Mary's Herbs is your source for homeopathics, herbs, supplements, nutrition, and iridology.
List of Health Conditions from A to Z
       



Obsessive compulsive disorder, OCD, Is a physical problem which produces a psychological response. Herbs, nutritional helps for OCD explored.

OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER ... OCD

(link to OCD-Free.org for information on a Case study being done on Nutrition and OCD)

Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD) is defined as a neurotic condition characterized by persistent unwanted thoughts and/or repeated, ritualistic behavior.

Until recently OCD was thought to be solely a psychological condition in which a person who experienced too aggressive or premature potty training adapts to the lack of bowel control by overcompensating control over their environment and their daily activities, which ironically ends up controlling them.

There are many reasons for which I, along with a growing number of scientists, disagree with that theory.

Although I will be the first to admit that the emotional and physical self cannot be separated, I would lean toward this being a physical condition which provokes emotional (psychological) responses.

Here are some facts which support my belief:

  • Research indicates that some people are born with a predisposition to OCD.  For instance a child of a parent who suffers with Trichotillomania (compulsive pulling out of ones hair) has a 75% or higher developing OCD.
  • Someone suffering with Tourette's syndrome (involuntary motor and vocal tics) has a 50% chance of having OCD.  It has been proven exclusively that Tourette's is totally a physical condition.
  • OCD sufferers seem to notice a greater improvement with their condition when chemicals in their brain are brought back to normal balance, than by behavioral or psychological treatment.
  • All drug protocols passed by the FDA for the treatment of OCD are serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as: Anafranil, Prozac, Luvox, Zoloft and Paxil.
  • Serotonin is a neurotransmitter. (a neurotransmitter is a substance that chemically connects one nerve ganglia  impulse to another ganglia.  A sufficient amount of serotonin also produces a soothing calming effect to brain activity.
  • The Serotonin reuptake inhibitor function is a way to increase the amount of available serotonin.

Another way is to increase the digestion of or the body's production of serotonin.

Other conditions possibly linked with insufficient serotonin are compulsive:  Gamblers, Eaters, Sugar Addicts and Alcoholics, Anorexia Nervosa, Self- mutilation, Tourette's Syndrome and Body Dysmorphic Disorder (abnormal dislike for ones looks), Trichotillomania (pulling out your hair) and Hypochondria.

A SAMPLE OF POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS OF OCD

OCD symptoms are not short term or fleeting, but rather they are PERSISTENT thoughts, rituals or impulses that seem senseless even to the sufferer but are irresistible or uncontrollable.  If you suffered from OCD you could probably make at least some of these statements.

  1. It's hard for me to relax or concentrate because of unwanted thoughts or images that come into my mind and won't go away.
  2. I worry about little things and small details.
  3. I am overly neat and clean.
  4. I suffer in an unreasonable degree from fears such as: germs, fires, etc.
  5. I feel a need to repeat either in my head or aloud certain words, phrases, or sounds.
  6. I have a need to do the same thing over and over again until it is done "right".
  7. I have a certain way of doing things. and it doesn't feel right unless they are done that certain way.
  8. I get upset if my routine or living space is interfered with even a little.
  9. I feel a need to imitate other people's movements.
  10. I have to count things in my environment over and over.
  11. I have to check and recheck my work over and over.
  12. I feel a need to touch certain things.
  13. Dirty words or thoughts come into my head when I am thinking about other things.
  14. Before leaving the house or place of work, I check and recheck the lights, stove etc. even when I know they've been done.
  15. I am overly aware of sensations form various parts of my body.
  16. Even when I have done something carefully, I feel that it is somehow not quite "right" or "complete".
  17. I feel that I fail to explain things properly in spite of having planned beforehand exactly what I want to say.
  18. I have worried about blurting out obscenities or doing something sexual or violent.
  19. I wash my hands more often than most people, or hate to touch things with my hands for fear of germs.
  20. I feel that something bad or wrong will happen if I don't act out my compulsion.

To find someone in the natural field who has a history of working with OCD is virtually impossible.

I had some alternative health practitioners offer advice that ranged from "leaky gut syndrome" (yeast mutation and migration) to "re patterning colackles" (establishing energy movement between the top half of the body and the lower half).

There was only one whom I contacted who worked with OCD.  Her mother had developed severe symptoms of OCD about 7 years ago.  They treated her with upping her HCL (hydrochloric acid- stomach acid), minerals, B-6 and worked on her adrenal glands.  Her mother was then symptom free.

Many people have opened up to me about having OCD.  I have read the eyes of three people diagnosed by doctors as having OCD.  All of them had a thin myelin sheathing on their nervous system.  They also all three had a weak liver.  Two of the three had weak pancreases which could indicate low blood sugar.

So what's the answer, well quite frankly I'm not sure.  Common sense would dictate that increasing the amount of serotonin foods should help.

Bananas are the only source of serotonin I could find.  If the liver is functioning properly I would add to my diet - L-typtophan sources (such as turkey).  Although taken off the market L-typtophan legally has to be in baby formula and is added to most baby foods and dog food.

Since the serotonin is a chemical that travels between the nerve synapse and the thicker the myelin sheathing on the nervous system the more potential for the releasing of serotonin it make sense to nourish the nervous system.  (I'd suggest Nerve Control (formally RE-X) and Spirulina.)

Niacin and B-6 have also been linked with serotonin.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder sufferers are usually intelligent, highly ethical and dependable people. They usually are very alone in their condition.  Fear of ridicule by those who will not understand their condition OCD-ers learn to hide their symptoms.

Although this condition was at one time considered rare, we know now that at least. 5% of the American population or about 5 to 6 million have this disorder.(personally I think the numbers underestimate the frequency of OCD).

If you would like additional information contact:  OCD-Free.org I have worked with close to a dozen OCD sufferers and most quit the suggested regimen in 1 or 2 weeks even though they were told that no benefits would be noticed for 2 to 3 months.  

There have been 3 who have stuck it out.  One is now a Manager in the herbal company Nature's Sunshine because as she puts it, "The herbs saved by sanity and my relationship to my family."  (She took: RE-X,  Spirulina and Evening primrose oil.)

If you suffer from this condition please take heart; you are not crazy or psychotic, you are lacking the nutrients that your body needs to get over this.  There is much hope.

Update, I have since worked with at least 200 people with OCD.  The Nerve Control (formally RE-X), Spirulina, Flaxseed oil have seemed to be praised by them.  Most report to me that they are symptom free within 9 months. (Another update: I have now had the opportunity of working with thousands of people who suffered from symptoms of OCD. Results have been very promising)

Even a more current Update, (Since this article I have now have had over 1400 people report to me that they have become symptom free from nourishing their myelin)

February 2005, Release of my book STRESSED OUT. Click on icon to order.

The focus of this site is to "educate, validate, and suggest alternative methods for the treatment of health conditions," which are not readily available to those who go through mainstream programs.

To help ensure good results, high quality foods and supplements are vital. Knowing that the cost of supplements can get overwhelming, we provide a wholesale store.

This is a courtesy, not a requirement for you to ask your questions. We are here to help people, not just gain customers.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

***When working with natural health it is beneficial that you have an understanding of the signs of a healing body. ***