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: Lotion containing ashwagandha is possibly safe when used for up to 2 months.
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.
Liver disease: Ashwagandha might cause liver damage in some people. But it isn't clear how often this occurs. Until more is known, people with liver disease should avoid taking 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
- Anxiety. Taking ashwagandha by mouth might reduce anxiety.
- A type of persistent anxiety marked by exaggerated worry and tension (generalized anxiety disorder or GAD). Taking ashwagandha by mouth seems to improve anxiety in people with persistent anxiety.
- 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 changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Minor Be watchful with this combination.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Ashwagandha might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Minor Be watchful with this combination.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Ashwagandha might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
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 can harm the liver (Hepatotoxic drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Ashwagandha might harm the liver. Some medications can also harm the liver. Taking ashwagandha along with a medication that can harm the liver might increase the risk of liver damage.
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 that might lower blood pressure: Ashwagandha might lower blood pressure. Taking it with other supplements that have the same effect might cause blood pressure to drop too much. Examples of supplements with this effect include andrographis, casein peptides, L-arginine, niacin, and stinging nettle.
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
View all products- Withania somnifera (Withania) ext. 300 mg equiv. withanolides 15 mg
- Microcrystalline cellulose
- Vegetable gum
- Withania somnifera (Withania) ext. 300 mg equiv. withanolides 15 mg
- Alpinia galanga ext. 150 mg
- Withania somnifera (Withania) ext. 160 mg equiv. withanolides 8 mg
- Rehmannia glutinosa ext. 200 mg
- Panax quinquefolius ext. 150 mg
- Schisandra chinensis ext. 100 mg
- Glycyrrhiza glabra ext. 25 mg
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1) 1.2 mg equiv. thiamine 1.07 mg
- Riboflavin 5-phosphate sodium (Activated B2) 1.6 mg equiv. riboflavin 1.22 mg
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 16 mg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 6 mg equiv. pantothenic acid 5.5 mg equiv. calcium 500 μg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate (P5P) 1.7 mg equiv. pyridoxine 1.16 mg
- Biotin 30 μg
- Calcium folinate (Activated folate) 50 μg equiv. folinic acid 46.3 μg
- Hydroxocobalamin (Vitamin B12) 2.4 μg
- Withania somnifera (Withania) ext. 160 mg equiv. withanolides 8 mg
- Crocus sativus ext. 7.33 mg
- Rhodiola rosea ext. 81.25 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 11 mg equiv. pyridoxine 9.05 mg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate (P5P) 5 mg equiv. pyridoxine 3.42 mg
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 35 mg
- Zinc citrate 26.2 mg equiv. zinc 8.5 mg
- Hypericum perforatum ext. 250 mg
- Withania somnifera (Withania) ext. 150 mg equiv. withanolides 7.5 mg
- Eleutherococcus senticosus ext. 116.67 mg
- Panax ginseng ext. 18 mg
- Panax quinquefolius ext. 12 mg
- Ganoderma lucidum ext. 3.75 mg
- L-phenylalanine 75 mg
- L-tyrosine 75 mg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 55 mg equiv. pantothenic acid 50 mg equiv. calcium 4.6 mg
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 15 mg
- Nicotinic acid (Vitamin B3) 5 mg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate monohydrate (P5P) 6.74 mg equiv. pyridoxine 4.3 mg
- Calcium folinate (Activated folate) 69.5 μg equiv. folinic acid 50 μg
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) 5 μg
- Withania somnifera (Withania) ext. 150 mg equiv. withanolides 7.5 mg
- Relora®
- Glycyrrhiza glabra ext. 250 mg
- Phosphatidylserine enriched soy (powder) (Lecithin) 50 mg equiv. phosphatidylserine 10 mg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 27.29 mg equiv. pantothenic acid 25 mg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate monohydrate (P5P) 7.84 mg equiv. pyridoxine 5 mg
- Withania somnifera (Withania) ext. 250 mg equiv. withanolides 6.25 mg
- Crocus sativus ext. 17.5 mg
- L-tyrosine 250 mg
- Levomefolate calcium (Activated folate) 216 μg equiv. levomefolic acid 200 μg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate monohydrate (P5P) 31.9 mg equiv. pyridoxine 20 mg
- Co-methylcobalamin (Vitamin B12) 75 μg
- Zinc amino acid chelate 60 mg equiv. zinc 12 mg
- Withania somnifera (Withania) ext. 500 mg
- Phyllostachys nigra powder 15 mg
- Sweet potato powder
- Water
- Hypromellose
- Withania somnifera (Withania) ext. 300 mg
- L-tyrosine 350 mg
- Potassium iodide 196 μg equiv. iodine 149.84 μg
- Selenomethionine 186.5 μg equiv. selenium 74.6 μg
- Zinc citrate dihydrate 31.15 mg equiv. zinc 10 mg
- Cholecalciferol 12.5 μg equiv. vitamin D3 500 IU
- Retinol acetate (Vitamin A) 344.1 μg equiv. vitamin A 300 μg RE equiv. vitamin A 1000 IU