If you’re the nervous or stressed-out type, someone has probably given you a mini sermon about the wonders of ashwagandha.
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They’ve probably told you that it can do just about everything including make you dinner and put the kids to bed. But if you’re skeptical about herbal medicine, you probably haven’t considered looking into ashwagandha. That’s OK. We’re going to do the legwork for you.
With the help of integrative medicine specialist Yufang Lin, MD, we’ll cover the basics and some of the medically proven benefits of using ashwagandha.
What is ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), also known as “Indian Winter cherry” or Indian Ginseng,” is an evergreen shrub that’s found in India, Africa and parts of the Middle East.
So what is ashwagandha good for?
“Ashwagandha has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine to increase energy, improve overall health and reduce inflammation, pain and anxiety,” says Dr. Lin.
She adds that Ayurvedic medicine is the traditional medicine system in India. It’s a healing tradition that uses nutrition, exercise, mindfulness practices and herbs to promote balance between the body, mind, spirit and the environment.
Ashwagandha seems to fit the bill for those who prefer herbal medicines for several reasons.
Modern life is full of stress triggers. And that stress contributes to physical and mental illness. During stressful moments, the cortisol levels in your body become elevated, and this causes your heart to pump harder and faster. You breathe rapidly and your body generates more glucose for a quick burst of energy. Your mind becomes hyper-focused on any threats, and your body goes into fight or flight mode. When the stressful event is over, cortisol levels normalize and the associated symptoms resolve.
“Unfortunately, when a threat is chronic — whether it’s stress from finances or work — the stressful response also becomes chronic,” says Dr. Lin. “Over time, long-term stress can contribute to persistent inflammation and increases the risk for developing chronic conditions like obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, cancer, osteoporosis and fibromyalgia.”
Ashwagandha benefits
So what does ashwagandha do? Research shows that it can help in several ways:
- Normalizes cortisol levels, which reduces the stress response.
- Reduces inflammation.
- Reduces cancer risks.
- Improves memory.
- Improves immune function and anti-aging properties.
- Eases stress and anxiety.
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“People who are stressed or anxious, or people with chronic conditions might turn to ashwagandha to help ease their conditions,” says Dr. Lin.
How much should you take?
Ashwagandha comes in a variety of forms. It’s available in gummies, capsules, liquid drops and powders that you can mix into drinks.
So how much ashwagandha per day should you consume? Regardless of the form you use, Dr. Lin says dosing is usually 500 mg twice a day.
But is ashwagandha safe? Dr. Lin says it mostly depends on the quality of the supplements. Her advice is to look for supplements that have been independently tested and verified by an outside company such as ConsumerLab, United States Pharmacopeia (USP), or National Sanitation Foundation International (NSF International).
Ashwagandha side effects
While the side effects of ashwagandha are minimal, some people may experience:
- Gastrointestinal upset.
- Diarrhea.
- Vomiting and nausea.
“Most people can take this supplement, although it is always best to discuss it with your healthcare provider first,” says Dr. Lin.
If you have any issues with your thyroid, Dr. Lin strongly recommends checking with your healthcare provider before taking ashwagandha.
“Ashwagandha can augment thyroid function by increasing the conversion of the less potent thyroid hormone, T4, to the more active form of the thyroid hormone, T3,” says Dr. Lin. “Thus for some people, it can support a healthier thyroid function. On the other hand, if an individual’s thyroid is already borderline hyperactive, ashwagandha could contribute to frank hyperthyroidism.”
Other conditions which require caution when it comes to using ashwagandha include if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have an autoimmune disease. In these cases, Dr. Lin advises talking to your provider before taking anything. She stresses this with pregnant women as ashwagandha could cause complications.
Overall, ashwagandha can be a part of your wellness plan — but remember it’s not a cure-all.
“Taking ashwagandha will not make the stress go away, but it may help reduce the symptoms so one feels more at ease,” says Dr. Lin. “But if you take the time to develop coping tools to help manage stress in the future, that will go much further in the long run.”
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