A couple weeks ago, I went into Boston to see one of my favorite bands, Yumi Zouma – an alternative music band originally from New Zealand.
Fantastic show – I have all their albums and I’ve seen them before and they just keep getting better!
But what really stuck with me afterward was hearing lead singer Christie Simpson openly talk about her ADHD.
A lot of people think that ADHD is a “problem” – but as somebody with ADHD, I think it can actually be a superpower – if you approach it the right way…
So – back to Christie – She’s written songs inspired by her experience with ADHD – and she’s spoken publicly about how going on medication has helped her.
I think that kind of openness is excellent – because for a long time, people treated ADHD like…
- a moral failing
- a personality defect
- or a fake diagnosis
Meanwhile, millions of people are sitting there thinking:
“Why does my brain feel like a million browser tabs are open… but most of those browsers just have that little spinning wheel icon????”
As someone who also has ADHD (like my younger brother did – more on that below), I can tell you that ADHD is complicated, and it often involves “differences” (not “problems”) in how the brain manages attention, motivation, emotional balance, and stress responses.
For many people, the challenge is less about intelligence or effort and more about consistency, focus, and cognitive pacing across the day.
One important thing to keep in mind is that there’s no shame in using medication if that’s what genuinely helps someone function and thrive.
I want to be really clear about that – because that’s what Christie did and it seems to be working great for her – so that’s a win.
As a nutritional biochemist, I spend a lot of time talking about natural approaches to support mental wellness — nutrition, sleep, gut health, exercise, stress resilience, microbiome support.
I think the most productive conversations about mental fitness leave room for multiple tools and multiple paths forward.
Sometimes medication changes people’s lives.
Sometimes lifestyle changes change people’s lives.
Sometimes the best outcomes come from combining both.
What matters most is helping people find the right approach – or combinations of approaches – to help them feel functional, calm, creative, focused, and fully engaged in their lives.
What I find fascinating is that many ADHD symptoms overlap with what I call “stress-fragmented brain function.”
When cortisol is dysregulated…
When sleep is poor…
When the gut microbiome is inflamed…
When neurotransmitter balance is off…
The brain struggles with things like:
- focus
- impulse control
- motivation
- emotional stability
- cognitive endurance
The brain is intimately connected to physiology and biochemistry – so balancing that biochemistry can lead to better brain function and thus better behavior and performance.
If we can control cortisol, balance blood sugar, recalibrate brain waves, enhance blood flow, and nudge neurotransmitters, we can get the brain into a state that is less stressed and less fragmented – as well as more focused and creative.
This is what we call “cognitive flexibility” – where the brain is not just “faster” at doing its job of solving problems and coming up with creative solutions – but you’re also in a better mood and have higher levels of motivation.
You basically feel motivated to get into action – and get things done – and you’re more effective and impactful in whatever you set out to do.
The approach that I’ve taken for myself – and for my own family members who also have the same ADHD tendencies – is to use a combination of several nutritionals – the herb Saffron; the amino acid Theanine; an American shrub called Desert tea; and New Zealand pine bark (which just happens to come from New Zealand, where Christie Simpson and Yumi Zouma is from) – so let’s talk about that one first.
New Zealand Pine Bark Extract
It’s of my favorite ingredients because it’s packed with natural compounds called OPCs (oligomeric-antho-cyanins) – and research shows that it helps support attention, executive function, blood flow, memory and speed of processing in the brain.
It basically calms “monkey mind” – that static and noise and jumping around that keeps us from engaging with our most important creative work.
Saffron
Yep – the same spice that gives paella its distinctive golden color.
Over the past decade, saffron has become one of the most researched natural ingredients for supporting attention, focus, mood, and emotional self-regulation. Research shows that it helps support healthy neurotransmitter activity in the brain, particularly serotonin and dopamine pathways that are involved in attention, motivation, and executive function.
One of the things that I like about saffron is that it doesn’t just help with focus. It can also help smooth out some of the frustration, emotional reactivity, and mood fluctuations that often interfere with learning, productivity, and everyday performance.
As a scientist, I love the fact that several clinical studies have found saffron extracts to perform comparably to methylphenidate (Ritalin) for supporting attention and behavioral outcomes in kids and teens. That doesn’t mean saffron is a “replacement” for medication – they’re different in how they work, so some people might do better on meds and others might do better on herbs – but it does highlight just how powerful some natural compounds can be when they are properly studied and standardized.
L-Theanine
Another favorite is L-theanine – the calming amino acid from green tea.
Theanine can help smooth out stress reactivity and support a calmer-but-focused mental state (what I call “relaxed alertness” – or what you might recognize as being “in the zone”).
One of the things that I like about theanine is that it works fast (in less than an hour) to shift our brains from beta waves (which are associated with tension, stress, and anxiety) – to alpha waves (where you’re both calm and focused).
American Ephedra (Ephedra viridis)
Another one – that probably you’ve never heard of before – is Desert tea – it’s a plant that native Americans used to boost both physical energy and mental motivation. The plant is a species of ephedra called Ephedra viridis (or “green ephedra” or American ephedra) – that is actually patented for its ability to increase something called psychological vigor – which is an amazing combination of physical energy, mental acuity, and emotional well-being.
Each of these nutrients work in different ways to enhance brain function – and I’ve taken them all myself – and given them to my kids – for many years.
Now – I’ve included several of them in my new formulation called zenith because the goal is resilience and regulation rather than just “more stimulation.” That doesn’t mean – or even “imply” – that zenith “treats ADHD” rather, it gives people an option that might improve their focus and motivation “enough” to get them where they want to be. It has for me.
Many people dealing with attention challenges describe feeling mentally overstimulated yet cognitively scattered at the same time. This is why supporting steadier nervous-system function can sometimes improve focus and resilience without creating a harsh stimulant effect.
Some of the most imaginative, energetic, visionary people I know also have brains that remind me of a squirrel holding three espressos and an advanced degree.
The old joke is that half of the inmates in prison have ADHD – but so do half of all founders and entrepreneurs and artists.
This is what I mean about ADHD being your superpower – IF you can harness it and manage it the right way. If you can’t harness your “different” type of brain function, then it can become your kryptonite – like it did for my brother.
I’ve openly talked about my younger brother’s drug overdose on many occasions – and written about it in several of my books. He had ADHD and anxiety issues. He was medicated with Ritalin from as early as I can remember (starting when he was in first grade). He moved on as a teenager and adult to use power-lifting (good!) and illicit drugs (bad!) to “self-treat” his own issues – and that eventually caught up with him.
I honestly believe that if information about the health benefits of natural ingredients like saffron, pine bark, theanine, and American ephedra were more widely available way back then, that he might have tried one, which might have helped him feel better, and might have prevented his turn to addictive drugs. That’s a lot of “mights” – but I think everyone should have the information about natural options, so they can decide what is the right approach from them and their family.
The healthiest outcomes preserve creativity, personality, and individuality while reducing unnecessary struggle and exhaustion. So if you’re someone struggling with focus, stress, overwhelm, or emotional burnout:
- Don’t shame yourself.
- Don’t shame other people for the tools they use.
- And remember that mental fitness is biochemical, not just psychological.
There are many paths toward feeling better.
Medication may be part of that path.
Lifestyle may be part of that path.
Nutrition may be part of that path.
The best approach is the one that improves quality of life in a sustainable and healthy way.
And if you want to learn more about the gut-brain-axis, stress resilience, and evidence-based natural approaches to mental fitness, check out my courses at DocTalbott.com and products at 3WavesWellness.com
And if you haven’t listened to Yumi Zouma yet… start there too.
Your nervous system will love it!
