These Natural Treatments May Help With Your Schizophrenia Symptoms

Schizophrenia can be a frustrating condition to live with. Sometimes, intense symptoms can greatly impact your daily life, and it can take time to find the best treatment plan.

You may have heard that certain vitamins or the right diet can work hand-in-hand with your prescribed schizophrenia treatment. While there’s no natural remedy that can treat schizophrenia on its own, there are steps you can take to optimize your health, reduce stress and improve your overall well-being.

But psychiatrist Travis Krew, MD, stresses that any natural treatments should only complement, not replace, antipsychotic medications and should be discussed with your healthcare provider before use.

“A lot of these natural treatments are very low risk,” Dr. Krew says. “But it’s important to have a trusting relationship with your provider and support system so you can stay consistent with your medications first and foremost.”

Can you naturally recover from schizophrenia?

The short and clear answer is no.

But that doesn’t mean that certain treatments beyond medications can’t do some good. As with many conditions, schizophrenia can be affected by many things, including your environment, relationships, stress and your wellness routine.

If you live with schizophrenia, you’re likely to experience common symptoms like hallucinations, delusions or disorganized behavior and speech. These symptoms (and others) can only be managed under the supervision of a licensed medical specialist. This often involves the use of antipsychotic medications, along with a form of family therapy. You can also benefit from rehabilitation and group therapy.

“There’s no natural antipsychotic,” states Dr. Krew. “Complementary and integrative treatments can help, but only as a complement to your primary treatment plan.” 

In other words, these should always be used in conjunction with the treatment plan prescribed to you by your healthcare provider.

Natural treatments for schizophrenia

Here are some natural and complementary treatments for schizophrenia that may help improve your quality of life: 

Vitamins

It turns out, some vitamins may help relieve schizophrenia symptoms. Many of us already know the benefits of taking certain vitamins daily — or ideally, getting them from the foods you eat.

A 2017 systematic review of research suggests that B vitamins like B12 and B6 may be able to reduce symptoms of schizophrenia for a certain subgroup of people. But further research is still needed.

The same review discusses a possible link between vitamin D deficiency in birthing parents and the development of schizophrenia in their babies

Diet

Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats have been shown to support brain health and enhance cognitive function. These nutrient-rich foods can help you improve your overall well-being while dealing with schizophrenia symptoms.

Overall, a well-balanced diet like the Mediterranean diet can support your physical and mental health. “A balanced diet is definitely going to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes, which are conditions that commonly occur together with schizophrenia,” Dr. Krew explains.

There are also things you can eat that can worsen symptoms. With schizophrenia, it’s best to avoid processed foods, excessive sugar and caffeine.

Omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids, found in foods like fish, have been linked to reduced inflammation and improved mental health. You can also get omega-3 fatty acids from supplements.

A small 2017 study suggests that omega-3 supplementation can improve cognitive function in people with schizophrenia, and a 2020 study found that omega-3 fatty acids may be able to improve several symptoms of schizophrenia in youth at risk for this illness.

While further research is still needed around omega-3 fatty acids and schizophrenia, Dr. Krew says it can be a low-risk supplement to add to your diet (with the approval of your doctor).

Relaxation techniques

Stress is a common trigger for those living with schizophrenia. When you’re stressed, it can intensify symptoms like delusions and hallucinations, says Dr. Krew.

Different forms of relaxation can serve as a complement to your schizophrenia treatment. Try any of these stress-relieving tactics:

• Practice deep breathing techniques.
• Do yoga.
• Meditate. 
• Journal. 

It may take some trial and error to figure out which stress-relieving techniques work best for you, and that’s OK. The important part is that you’re setting aside some time and effort to reduce your stress through mindful practices.

CBD

A small study in 2021 showed that CBD may help with cognitive function in youth with schizophrenia. But a review of research also done in 2021 doesn’t support CBD as a treatment for schizophrenia. At this point, taking CBD for schizophrenia treatment is purely experimental and isn’t recommended.

“Experimenting with over-the-counter CBD products, even for someone without schizophrenia, can be very risky,” cautions Dr. Krew. “Most CBD products are not regulated, so there is no oversight. The problem there is that it can contain trace THC or other things that can potentially worsen psychosis.”

The bottom line

While there isn’t a natural cure for schizophrenia, there are ways you can use other remedies to help make your symptoms more manageable and live a healthier life. Following a healthy diet, relieving stress and taking vitamin supplements or prioritizing foods high in B and omega-3 fatty acids may help.

But remember, the most important thing you can do in managing schizophrenia is stick with your medical treatment plan prescribed by your healthcare provider. Any natural or complementary treatments should work together with your medications and therapies — not as replacements.