The Effectiveness of Herbal Mixture of Echium amoenum L. and Rheum ribes on Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Triple-Blind Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE

The use of complementary and alternative medicine has gained traction in the treatment of psychiatric disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This trial investigates the efficacy of an herbal combination of Echium amoenum L. and Rheum ribes in reducing OCD symptoms.

METHODS

In this triple-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial, 40 participants were assigned to either the intervention group, receiving a daily dose of 30 mL of the herbal syrup, or a control group receiving a placebo. OCD severity was measured using the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) at baseline, and at 4, 6, and 8 weeks. Side effects were monitored based on a preestablished checklist. Data were analyzed using SPSS v 16.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference between groups in age (p = 0.214) and sex (p = 1.00). The change in OCD scores between times significantly differed in the intervention group (p = 0.037). However, the OCD score did not change significantly during the time in the control group (p = 0.932). Moreover, there was no significant difference between the two groups at each time. However, the trend of changes during the trial was significant between the groups (p < 0.001). Additionally, no adverse effects were reported among participants consuming the herbal syrup.

CONCLUSION

This study provides evidence that Echium amoenum L. and Rheum ribes can effectively decrease OCD severity without adverse effects, suggesting their potential as a safe treatment option. Future research with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods is warranted to confirm these findings and explore the mechanisms of action.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Iranian Registry for Clinical Trials (registration number: IRCT20200712048088N1).