
Background
Ashwagandha contains chemicals that might help calm the brain, reduce swelling, lower blood pressure, and alter the immune system.
Since ashwagandha is traditionally used as an adaptogen, it is used for many conditions related to stress. Adaptogens are believed to help the body resist physical and mental stress. Some of the conditions it is used for include insomnia, aging, anxiety and many others, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses. There is also no good evidence to support using ashwagandha for COVID-19.
Don't confuse ashwagandha with Physalis alkekengi. Both are known as winter cherry. Also, don't confuse ashwagandha with American ginseng, Panax ginseng, or eleuthero.
Safety Safety definitions
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if ashwagandha is safe or what the side effects might be.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy: It is likely unsafe to use ashwagandha when pregnant. There is some evidence that ashwagandha might cause miscarriages.Breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if ashwagandha is safe to use when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
"Auto-immune diseases" such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions: Ashwagandha might cause the immune system to become more active, and this could increase the symptoms of auto-immune diseases. If you have one of these conditions, it's best to avoid using ashwagandha.
Surgery: Ashwagandha may slow down the central nervous system. Healthcare providers worry that anesthesia and other medications during and after surgery might increase this effect. Stop taking ashwagandha at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Thyroid disorders: Ashwagandha might increase thyroid hormone levels. Ashwagandha should be used cautiously or avoided if you have a thyroid condition or take thyroid hormone medications.
Effectiveness
- Insomnia. Taking ashwagandha by mouth seems to improve overall sleep and sleep quality in some people.
- Stress. Taking ashwagandha by mouth seems to help reduce stress in some people. It might also help reduce stress-related weight gain.
Dosing & administration
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Ashwagandha might lower blood sugar levels. Taking ashwagandha along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.
Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Ashwagandha might lower blood pressure. Taking ashwagandha along with medications that lower blood pressure might cause blood pressure to go too low. Monitor your blood pressure closely.
Medications that decrease the immune system (Immunosuppressants)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Ashwagandha can increase the activity of the immune system. Some medications, such as those used after a transplant, decrease the activity of the immune system. Taking ashwagandha along with these medications might decrease the effects of these medications.
Sedative medications (Benzodiazepines)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Ashwagandha might cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Some medications, called sedatives, can also cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Taking ashwagandha with sedative medications might cause breathing problems and/or too much sleepiness.
Sedative medications (CNS depressants)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Ashwagandha might cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Some medications, called sedatives, can also cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Taking ashwagandha with sedative medications might cause breathing problems and/or too much sleepiness.
Thyroid hormone
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
The body naturally produces thyroid hormones. Ashwagandha might increase how much thyroid hormone the body produces. Taking ashwagandha with thyroid hormone pills might cause too much thyroid hormone in the body, and increase the effects and side effects of thyroid hormone.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Herbs and supplements with sedative properties: Ashwagandha might cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Taking it along with other supplements with similar effects might cause too much sleepiness and/or slowed breathing in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include hops, kava, L-tryptophan, melatonin, and valerian.
Interactions with foods
Products
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- Microcrystalline cellulose
- Vegetable Gum
- Withania somnifera (Withania) ext. 500 mg
- Phyllostachys nigra powder 15 mg
- Sweet potato powder
- Water
- Hypromellose
- Withania somnifera (Withania) ext. 300 mg
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1) 10 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 50 mg equiv. pyridoxine 41.1 mg
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) 5 μg
- Schisandra chinensis ext. 150 mg
- Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa ext. 100 mg
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 25 mg
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 15 mg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 20 mg equiv. pantothenic acid 18.3 mg
- Withania somnifera (Withania) ext. 200 mg
- Lepidium meyenii powder 1 g
- Theobroma cacao powder
- Asparagus racemosus ext. 200 mg
- Asphaltum punjabinum (Shilajit) 200 mg
- Green banana
- Tremella fuciformis powder 160 mg
- Pearl powder
- Lactobacillus acidophilus 1.5 billion CFU
- Natural chocolate flavour
- Coconut milk powder
- Cocoa powder
- Erythritol
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Xanthan gum
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)