This is one of a number of other treatment approaches and coping strategies that are sometimes used for BDD but appear ineffective.
Natural remedies Some people try “natural remedies,” such as homeopathic approaches, megavitamins, St. John’s wort, and other substances found in health food stores or on the internet. These treatmerits don’t seem to work.
None of them have been studied in BDD, and there’s no evidence they’re effective. Just because substances like tryptophan and 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) are natural and have links to serotonin doesn’t mean they effectively treat BDD. While some-of these substances are potentially harmless, others may actually be harmful. In fact, a number of years ago the U.S. Food and Drug Administration withdrew tryptophan from the U.S. market because a toxic variant of this compound was inadvertently produced, which caused at least 37 deaths and 1,500 cases of a severe syndrome called eosinophilia myalgia syndrome. 5-HTP, too, may be dangerous. The weight loss herbal supplement ephedra (ma huang) was linked to many heart attacks, strokes, and even deaths. So not everything that’s “natural” is healthy; arsenic, too, is natural but can kill you.
The problem is that the Food and Drug Administration generally doesn’t regulate herbs and dietary supplements, and they can be marketed without any proof of safety or effectiveness. Some are contaminated with toxins like mercury lead, or dangerous pesticides. Prescription medicines, such as SRIs, in contrast, must undergo extensive and rigorous scientific testing to demonstrate that they’re both safe and effective before they can be marketed. You’re much better off trying an SRI, since they’ve been extensively tested for safety, safely taken by many millions of people, and shown by research studies to often effectively treat BDD.
Natural remedies Some people try “natural remedies,” such as homeopathic approaches, megavitamins, St. John’s wort, and other substances found in health food stores or on the internet. These treatmerits don’t seem to work.
The problem is that the Food and Drug Administration generally doesn’t regulate herbs and dietary supplements, and they can be marketed without any proof of safety or effectiveness. Some are contaminated with toxins like mercury lead, or dangerous pesticides. Prescription medicines, such as SRIs, in contrast, must undergo extensive and rigorous scientific testing to demonstrate that they’re both safe and effective before they can be marketed. You’re much better off trying an SRI, since they’ve been extensively tested for safety, safely taken by many millions of people, and shown by research studies to often effectively treat BDD.
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