USA 24 August 2012. 30% of population has this condition, do you want to know more? Anxiety is one factor that always follows us like a shadow in every single step of life in different fashions and varies in intensity from person to person depending on its mode of presentation. One of the incarnations is OCD, i.e. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, which is seen in more than 30% of the population. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by unfair thoughts and obsessions that lead ne to do repetitious compulsive things. These behaviors can be time consuming, socially alienating and lead to emotional and financial distress. The most common finding is that the people suffering from OCD realize that their attitudes are irrational and irrelevant, which makes them depressive and this leads to worsening of the condition.
Neither race nor age or sex is exempted for OCD; however, majority of adolescents and middle-aged people tend to get affected more frequently. There is another condition called as Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), which is a condition in which a person is preoccupied with rules, orderliness, and controls. Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is most commonly a condition where genes may be involved. A person’s childhood and growing environment may also play roles. This condition can affect both men and women; but it mostly often occurs in men. OCPD has some of the same symptoms as OCD. However, people with OCD have unwanted thoughts, while people with OCPD believe that their thoughts are correct. OCD persons experience involuntary, uncontrollable thoughts, ideas, images, and illusions etc., repeatedly in mind with which they are driven to behave or perform certain rituals repeatedly to over come anxiety. Most of the OCD personalities could be washers, checkers, doubters and sinners, hoarders or Counters and arrangers. Some common obsessions include fear of being contaminated by germs or dirt or contaminating others, fear of harm, fear of losing, excessive religious beliefs or rituals, superstitions etc. When it comes to some of the common compulsions of OCD, they would be excessive checking of things, spending more time in washings and cleansing, accumulating junk at home or at office, attending religious rituals repeatedly from fear, doing senseless things to avoid anxiety, counting, tapping, etc. OCD in children must be paid more attention as it affects the child’s future, life and it could lead to some other psychiatric complications such as social phobia, panic phobia, Trichotilomania (pulling the hair), depression, dysthymia, learning disorders or body dimorphic disorders etc.
The curative aspect of OCD is mainly Psychotherapy (Psychodynamic Psychotherapy) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that can play a key role in OCD management. Some anti depressants do help to reduce the intensity of the OCD; however, CBT is the preferred one. Neurosurgical treatment of OCD such as minimally invasive techniques like gamma knife irradiation and foremost deep brain stimulation has arisen as novel tools for psychosurgery today in cases requiring more advanced attention. Jeffrey Schwartz, a well known psychiatrist offered four steps to over come OCD such as Reattribute, Revalue, Refocus and Reliable.
Before modern science’s evolution, OCD was said to be incurable. However, one should not overlook nature and what it has gifted us. Ancient science recognized the importance of psychiatric disorders and postulated certain lifestyle rules and regulations in terms of culture and practices which in depth regulate the mind and human body.
Common sense remedies for OCD:
Practice disciplined and planned life style in terms of health and happy living.
Avoid unnecessary life targets which are time consuming and stressful.
Practice yoga and meditation and keep mind in control.
Take Ashwagandha, Bacopa, Centella combination herbal supplements, which can help to overcome OCD over a period of time.
Take equal parts of nutmeg, mace powders, and twice quantity of Licorice powder, and a little sugar. Your natural tranquilizer is ready. One spoon of this twice daily keeps all worries away.
Regular consumption of Basil leaves keeps mind fit.
If you feel worried about OCD symptoms take fine powder of muskroot with milk.
Decoction made up of Cardamom and Cumin seeds will help to reduce the intensity of OCD symptoms.
If possible try this treatment at home; an application of continuous stream of mildly warm oil to the body parts. Take one liter of sesame oil and add Ashwagandha powder, Muskroot, Basil leaves, rhizomes of Sweet flag and Turmeric to it. Boil the oil for about few hours and then let it get cooled. Your remedy is ready. Apply this oil to fore head twice a day for ten days. This will give good results to overcome the OCD symptoms.
I hope the above discussion on OCD and some of the home remedies should be useful to most people that are trying to address these conditions.
Dr. Satya Narayana B.A.M.S.
Dr. Satya Narayana is a Clinical research investigator, Naturopathic / Ayurveda Doctor and a consultant of Herbal Destination, USA. Read other articles by him like What is Ashwagandha and What is Bacopa. All information provided above is for educational purposes only. For questions or to consult Dr. Satya, please send an email to
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