OCD

Why it works: NAC is believed to alleviate OCD symptoms through several mechanisms:. • Glutamate Modulation: OCD has been associated with hyperactivity in the cortico-striato-thalamic-cortical c...

Instructions: When considering NAC for OCD, the following guidelines are recommended:. • Dosage: Typical dosages range from 1,200 mg to 3,000 mg per day, divided into two doses. Starting at a lo...

Warnings: While NAC is generally well-tolerated, certain precautions should be considered:. • Gastrointestinal...

Studies: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: A 2024 systematic revie...

Why it works: Second-messenger / serotonin pathway: Myo-inositol is a precursor in the phosphatidyl-inositol (PI) intracellular second-messenger system, which is functionally linked to some sero...

Instructions: Typical trial doses used:. • OCD randomized crossover trial: 18 g/day total (usually split into multiple doses) for 6 weeks. This is the dose in the Am J Psychiatry (Fux et al.) tr...

Warnings: Common adverse effects: generally mild and infrequent in trials — reported events include gastrointe...

Studies: Primary randomized / controlled trialsFux M., Levine J., Avi...

Why it works: St. John’s wort is well-studied for mild–moderate depression, but the evidence for treating OCD is limited and mixed. A few small open-label studies suggested possible benefit, but...

Instructions: Common standardized dose for mood: many clinical trials for depression (and most consumer guidance) use 300 mg of a standardized extract, three times daily (≈900 mg/day) — typicall...

Warnings: Serious drug interactions (CYP and P-glycoprotein induction). SJW (especially hyperforin-containing...

Studies: Randomized double-blind trial: "St John’s wort versus placeb...

Why it works: Antioxidant / anti-inflammatory action. Silymarin (milk thistle extract) is a strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mixture of flavonolignans. Neuroinflammation and oxidative st...

Instructions: Dose used in the main randomized trial: 600 mg/day of Silybum marianum extract, given as 200 mg three times daily for 8 weeks. That is the precise dosing regimen used in the double...

Warnings: Drug interactions: Milk thistle can interact with some medications (it may alter hepatic metabolism...

Studies: Sayyah M., Boostani H., Pakseresht S., Malayeri A. — Compari...

Why it works: There is one small randomized, double-blind trial suggesting valerian extract reduced OCD symptoms (750–765 mg/day, 8 weeks), but overall clinical evidence for OCD is very limited...

Instructions: Trial example for OCD (how it was given): The 2011 randomized double-blind pilot trial for OCD used Valeriana officinalis extract 250 mg capsule taken three times daily (≈750 mg/da...

Warnings: Liver safety concerns: regulatory bodies have investigated reports of liver injury possibly linked t...

Studies: Randomized, double-blind trial in OCD (the main direct evide...

Why it works: Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an adaptogenic herb with multiple neuroactive effects that plausibly reduce anxiety, stress, and some serotonergic/GABAergic dysfunction — mecha...

Instructions: The best direct clinical data for OCD comes from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial (2016):. • Population: 30 patients with DSM-IV OCD who were already bein...

Warnings: Major safety / interaction points supported in clinical reviews and safety reports:. Drug interactio...

Studies: Direct OCD trial(s):Randomized double-blind placebo-controll...

Why it works: Passionflower (most often Passiflora incarnata) has plausible biological effects (mainly GABAergic) and some clinical evidence for reducing anxiety and pre-operative nervousness, b...

Instructions: Clinical trials and practice use multiple forms (tea/infusion, tincture, extract capsules/tablets, syrup). Here are doses and timings that appear in clinical research (not official...

Warnings: Common side effects: drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, and rarely unsteady gait. Some trials reporte...

Studies: Double-blind randomized pilot trial — Passiflora vs oxazepam...

Why it works: Biological rationale: 5-HTP is the immediate biochemical precursor of serotonin (5-HT). Because many effective OCD treatments (clomipramine, SSRIs) act by increasing serotonergic s...

Instructions: What the best clinical trial used (adjunctive setting):. • A 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (Yousefzadeh et al., Int Clin Psychopharm, 2020) tested fluo...

Warnings: Serotonin syndrome risk (major): 5-HTP increases serotonin synthesis. When combined with SSRIs, SNRI...

Studies: Key randomized trial for OCD (adjunctive):Yousefzadeh et al....