Saloni Saw*
Faculty of Pharmacy Kalinga University, Near Mantaralaya Kotni Atal Nagar,
Naya Raipur Chattisgarh
Email id- salonisaw@kalingauniversity.ac.in
Abstract
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder marked by recurrent, bothersome thoughts known as obsessions and repetitive actions or thoughts known as compulsions that are performed in an attempt to calm anxiety or avoid an unpleasant consequence. The compulsions take up time and go in the way of everyday activities, yet the obsessions are frequently unreasonable or exaggerated. OCD can be effectively treated, but there are several ways to conquer it and lessen its unwanted effects if you look into herbal remedies. This Review paper typically discusses the recent herbal approaches to overcome OCD .
Keywords- OCD, Mental, Health, Effective, Approaches
Introduction
Herbal remedies are widely regarded as beneficial due to their natural sources and few chemical components. Many believe they have fewer side effects and are less harsh on the body than allopathic (conventional) medicine. Herbal remedies are more effective in treating many chronic or mild problems; they have been used for thousands of years to cure a variety of ailments. They focus on holistic therapy to achieve both mental and physical balance. Looking into OCD is a prominent mental illness because of its high frequency, the impairment it causes, and the fact that it is one of the main diseases in the group of illnesses known as obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. The presence of compulsions and/or obsessions is a hallmark of OCD. Anxiety is frequently linked to obsessions, which are intrusive, unwelcome thoughts, pictures, or desires that are repeated and persistent[1]. Currently, OCD is linked with significant comorbidity and morbidity, with a lifetime prevalence of 2-3%, however, numbers vary by area. While the ratio of women to men is frequently fairly even in clinical samples, OCD is more common in women than in men in the general population[2]. The genesis and pathophysiology of OCD are influenced by structural, neurochemical, genetic, and immunological variables.OCD symptomatology has been linked to serotonin depletion and abnormalities in the availability of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT). Patients diagnosed with OCD have been shown to have elevated levels of glutamate in the cerebrospinal fluid and reduced levels of glutamate, glutamine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the caudate nucleus[3].
Herbal Supplement Being Effective in OCD
Vitamin D, B12, and folate and homocysteine are natural supplements that help with OCD whereas Vitamin D is necessary for healthy brain growth and function and is involved in several nervous system functions, including neurotransmission, neuroprotection, proliferation, and differentiation[4]. Vitamin B12, folic acid, and homocysteine are crucial for the metabolism of carbon transfer, which preserves the methylation of proteins, phospholipids in neural membranes, and neurotransmitters like serotonin and other monoamines[5].
2. Conclusion
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder marked by recurrent, distress-reducing thoughts (compulsions) and repeated actions (obsessions) that are unwelcome and invasive. Some people look into herbal remedies to control symptoms and lessen side effects and unpleasant effects, while established therapies include medication (SSRIs) and therapy (such as cognitive behavioral therapy).
3. Reference
Stein DJ, Costa DL, Lochner C, Miguel EC, Reddy YJ, Shavitt RG, van den Heuvel OA, Simpson HB. Obsessive–compulsive disorder. Nature reviews Disease primers. 2019 Aug 1;5(1):52.
Fontenelle, L. F., Mendlowicz, M. V. & Versiani, M. The descriptive epidemiology of obsessive–compulsive disorder. Prog. Neuropsychopharmacol. Biol. Psychiatry 30, 327–337 (2006).
Karcı CK, Celik GG. Nutritional and herbal supplements in the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder. General Psychiatry. 2020;33(2).
Holick MF. Vitamin D and brain health: the need for vitamin D supplementation and sensible sun exposure. J Intern Med 2015;277:90–3.
Bottiglieri T. Homocysteine and folate metabolism in depression. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2005;29:1103–12
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