OCD ADD Holistic Fixes

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) are the foundations of the many cognitive health challenges that medical professionals have only recently considered a valid diagnosis. These disorders opened study of the brain that includes other, similar, conditions such as HDD, hyperactivity disorder. Much of the symptoms of these disorders revolve around anxiety, depression or a combination of both and there are a variety of causes. 

Causes of OCD and ADD could be related to:

• Genetic
• Nurture related
• Dietary
• Chemical imbalance
• Trauma
• Infection

OCD and ADD are serious conditions that various pharmaceuticals have been successful in treating. These OCD ADD holistic fixes are ways you can attempt to naturally address prevention and, in some cases, actual symptoms. Always remain in contact with your physician or naturopathic doctor to monitor holistic remedy applications in regard to any contraindications that may arise.

Vitamin D

This tiny supplement in an oil filled capsule the size of a pea can be so powerfully beneficial for some that it may be all you need.

In the study, ‘Nutritional and herbal supplements in the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder,’ published in General Psychiatry, it was stated,

“Vitamin D has antioxidant effects and inhibits an essential enzyme (inducible nitric oxide synthase) for nitric oxide synthesis.Thus, vitamin D deficiency may play a role in OCD by causing the deterioration of neuroprotection.”

Recommended doses of vitamin D should be discussed with your physician or naturopathic doctor.

The study continued,

“Previous studies have demonstrated that vitamin D deficiency is associated with numerous neuropsychiatric diseases that include autism, major depressive disorder, schizophrenia and OCD.”

Curative Combo

Sometimes a protocol of combined supplements can offer a potent response that may even mirror some pharmaceuticals but without the side effects.

Vitamin B12, folic acid and homocysteine are a combination that has shown some beneficial effects.

Conditions such as OCD and ADD are often linked to neurotransmitter malfunctioning. This can include a chemical imbalance of such neuro-transmitting proteins as serotonin, dopamine and endorphins.

The General Psychiatry study cited,

“In the literature, there are case reports of patients with OCD having vitamin B12 deficiency. Also, some studies have investigated the association between OCD and vitamin B12, folic acid, and homocysteine levels both in adult and child-adolescent patients.“

The science is still considering this combination as further study is recommended. However, exploring it as a possibile treatment may be further investigated with a naturopathic doctor.

St. John’s Wort

St John’s Wort is an ancient herb used for centuries to relieve OCD and ADD symptoms, particularly depression. An archived study of this herb was conducted by researchers at the Faculty of Pharmacy, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran and published in Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry stating that, 

“Hypericum perforatum [St. John’s Wort] is a medicinal plant with established antidepressant properties. The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of this antidepressant with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) as a group of standard antidepressants. Hypericum does not differ from SSRIs [selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors] according to efficacy and adverse events in MDD [major depressive disorder]. Lower withdrawal from study due to adverse events by Hypericum is an advantage in management of MDD.”

There are varying studies of this herb with some concluding that it was effective in some but not in others. Overall it is a safe herb to use but always check with your doctor first before consuming. 

Note: One rare contraindication when using St. John’s Wort is that it can make you photosensitive meaning that your skin could become more sensitive to sunlight. It can also contraindicate with certain medications.

Trace Elements

Selenium is one of several trace elements that when deficient in the body could add to psychiatric disorders. A study by the Archives of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy showed how the supplement selenium could be used as an adjunct therapy, reporting that,

“According to information from previous studies, this study is the first clinical trial in the world that recommends the use of selenium supplementation in treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder… there is a relationship between thyroid function and mood, so the effect of selenium on thyroid function can be the cause of the positive effect of selenium on the improvement of obsessive-compulsive disorder”

Zinc is another element that when lacking shows to be linked to mood disorder risk. An article in the 

Journal ‘Neuropsychiatry’ reported, 

“Early clinical studies reported lower zinc serum in depressed patients compared to healthy patients and later was proposed as a state marker of depressive disorder… Zinc mainly acts as a neuronal messenger and modulator of synaptic transmission and plasticity and influences the activity of many enzymes and proteins that are important for normal functioning of learning and memory… Zinc supplementation has also been used in MDD [major depressive disorder]. A mounting evidence has uncovered a significant improvement in depressive symptoms after zinc supplementation and a systematic review suggests potential benefits of zinc as a stand-alone intervention or as an adjunct to conventional treatment.”

Other trace elements to consider  for OCD and ADD prevention include: manganese, iron, magnesium, and glutathione. 

These OCD and ADD holistic fixes show how, for some people, pharmaceuticals may not be needed or can be used when lowering pharmaceutical doses. Talk to your physician or naturopathic doctor to see if these natural remedies may help you.

Sources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7066598/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19028540/

https://www.archivespp.pl/uploads/images/2018_20_4/57Sayyah_Archives_PP_4_2018.pdf

https://www.jneuropsychiatry.org/peer-review/the-role-of-zinc-in-mood-disorders.html