Traditional Chinese medicine research on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Theory, treatment and mechanism

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a significant number of children and adults worldwide. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has shown promising results in the treatment of ADHD, serving as an important complementary therapy alongside conventional approaches. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical foundations, treatment modalities, and underlying mechanisms of TCM in the management of ADHD. The concept of ADHD from a TCM perspective emphasizes on the role of imbalances in yin and yang. The treatment encompasses pattern identification, common patterns, pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, as well as relevant clinical trials. For mechanism, this review explores the impact of TCM compound formulas on neuroimmunology and neurotransmitters, highlighting the potential modulation of microglia, cytokines, dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin.