Jo (Franklin) on 02/15/2021
We have a 7 year old girl who started having them about 8 months ago. We have been giving her a small dosage of magnesium, B12, B6 and folic acid daily for 2.5 weeks but haven't noticed much difference. Thinking our dosage may be off somewhat. It seems there is an increase in tics overall in school-aged kids due to the pandemic so we want to get ahead of it. Thanks!
Replied By Mama (TN) on 02/15/2021
I am trying to learn about this, too. I will share some observations.
I have a son who seems to be dealing with tics. He currently is doing an eye darting thing. A year ago it was opening his mouth really wide like he was trying to adjust his jaw. (He still does it some as well as some other facial things.)
I did take him to our family doctor but that wasn't particularly helpful. He said we could go to a neurologist and if they found anything on an EEG they would recommend medication. But he mentioned that there could be significant side effects. With nothing obvious to the doctor I will just keep trying to figure out what helps my son the best.
We have tried the gum chewing. It seems to help. I am using a gum with xylitol.
He doesn't have caffeine at home but sometimes does when he isn't home and he noticed that made his tics worse.
I have learned that throat clearing can be a tic. Many years ago my oldest son was doing this all of the time. I took him off dairy and it stopped. He was able to resume dairy with no issue after a while. So, was it an allergy that caused the throat clearing? Seems likely. I just don't know if the allergy was causing a tic or mucous in the throat which caused throat clearing. The allergy thing is worth exploring further. I wouldn't be surprised if things like sugar and food dye and corn syrup would be triggers.
My son is taking b complex, magnesium and passionflower tincture (1 dropperful morning and evening.) Not sure how much it is helping.
Being out in the cold seems to help him some.
Let me know if you find anything helpful and I will do the same!
~Mama to Many~
Replied By Tessa (Okanagan) on 02/17/2021
You might be aware of this website regarding children with tics (the comments at the end of the article are worth reading, too):
https://www.drbeurkens.com/dietary-interventions-for-tics-and-tourette-syndrome/
Dr. Beurkens goes into more detail about vitamins in this link below. She states that you should consult with your healthcare provider (hope you have a good one) depending on the age and size of the child but says to always start “low and slow”:
https://www.drbeurkens.com/got-tics-tourettes-5-ways-suppress-twitches-naturally/
It's interesting that you mention the number of children with tics have increased since the pandemic.
I'm wondering if it is the school environment – the super industrial-strength sanitizers that are sprayed regularly throughout the school contain toxins (such as quaternary ammonium compounds). Those children are exposed to any residue on doors, desks, walls, floors, etc. all day long.
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.estlett.0c00437
Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are active ingredients in over 200 disinfectants currently recommended by the U.S. EPA for use to inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus.
Do the children have to wear masks at school? That might be another contributing factor.
As this situation drags on, schools really need to invest in proper ventilation for the health of children and staff. Likewise with places of employment.
They also need to re-evaluate what chemicals they are allowing to be used.
I hope you find the solution for your child.
Take care,
Tessa
Replied By DianeC (Riverside Ca.) on 04/25/2022
Replied By Mama to Many (TN) on 04/25/2022
Dear DianeC,One of my sons had what seemed like a habit of clearing his throat when he was reading. He was about 11. I took him off dairy for a while and it resolved and never returned, even when he went back on dairy 6-12 months later.
Another son developed tics as a result of stress. (My mother in law with dementia lived with us for 9 months during COVID. This particular son was pretty sensitive about her moods and unpredictability.) We didn't realize until she moved back out and his tics stopped that they were stress induced.
An environmental allergy could cause something like this. Nettle would be easy to try. (It works very well for allergies for us.) For a 6 year old I would give 1/4 teaspoon of nettle tincture in an ounce of water twice a day, or 1 nettle capsule twice a day, if he can swallow them.)
~Mama to Many~
Replied By DianeC (Riverside Ca.) on 04/25/2022
Thank you Mama to Many! I will relay this message to my family!Diane
Replied By Michelle (CA) on 11/17/2022