Herbs And Supplements For Treating Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder in which you may have difficulty thinking logically and behaving appropriately among others in a social setting. Schizophrenia, notes the National Center for Biotechnology Information, may also affect your emotional responses and your ability to discern real from imagined experiences. Various herbs and dietary supplements may be helpful adjunct therapies in the treatment of schizophrenia, but supplements should always be cleared with a health care professional before using them to treat this condition.

Schizophrenia

The exact cause of schizophrenia, notes the National Health Service of the United Kingdom, is unknown, although it is believed that both genetic and environmental factors may play a role in its onset. Some of the most common misconceptions about this condition are that people with schizophrenia are violent and have dual personalities. In most cases, this condition develops slowly, over a period of months or years. Some of the first signs and symptoms of this condition include sleeping problems, difficulty concentrating, and problems making and maintaining friendships.

Herbs and Supplements

There are many herbs and supplements that have traditionally been used in treating schizophrenia, although not all of these natural substances have been subjected to randomized controlled trials and their true effectiveness may be unknown. Certified nutritional consultant and nutrition researcher Phyllis A. Balch, author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," states that ginkgo, kava kava, passionflower, 5-HTP, flaxseed oil, folic acid, GABA, garlic, glutathione, L-asparagine, L-glutamic acid and L-methionine may all be helpful in treating schizophrenia.

A Commonly Used Supplement

One of the most commonly used dietary supplements in treating schizophrenia is gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA. According to Balch, GABA is critical for brain metabolism and aids in proper brain function. GABA, an amino acid, is an important neurotransmitter in your central nervous system and is derived in your body from glutamic acid, which is another amino acid. GABA has a tranquilizing effect, and has historically been used in treating schizophrenia, epilepsy and hypertension.

Warning

There are several common complications associated with schizophrenia, including substance abuse problems and physical illness due to a sedentary lifestyle and medications traditionally used in treating this condition. Schizophrenia is a serious mental health condition that requires appropriate care. Though dietary supplements may be a helpful adjunct therapy in treating this condition, supplements alone may be insufficient in managing schizophrenia. There is no known way to stop the onset of schizophrenia, and supplements used for this health purpose will not be effective.