As a lifelong condition, schizophrenia can be difficult to manage. While various pharmaceutical options exist, many choose alternative treatments to avoid side effects. But what are holistic treatments for schizophrenia?

What is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a serious mental health condition marked by changes in thought, emotions, and behavior. Most are diagnosed in their late teens to early thirties and it’s more common in men than women. ¹

Schizophrenia causes a break in reality. In other words, patients struggle with what’s real and what’s not. This results in the following three symptom categories: ²

Psychotic Symptoms

• Delusions
• Hallucinations
• Movement irregularities (agitation)
• Thought irregularities (dysfunctional thinking)

Negative Symptoms

• Decreased speaking
• Difficulty starting and sustaining activities
• Lack of excitement in daily life
• Reduced expression of emotions through the face or voice

Cognitive Symptoms

• Difficulty focusing or paying attention
• Improper “executive functioning” (ability to comprehend information and use it for decision-making)
• Trouble with “working memory” (ability to use information right after learning of it)

What Causes Schizophrenia?

Researchers don’t 100% know the causes of schizophrenia. We do know it usually develops through elements outside the patient’s control, such as: ³

• Complications during pregnancy
• Environment
• Family history (i.e. childhood trauma)
• Genetics

Still, it can develop through elements within a patient’s control. For example, certain substance use may cause schizophrenia or other psychosis symptoms.

What is the Treatment for Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is treated through a mix of medication, psychotherapies, and peer support groups. The medication factor of this treatment is usually what concerns people, due to side effects. The two most common medications for schizophrenia are:

1.) Typical Antipsychotics

Developed in the 1950s, Haloperidol and Chlorpromazine are the two most common antipsychotics prescribed to schizophrenia patients. While they can be effective, they come with complications that include: ⁴

• Certain diseases (i.e. diabetes)
• Motor complications (i.e. shakiness and stiffness)
• Sleep problems

2.) Atypical Antipsychotics

Atypical antipsychotics are more often prescribed than typical antipsychotics. The reason is they inhibit serotonin receptors and prevent overdevelopment. This may result in similar side effects to typical antipsychotics.

Which is Best: Typical or Atypical Antipsychotics?

A study done by the British Journal of Psychiatry looked into the efficacy of these two forms of antipsychotics. Typical and atypical antipsychotics were both found useful in the treatment of schizophrenia. However, most patients and providers prefer atypical variants due to their limited side effects. ⁵

How to Cure Schizophrenia Permanently

Unfortunately, there is no cure for schizophrenia. Instead, mental health professionals offer a treatment path that suppresses symptoms.

Holistic Treatments for Schizophrenia

Since antipsychotics can present side effects, some people have looked towards holistic treatment options. These can present themselves in a few different ways, including:

• Natural supplements
• Therapy
• Lifestyle changes

We’ve compiled a list of the top holistic treatments for schizophrenia backed by what research currently has to offer.

Natural Supplements

Some supplements and vitamins have been found to help ease schizophrenia symptoms. These include:

B Vitamins

Most people with schizophrenia struggle with low folic acid levels (vitamin B9). Not to mention, people with schizophrenia also have other vitamin B deficiencies. Research shows that variations of vitamin B supplements can help decrease certain symptoms of schizophrenia symptoms, including: ⁶

• Anxiety
• Neurological processing
• Stress

While you can take B vitamins as a dietary supplement, you can also find them in certain foods, such as red meats, whole grains, and some fruits and vegetables.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D plays an essential role in our health by managing calcium and phosphate. These nutrients are necessary to keep bones, teeth, and muscles in functioning order. While most people obtain vitamin D through sunlight, you can also take a dietary supplement.

Studies have found that people with vitamin D deficiencies are more likely to experience schizophrenia. This may have to do with the fact that vitamin D is essential in maintaining brain structure. More specifically, vitamin D activates neuroreceptors that regulate behavior. It also acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. ⁷

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3s have garnered a lot of popularity due to their anti-inflammatory nature. Most people receive it naturally by eating certain foods, such as fish and nuts. However, if these foods aren’t in your diet, you can also take a dietary supplement.

Research shows that omega-3s reduce psychosis-related symptoms, especially in younger patients. It’s believed its anti-inflammatory effects play a role in the brain, decreasing overall schizophrenia symptoms. ⁸

Holistic Therapies

Alongside medication intervention, it’s highly beneficial to participate in therapies. The most common for schizophrenia include: ⁹

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is meant to allow you to discuss schizophrenia behavior and thought processes. From there, it will present specific coping mechanisms to help mitigate overall symptoms.

