Flax oil OCD

Is it true that a natural treatment for OCD can be flax oil or flax seed oil. I have read some articles about this but am trying to get to the bottom of it. Thanks.

There are many natural remedies that people often recommend for disorders such as OCD. The most popular among these is St. John's Wort. Many of these natural remedies are recommended based on their chemical properties. For instance St. Johns Wort affects the neurotransmitter known as serotonin, which is thought to play a role in OCD (indeed most OCD medications involve serotonin). As I understand it, Flax Seed Oil is considered healthy for the brain as it contains healthy fats our brains need.

None of the natural remedies people recommend for OCD treatment have been officially approved by the FDA, and only St. John's Wort has good research behind it. So, while I would not recommend flax seed oil as a sole treatment for OCD, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to take it as a vitamin everyday.

I understand completely why someone would prefer a natural solution and would prefer to avoid chemical medications. However, keep in mind that the most effective treatment for OCD is 100% natural anyway. The cognitive behavioral therapy technique known as exposure and ritual prevention (EXRP) is the most effective way to treat OCD and is a purely psychological technique. So, rather than experimenting with herbs and natural remedies, I would instead recommend seeing a psychologist for EXRP.

Just be careful taking herbal drugs on your own. Some of these natural remedies are just like chemical medications in that they shouldn’t be mixed, so always do your research before taking something. Talk to your pharmacist if you are mixing any types of medicines, including herbal ones.

For more on natural remedies go here: http://www.brainphysics.com/herbal.php
Fore more on EXRP for OCD treatment go here: http://www.brainphysics.com/therapy.php

All the best,
Dr. Williams