Ashwagandha Side Effects
Precautions, Toxicity & Safety Of Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha side effects are not present
in any significant way and this use of this herbal supplement can safely be done
on regular basis. Its safety profile is based on research.
Know more about the best time to use, age and sex, durations, dietary
restrictions, people's comments, side effects, subacute toxicity, safety,
possibility of drug interactions and other relevant info about the safe use of
WS.
Best Time:
We are advising it to be taken two or three times a day and there had
been no person who is coming back and complaining about ashwagandha side effects
like drowsiness.
If some person finds drowsiness after its use, it would be better to take about
3 to 5 gm. of WS only in the evening.
Age:
In India, ayurvedic practitioners are using this herb in all age groups and in
male and female with good results. There is no problem of using it in children.
No thorough clinical research is backing this use and we are not having any
ashwagandha side effects.
Duration Of Use:
Under normal therapeutic dosage Ashwagandha side effects are not present if it
is used more than 180 days. However it is a good practice to give a break of few
days, say one week, after six weeks of its use.
Dietary Restrictions:
There are no dietary restrictions with its use. In Ayurvedic medicine, there is
general recommendation about using moderate quantities of spices, chilies and
sour items.
What People Have Felt After Use:
Usually people feel some sort of refreshing energy, some warmth after using this
herb. It is never hot or stimulating in action. It's benefits build up over a
period of few weeks.
Ashwagandha
Side Effects:
WS is well tolerated and without any significant side effects. No significant
drug interactions have been found.
Some persons have complained of slight drowsiness after using it while with
majority of persons there had been no trouble at all. The persons who might have
felt some drowsiness can try it after meals and even if the complaint persists,
he can take it in the evening.
The crude powder of WS is slightly hard to digest and it can cause some
heaviness in abdomen and flatulence especially in those persons who have weak
digestion.
Evaluation Of Subacute Toxicity:
In a research published in Ind. Journal Of Physiologic Pharmacology, April 98,
researchers assessed the subacute toxicity of Ginseng and Ashwagandha in rats.
This study went on for 90 days and there were no toxicity in these herbs
individually.
There was significant increase in body weight, food consumption and liver
weight, and improved hematopoiesis was observed. Brain, heart, lung, liver,
spleen, kidneys, stomach, testis and ovaries were normal on gross examination
and histopathologically. Subacute toxicity studies in rats did not reveal any
toxicity.
Aphale AA, Chhibba AD, Kumbhakarna NR, Mateenuddin M, Dahat SH.
Department of Pharmacology, Government Medical College, Aurangabad.
Another study published in Journal Of Ethnopharmacology, April 2000,
mentioned that
Ashwagandha possesses no toxicity up to a dose of (100 mg/kg; orally for 180 days)
and does not cause significant changes in biochemical parameters in the blood
serum of rats.
Dhuley JN.
Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, Research Centre, Hindustan Antibiotics
Limited, Pimpri, Pune, India.
Addictive:
WS is not found addictive in any way. So it is safe even when one is using it
for long times over a period of months.
Drug Interactions
With Sedatives & Anxiolytics:
It should not be taken with sedatives and anti-anxiety drugs on personal basis.
However it is safe practice to take it under the qualified supervision. There
might be some need of adjustment of dosage after some time.
WS is found to potentiate the effects of Barbiturates so it is better not to
take it with them without mentioning it without the advice of your doctor. These
interactions are based more on inference and not on clinical research study.
Other Contraindications:
In gastric and duodenal ulcer, WS is not recommended alone. It can be used in
Stress ulcer to combat stress and with other ulcer healing herbs.
Don't use it during severe and acute inflammatory conditions (usually acute
infections) except in degenerative disorders like arthritis, rheumatoid
arthritis and gout.
Pregnancy:
Large dosage of WS is abortifacient (Ability to cause abortion). The normal dosage is generally safe
and we use it in India along with other herbs even during pregnancy. However it
is better to be taken under the supervision of qualified herbalist.
Breastfeeding Or Nursing Mothers:
In Indian scenario of Ayurvedic Medicine, there appears to be no restriction of
its use in nursing mothers and the ayurvedic practitioners use this herb.
However Shatavari is preferable than Ashwagandha. However its use in
nursing mothers is not founded on clinical studies.
Larger Than Normal Dosage:
It is found to be completely safe up to 100 mg per kg of body weight in a single
dosage. This comes out to be 21 gm per day in an average adult man. And the
therapeutic dosage in most cases is under 10 gm per day.
We like to share the effects of larger dosage for informational purpose only.
The first effect is on gastro-intestinal tract. The crude powder is a bit hard
to digest so most of the ayurvedic formulations are polyherbal and they have
already balanced this slight adverse effect.
Larger dosage can cause heaviness in abdomen, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
In an experiment WS was given to mice as 25% of diet (exceeding large dosage).
There had been microscopic lesions on organs like liver, lungs, vascular
congestion and inflammation and tubular congestion of kidneys. Still it is fully
safe in human and animals even on fairly large dosage.
The Paradoxical Herb:
WS belongs to a family Solanaceae that is related to famous Belladonna and
Henbane. These two members are nervine but their toxic nature has limited their
use. None of these two herbs are having tonic or rejuvenative or nutritional
property. It is one of the reasons of its not been established earlier globally.
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Ashwagandha
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Use Ashwagandha For:
- Anxiety, Depression, Panic Disorder.
- As Antioxidant & Free Radical Scavenger.
- As Body building Aid.
- For Weakness, Fatigue, Herbal Rejuvenation, Aphrodisiac.
- As Nervine tonic, calming and antistress agent and adaptogenic herb.
- Visit Ashwagandha related pages on Holistic-Herbalist to get more
information.
- Take one vegiacap twice or thrice a day. Eahc vegicap contains
Ashwagandha (5:1) 500 mg i.e. equivalent to 2.5 gm of crude WS.
Buying Information:
We recommend the interested visitors to get Ashwagandha
supplements from this place.This is a good store, with reputable quality and one of the most
reasonable price. Get a pack of 60 Vegicaps.
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Overview Of
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha In Ayurvedic Medicine
Ashwagandha Dosage & Phytochemicals
Ashwagandha Side Effects, Safety & Drug Interactions
Ashwagandha Affecting Brain & Neurochemicals
Ashwagandha Enhancing The Immunity
Ashwagandha With Its Versatile Benefits
The
Adaptogenic Ashwagandha Energizing To Keep Away Stress
Ashwagandha As
Herbal Rejuvenative & Fertility Herb
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Herbal Antioxidant & Free Radical Scavenger
Cardiovascular &
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