I agree with this. Especially that it is rather urgent. It’s unlikely that he’s a “bad” kid that needs tough love or a wilderness experience. He needs medical attention. I understand that some MDs prescribe herbs and supplements. Is it working? I’m guessing it’s not since you came here to ask for advice. We are extraordinarily lucky to live in a time when there are effective psychiatric medications that allow the individuals who need them to live productive lives.
I have a related story. A neighbor who has a daughter the same age as mine sent me an email asking me if I know any asthma doctors who are “not so quick to prescribe steroids” and who use non-drug methods. For three years she had not been able to get her D’s asthma under control with herbs and acupuncture, and her D was constantly wheezing, but she did not want her D to use steroids. This was about 10 years ago, when our Ds were in middle school. I wrote her a very firm email about benefit vs. risk, pointing out that her D has to be able to BREATHE. It had been so long since her D had experienced normal breathing that she probably didn’t realize how abnormal her breathing was. Clearly, nobody wants to take an inhaled steroid gratuitously. But if the choice is between that and breathing …
So, OP, please take this seriously. Millions of individuals are helped by psychiatric drugs. For many, they are miraculous. At least get an evaluation by a mainstream psychiatrist who is board-certified for children and adolescents.