A large review of over 800 patients found that people who took high-dose B-vitamins like B6, B8, and B12 in addition to their medications significantly reduced symptoms of schizophrenia, compared with those who took medicines alone. These supplements seem most helpful when people start them early in their illness.
Many epidemiological studies have highlighted the link between vitamin D deficiency and schizophrenia. In particular, two prominent studies report an association between neonatal vitamin D deficiency and an increased risk of schizophrenia.
There is no sure way to prevent schizophrenia — but there are ways to prevent or reduce symptoms, such as taking medication, avoiding substance use, and receiving therapy. Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that involves recurrent episodes of psychosis (a loss of contact with reality).
The condition can occur as a result of genetic makeup or an alteration of the brain function due to unknown reasons. There is no absolute cure for schizophrenia, but it can be managed through organic medications. Treatment of schizophrenia without medication is primarily with psychotherapy.
Ginkgo biloba seems to benefit patients with schizophrenia in several ways when added to antipsychotics. Several studies suggested evidence for improving symptoms in various domains, especially an effect on positive symptoms and the reduction of adverse effects of antipsychotics.
The main type of talking therapy recommended for the treatment of schizophrenia is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which helps you identify and change any negative thoughts or behaviour that is making your life hard. CBT aims to help you: cope with symptoms of psychosis such as delusions or hearing voices.
The most common early warning signs include:
Depression, social withdrawal. Hostility or suspiciousness, extreme reaction to criticism. Deterioration of personal hygiene. Flat, expressionless gaze.
Vitamin D supplementation in patients with schizophrenia
One study showed that vitamin D supplementation (50,000 IU vitamin D/week for 12 weeks) improved positive and negative syndrome scale scores and metabolic profiles including reduction in fasting plasma glucose, and cholesterol levels [45].
Therefore it is strongly advisable to reduce, as much as possible, your intake of sugar, refined carbohydrates, caffeine and stimulant drugs and eat a low glycemic load diet.
Estrogens regulate clinical symptoms through their influence on with dopamine pathways, as well as by regulating mitochondrial functioning and the stress response system. Estrogen deficiency is common in schizophrenia and is often related to hyperprolactinemia in both medication-naïve and chronic patients.
Magnesium is increasingly used as a treatment for many clinical health issues. Research supports symptom reduction in several clinical issues including, ADHD, anxiety, depression, OCD, and schizophrenia.
Fortunately for those with subthreshold symptoms, studies have also shown that supplementing one's diet with omega-3 fatty acids (a.k.a. fish oil supplements) can reduce the risk of progressing to a full-blown psychotic disorder without any known side effects.
Essential Oils That May Help People With Schizophrenia
When it comes to mental health, Chesla generally recommends essential oils that can calm or energize you, or that might help you sleep. For soothing your mind, Chesla's two favorites are lavender and frankincense, either used alone or combined together.
The exact causes of schizophrenia are unknown. Research suggests a combination of physical, genetic, psychological and environmental factors can make a person more likely to develop the condition. Some people may be prone to schizophrenia, and a stressful or emotional life event might trigger a psychotic episode.
While there is no known cure, it is possible to live a meaningful and happy life with schizophrenia. There are many effective treatments, best provided by a team. These include medication, psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, and social services, as well as tools to help you stay in school or keep working.
Unfortunately, most people with schizophrenia are unaware that their symptoms are warning signs of a mental disorder. Their lives may be unraveling, yet they may believe that their experiences are normal. Or they may feel that they're blessed or cursed with special insights that others can't see.
Extant sudies show that TCM such as Ginkgo biloba L. and Wendan decoction (Singh et al., 2010; Deng and Adams, 2016) has beneficial effects on patients with schizophrenia. Thus, we found that TCM such as Ginkgo biloba L.
Bacopa monniera has been reported to possess antipsychotic, anxiolytic and other medicinal properties. The antipsychotic properties may be related to its normalization of dopamine and serotonergic neurotransmission and reduction of acetylcholinesterase activity.
It is also possible that patients with schizophrenia use caffeine to offset antipsychotic induced side effects such as sedation [20,21], with some physicians recommending using caffeine to help reduce sedation in patients with schizophrenia [22].
Melatonin has been observed to be beneficial in treatment of sleep disturbances in schizophrenia in small RCTs. Melatonin has been observed ameliorate antipsychotic side-effects in observational studies and small RCTs.