challenging.

For parents considering EATM treatments like acupuncture for their child's ADHD, this review suggests these approaches may offer benefits, but more high-quality research with better safety reporting is needed. The findings provide a foundation for understanding what treatment options exist and highlight the importance of choosing evidence-based care. If you're considering acupuncture or other EATM treatments for your child's ADHD, consult with a licensed acupuncturist who has experience treating pediatric patients.

This scoping review analyzed 198 studies evaluating East Asian Traditional Medicine (EATM) for pediatric ADHD in patients under 18 years. The review included 169 RCTs, 19 CCTs, and 10 systematic reviews/meta-analyses from 13 databases across four languages. Herbal medicine dominated the literature (n=104), followed by miscellaneous modalities (n=41), acupuncture (n=26), combined treatments (n=20), and manual therapy (n=7). Most studies originated from China (78.3%) and were published in Chinese (74.7%). Among controlled trials, 53.7% reported positive effects in experimental groups; however, 56.9% failed to report adverse events. Significant methodological limitations were identified, including inconsistent use of standardized ADHD diagnostic criteria and inadequate safety reporting. Clinical takeaway: While existing evidence suggests potential benefits of EATM modalities for pediatric ADHD, practitioners should interpret findings cautiously given methodological heterogeneity and recognize the need for standardized protocols and systematic adverse event monitoring in clinical practice and future research.