In Western medicine, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is considered a psychological disorder that is often treated with a combination of drugs and psychotherapy. In Eastern medicine, OCD is considered an imbalance in the organs, particularly in the kidneys, heart or liver. In Eastern medicine, the treatment for OCD is frequently a combination of acupuncture and herbal formulas. Unlike herbal use in the West, in Eastern medicine herbs are prescribed in combinations called formulas, rather than as individual herbs. Since the hallmark of Eastern medicine is to treat each person according to his individual symptoms, there are several herbal treatments for OCD, depending on how the problem presents itself.
The information in this article is not intended to endorse alternative treatments or replace the advice of your personal physician.
Treating the Kidney
This type of OCD is characterized by fear. If you feel your obsessions and/or compulsions prevent something terrible from happening, your kidney energy may be out of balance. The physical manifestations may include lower back pain, night sweats, morning diarrhea or ringing in the ears. The herbal formula used for this type of OCD is Kidney Qi Pill from the Golden Cabinet (Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan), according to John Scott, DOM, et al., in their book "Clinical Guide To Commonly Used Chinese Herbal Formulas." This formula is considered to re-balance the kidney energy by treating the root cause of your problem.
Treating the Heart
When the heart is out of balance, you may experience feelings of anxiety and restlessness. You may have heart palpitations and sleep disturbances. A Chinese formula that balances the heart energy is Cinnamon Plus Dragon Bone and Oyster Shell Formula (Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang), according to Dr. Scott. This formula not only balances your heart energy, it harmonizes the energy between your kidneys and your heart. It is thought to improve sleep and reduce anxiety.
Treating the Liver
When the liver energy is out of balance, you may feel "stuck" and unable to make changes on your own. You may feel angry. Physically, you may experience dizziness or headaches. You may notice your eyes burn or turn red. A Chinese herbal formula commonly used to soothe the liver is Linking Formula (Yi Guan Jian), according to Dr. Scott. This formula not only soothes the liver energy, it nourishes the kidneys as well. It is represented as calming, giving you a sense of peace and self-control.
References
- Acupuncture Center of Salem: Unquiet Waters--Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Chinese Medicine
- "Clinical Guide To Commonly Used Chinese Herbal Formulas," Fifth Edition; John Scott, DOM, Lorena Monda, DOM, John Heuertz, DOM; 2009
- "The Foundations of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Text for Acupuncturists and Herbalists," Second Edition; Giovanni Maciocia; 2005
