A review of 26 studies found that plant-derived compounds show early promise for reducing OCD-like symptoms by influencing brain chemistry, but the evidence is too thin and methodologically weak to recommend herbal treatments for OCD patients today.
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26 studies (14 preclinical, 12 clinical) were included; plant compounds were found to influence serotonergic, dopaminergic, and GABAergic pathways associated with OCD
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40–60% of patients on first-line OCD drugs (SSRIs) achieve only partial remission, underscoring the clinical gap that phytotherapy research is trying to fill
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Evidence remains preliminary — most animal models used (e.g., marble-burying) lack specificity, human trials are few and low-quality, and no phytotherapy can currently be clinically recommended
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