This treatment has shown a lot of promise in relieving schizophrenia symptoms. Namely, because it allows patients to understand their symptoms. ¹⁰

If a patient experiences episodes of psychotic symptoms, CBT may become a first-line treatment. By understanding these types of behaviors, patients have the opportunity to reduce these episodes. As a result, this has led to many having an easier time navigating daily life. ¹¹

CBT also helps to reconstruct memories. It helps change a patient’s perspective on traumas that may have led to the condition. ¹²

Crisis Intervention

In extreme cases, a schizophrenic episode may cause harm to oneself or others. The most common of these actions is suicide, with 10% of schizophrenia patients experiencing suicidal ideation. In such cases, crisis intervention may be necessary.

These are inpatient facilities where a patient is monitored and cared for 24/7. They can be useful in dangerous situations as they offer medication, counseling, and a safe environment.

If you or someone you love experiences suicidal ideation, it’s important to seek help. In cases of emergency, you need to go to your local emergency room. In all other cases, you can contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Diet Changes for Schizophrenia

To treat schizophrenia, you need more than just medication and therapy. Certain lifestyle changes can effectively mitigate symptoms.

For most people, this initially looks like a change in diet. Research has found that people with schizophrenia often have specific diets. More specifically, they usually eat pro-inflammatory foods. This can be detrimental as people with schizophrenia also have more sensitive nervous systems. ¹³

While antipsychotics are effective in creating an anti-inflammatory response, they may not be as effective as certain diet changes.

The best foods for schizophrenia include: ¹⁴

• Clams
• Fruits and vegetables
• Seafood (i.e. fish, oysters, and crabs)
• Starchy foods (i.e. breads and pasta)

Food to Avoid and Suggestions

People with schizophrenia should avoid foods that contain high amounts of refined sugars (i.e. candy and ice cream). Since these foods are common in patients, many also struggle with other diseases, such as diabetes.

On top of this, some research suggests that gluten may exacerbate schizophrenia responses. Therefore, you may want to opt for a gluten-free diet. ¹⁵

As you develop your schizophrenia diet, meals should be measured. This will:

1. Ensure you eat the proper portion sizes
2. Make the correct food choices

Drug and Alcohol Avoidance

If you currently abuse drugs or alcohol, you may want to seek out addiction treatment. The most commonly abused by schizophrenia patients include: ¹⁶

• Cannabis
• Cocaine
• Methamphetamine
• Nicotine

These substances are often used as coping mechanisms to relieve symptoms. However, drugs and alcohol have been found to worsen schizophrenia symptoms.

How to Manage Stress

If you’ve been diagnosed with schizophrenia for some time, then you’re aware of how stressful this condition can be. ¹⁷ Naturally, stress can lead to other mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression. As such, it’s in your interest to develop coping mechanisms for stress, such as:

Engage in Exercise

Exercise creates endorphins within the body. These are natural anti-stress agents that can help to mitigate other negative symptoms of schizophrenia. ¹⁸ Therefore, it’s in your interest to develop a workout routine and stick to it.

Spend Time with Friends and Family

Socialization can play a key role in your schizophrenia treatment. Naturally, you’ll have days where the stress of the condition gets to you. On such days, it can be beneficial to have a support system through family and friends. They can be reminders that uplift your mood and help you to relax. ¹⁹

Reality Testing

As discussed, people with schizophrenia often break from reality. Therefore, reality testing can be a way to ensure you’re in the right mindset.

While you can work with a mental health professional on this, it’s better to do it with people you’re close with. In essence, reality testing is to ensure your thoughts and behaviors aren’t coming from a place outside reality. ²⁰

References

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³ Orsolini L, Pompili S, Volpe U. Schizophrenia: A Narrative Review of Etiopathogenetic, Diagnostic and Treatment Aspects. J Clin Med. 2022 Aug 27;11(17):5040. doi: 10.3390/jcm11175040. PMID: 36078967; PMCID: PMC9457502.

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¹³ Cha HY, Yang SJ. Anti-Inflammatory Diets and Schizophrenia. Clin Nutr Res. 2020 Oct 28;9(4):241-257. doi: 10.7762/cnr.2020.9.4.241. PMID: 33204665; PMCID: PMC7644368.

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