All Natural OCD Treatments

OCD, or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, is when a behavior becomes a ritual, whether pointed out by others or recognized by the individual as something that takes over and controls your actions. We've all caught ourselves doing this, such as worrying about if we've left the oven on, locked the front door or washed our hands; but if these thoughts begin to dominate our lives and lead to actions which we need to perform repetitively, this type of ritualized behavior becomes the hallmark of OCD.

Notice that the thoughts that lead to OCD behavior are always from a source of anxiety. You may worry about burning the house down if the stove is left on, a break-in if the door is unlocked or disease if you've touched something that could be contaminated. According to Steven Phillipson, PhD, these threats lead to a response, or spike, which is the perceived solution to the problem. For example, a student may constantly count the number of books in his backpack to avoid paying a fine for losing one of them or say, "I love you" three times before leaving for school in the morning to deal with separation anxiety.

 OCD is a fascinating subject and can take the form of many behaviors, from hoarding worthless objects just in case they're needed to placing items in a certain order to maintain control over their immediate environment. According to a German study published in 2010, many of these behaviors begin in childhood and adolescence and could be a reaction to trauma or just a way to cope with the world around them and their changing place in it. Recognizing the condition and seeking help from a cognitive behavioral therapist is generally the first course of action; if this fails, there are prescription drug treatments available, the most popular being Prozac. However, if you or a loved one would prefer a more natural solution, consider some herbal supplements that may help with this condition.

St. John's wort, or Hypericum perforatum, has been recognized since Hippocrates' time as a remedy for anxiety; even the National Institutes for Health note its likely effectiveness for the treatment of depression and anxiety. Enzymatic Therapy offers their tablet form of St. John's Wort Extract that has undergone clinical trials to confirm its efficacy when it comes to regulating mood and emotional health. For a vegetarian OCD treatment alternative, consider NOW's Mood Support with a full range of B vitamins, as well as valerian, noted for its calming effect on the nervous system. Herb Pharm also offers their St. John's Wort in a liquid extract that can be mixed with water and taken up to five times a day to achieve a healthy emotional balance.

Passionflower, or passiflora incarnata, is noted for its beautiful showy blooms with a cross in the middle, symbolizing the crucifixion. The flower is also the most prevalent ingredient in herbal sedatives marketed in England and is typically used in German homeopathic treatments as a tranquilizer. Gaia Herbs offers their Passionflower Liquid Phyto-Caps in a vegetarian formula. All ingredients can be traced back to where they were harvested so you're guaranteed the safest product. If you prefer a Liquid Passionflower Extract, you should check out the offering from Herb Pharm, which is hand-harvested to ensure quality control from the outset and is never fumigated or irradiated. Gaia Herbs also markets an Organic Passionflower Extract harvested from the flowering vines that can be taken up to three times daily between meals.

For more healthy OCD treatment alternatives, check out the many offerings available from CAM Formulas with free standard shipping.