Ashwagandha dangers: Are you taking Ashwagandha? Learn the truth about adrenal fatigue and the benefits of taking ashwagandha.
Some of our patients have admittedly tried various herbal remedies that they believe will enhance their recoveries. This month I want to look at Ashwagandha dangers in particular. Ashwagandha, also known as winter cherry, is a powerful herb in Ayurvedic medicine. The herb grows in India, the Middle East, and northern Africa, and is in the same family as the tomato. Due to its increasing popularity in the West, is now also being grown in North America.
Folks take it to alleviate stress, fatigue, low energy, and to improve problems with concentration. This popular herb is being touted as a fantastic immune booster and superfood. Ashwagandha is often called “Indian ginseng” because it is so energizing, but botanically speaking, ginseng and Ashwagandha are completely unrelated. But this big superfood claim is a hoax. Ashwagandha can do a lot of damage to folks with abnormal methylation issues.
Ashwagandha contains many useful medicinal properties, and although the leaves and fruit are nutrient-rich, the root is most commonly used in Western herbal remedies.
Ashwagandha proponents claim this herb can be used to alleviate many symptoms of stress, improve learning, reduce anxiety, stabilize brain-cell degeneration, lower cholesterol, and reduce inflammation. Does this sound too good to be true? In some cases it may be, especially if you are taking this without consulting a physician, as there are many health conditions that can be worsened if a patient is taking Ashwagandha.
I’ve discovered that most patients are confused about the reason for adrenal fatigue.
Ashwagandha is often touted as a wonderful remedy for adrenal fatigue. In our world, we often see that adrenal fatigue is often secondary to copper toxicity and systemic oxidative stress.
If your hormones are present but are not activated then they are not doing their job even though they are present.
Hormone production needs a feedback mechanism. Hormone levels are not an indication of hormone ACTIVITY. This is why we look at the methylation cycle. If this is not in balance, methylation disorders could hinder the optimal functionality of hormones and feedback mechanisms that drive hormone production.
The adrenal glands are endocrine glands that produce various hormones including adrenaline, aldosterone, and cortisol. Our sex hormones, glucocorticoids, and epinephrine levels are controlled by the adrenals. Rarely do we see an overmethylated patient with adrenal fatigue.
Proponents of Ashwagandha don’t often understand the connection between elevated copper levels and adrenal fatigue. If you go to another practitioner you may get hormone therapy, glandular (such as desiccated glandular supplements), and/or herbal remedies that may be problematic. Taking desiccated glandular supplements does not help the adrenal gland; they may not be doing what you think they should be doing, especially if you have a methylation disorder. The body does not work that way. The liver is a very powerful detoxification organ. The organ is functional because it has viability and a blood supply. Some of these adrenal support protocols may be carrying copper and can be detrimental to the methylation cycle.
What is causing adrenal fatigue in the first place? That’s what excess copper does. It causes an increase in norepinephrine that puts stress on the adrenals. No outside agent will support the adrenals when they are being affected by an outside agent. We still have to put out that fire.
Our protocol for oxidative stress works at the root biochemical cause of adrenal fatigue. Patients on our Advanced Nutrient Therapy do not need to take Ashwagandha and risk the side effects.
Ashwagandha Dangers for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Plain and simple, please do not use Ashwagandha during pregnancy. There is evidence that it could cause miscarriages. We don’t know enough about the effects of using this herb during breastfeeding. It may be unsafe. If you are trying to become pregnant or if you have had previous miscarriages in your life, Ashwagandha is not for you. Just because it is natural it doesn’t make it beneficial.
Ashwagandha Dangers for Diabetes
Ashwagandha may lower blood sugar levels. If patients are taking medication to lower blood glucose it could make their levels go dangerously low. And if their levels go too low and blood sugars bottom out, they can pass out. The consequences of low blood glucose can be just as dangerous as high blood sugar.
Ashwagandha Dangers for Blood Pressure
If you have high blood pressure levels or low blood pressure levels you can also lose consciousness and pass out from Ashwagandha.
Ashwagandha Dangers for GI Tract
Ashwagandha can irritate the GI tract. You have to be careful if you have an ulcer.
Ashwagandha Dangers for Autoimmune Disorders
Ashwagandha can increase the symptoms of autoimmune disorders because it stimulates the immune system.
Ashwagandha Dangers for Thyroid
Ashwagandha may increase thyroid levels. If you take thyroid medicine you should not take ashwagandha. If your thyroid testing is irregular, please consult your physician.
Ashwagandha Dangers for Surgery
Ashwagandha can slow down the central nervous system. Patients going on anesthesia need to consult their physician if they are on Ashwagandha. They should stop taking Ashwagandha at least 2 weeks before surgery. Your central nervous system is responsible for breathing. If anything happens during surgery you can suffer respiratory arrest and die.
Resources
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- Gannon J, Forrest P, and Chengappa K N Roy. Subtle changes in thyroid indices during a placebo-controlled study of an extract of Withania somnifera in persons with bipolar disorder. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2014 Oct-Dec; 5(4): 241–245. doi: 10.4103/0975-9476.146566.
- Pradhan S, Pradhan P. Ayurvedic medicine and anesthesia. Indian J Anaesth. 2011 Jul-Aug; 55(4): 334–339. doi: 10.4103/0019-5049.84832.
- Pratibha C, Madhumati B, Akarsh P. Therapeutic Properties and Significance of Different Parts ofAshwagandha- A Medicinal Plant. IJPAB. 2013 Nov-Dec; 1 (6) 94-101. PDF.