Obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD, is a behavioral anxiety disorder resulting in unwanted thoughts and actions, leading to repetitive behavior that interrupts your lifestyle. Ashwagandha is an herb used in traditional medicine shown to have sedative and calming properties. Though research is lacking, ashwagandha may help reduce the anxiety leading to OCD. Ashwagandha is an unproved treatment for OCD, does not replace therapy or prescription medication, and should not be taken without your doctor's supervision.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
According to the National Institutes of Health, OCD is characterized by obtrusive and obsessive thoughts. If you suffer from OCD, you perform repetitive actions to alleviate these thoughts. Compulsive behaviors offer only temporary relief and can result in extreme anxiety if not performed. The cause of OCD is not known. OCD may have a genetic component and normally appears by age 30, although cases have been documented after brain injury or infection.
OCD is normally treated with a combination of medication -- including selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants -- and behavioral therapy to resolve conflicts and reduce stress and anxiety that worsen OCD.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha, Withania somnifera, is also known as Indian ginseng or winter cherry, and is a member of the nightshade family. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, ashwagandha is used in herbal medicine for stress, pain, fatigue, diabetes, arthritis and epilepsy. Ashwagandha can also be applied externally to reduce pain. Chemicals in ashwagandha have been shown to have potent sedative effects on the central nervous system.
Effectiveness
No clinical studies have investigated the use of ashwagandha in the treatment of OCD. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, limited studies have shown ashwagandha to be useful in the reduction of stress and anxiety, known to worsen OCD symptoms. Ashwagandha may increase the effect of GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter that suppresses brain activity. GABA is an important neurotransmitter in the basal ganglia, a part of the brain responsible for reward, motivation and voluntary control that is thought to be abnormal in those with OCD.
Safety
Do not take ashwagandha for OCD without close supervision of your doctor. Ashwagandha should not be taken with depressant or other medications affecting the brain, including medication prescribed for OCD. Do not take ashwagandha if you are pregnant, as it may induce abortion. Further studies of ashwagandha side effects are limited.
References
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Ashwagandha
- Pubmed Health: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- "Principles of Neural Science, 4th Edition"; Kandel, Schwartz, Jessel; 2000
