Menu
eMediHealth Logo
Subscribe
No Result
View All Result
eMediHealth Logo
Subscribe
No Result
View All Result

Home > Nutrition > Ashwagandha (Indian Ginseng): Health Benefits and Side Effects

Ashwagandha (Indian Ginseng): Health Benefits and Side Effects

Updated on August 20, 2021
7 min read
By Jennifer Messineo, MS, RDN | Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

In this article:

  • Therapeutic Potential of Ashwagandha
  • Possible Health Benefits of Ashwagandha
  • Other Possible Uses of Ashwagandha
  • Dosage and Consumption of Ashwagandha
  • Safety of Ashwagandha
  • Most-Asked Questions About Ashwagandha
  • Final Word

Herbal medicines are growing in popularity, with 80% of people worldwide using them as part of their primary health care. (1)

ashwagandha (Indian ginseng)

Withania somnifera (L.), also called ashwagandha, is used to reduce stress and to improve cognition and memory in Ayurvedic medicine. It’s commonly known as Indian ginseng.

Ashwagandha is a shrub that belongs to the Solanaceae family. It’s found in the dry regions of South Asia, Central Asia, and Africa. Every part of the ashwagandha herb exhibits medicinal properties, but most of them are concentrated in its roots.

You can get fresh, dried, or powdered ashwagandha root from Asian stores, health stores, and some grocery stores that you can either chew or consume in the form of a tea. Ashwagandha is also available in the form of supplements or liquid extracts.

Advertisements

Therapeutic Potential of Ashwagandha

The healing potential of ashwagandha can be traced back to its bioactive components.

For instance, its roots contain steroidal lactones known as withanolides, whose preventative and therapeutic properties have been upheld by traditional medicine for centuries. (2)

Ashwagandha also contains alkaloids, 18 fatty acids, polyphenols, saponins, phytosterols, iron, and choline, all of which can be good for health.

Possible Health Benefits of Ashwagandha

potential health benefits of ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is credited with multiple health benefits, but there isn’t enough research to corroborate most of them. However, the calming properties of this herb have been verified by preliminary studies. Ashwagandha may have the potential to reduce stress and lower cortisol.

In a double-blind randomized controlled trial, participants supplementing with ashwagandha had reduced anxiety and cortisol, a stress hormone, after 8 weeks. (3) Supplementing with 300 mg of ashwagandha twice daily for 60 days significantly lowered the participant’s cortisol levels and improved their quality of life. (4)

Other Possible Uses of Ashwagandha

Research has shown the following potential benefits of ashwagandha, although there’s insufficient evidence to support the therapeutic use of the herb for these conditions.

Advertisements

1. May improve sleep and mental alertness

In one study, sleep quality and mental alertness improved in older adults after 12 weeks of taking ashwagandha. (5) Supplementing with 300 mg of ashwagandha twice daily showed some sleep-inducing potential, but more large-scale studies are needed. (6)

2. May affect hormones

ashwagandha can assist in proper hormone functioning

Ashwagandha’s ability to decrease stress may be through its action on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. (7)

The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis regulates hormones that control stress and regulates body functions such as digestion, immune system, sexuality, mood and emotions, and energy expenditure and storage.

Cortisol and testosterone

In a 60-day trial, participants taking ashwagandha had lower stress and anxiety and had decreased depression based on a rating scale. (7) The hormones cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) decreased and testosterone increased in men. (7)

Thyroid

Ashwagandha may affect thyroxine and T4 levels. In one study, the thyroid hormones of adults with bipolar taking ashwagandha were monitored. Twelve of the 60 participants had altered thyroid function after 8 weeks. (8) The thyroid markers TSH, T3, and T4 were outside the reference range for the 12 participants.

Insulin

There is some evidence that ashwagandha improves insulin sensitivity. (2) Cortisol is a stress hormone, which has an “anti-insulin” effect. When cortisol is high, insulin isn’t as efficient at lowering blood sugar.

Advertisements

Ashwagandha’s potential to lower stress could improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar. If you have diabetes, you may need to adjust your medication and monitor your blood sugar closely.

3. May improve cardiovascular health

Ashwagandha may improve cardiorespiratory endurance. In some studies, oxygen consumption and quality of life scores improved after healthy athletic adults supplemented with ashwagandha. (9)(10)

4. May have an anticancer effect

Some animal and cell studies show ashwagandha’s potential for preventing and treating cancer. (11) However, more human studies are needed to support ashwagandha’s use in cancer prevention and treatment.

Dosage and Consumption of Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha root extract is taken in pill form. For stress, 300 mg is taken twice daily after food or 240 mg daily for 60 days. Ashwagandha shouldn’t be taken for more than 3 months as there are no studies on the safety of taking ashwagandha long term.

Safety of Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is considered safe for healthy adults in the recommended dosages for a short period. (12) It is important to consider the side effects and interactions with other medications before taking herbal supplements.

Possible side effects of ashwagandha

In large doses, ashwagandha may cause an upset stomach, diarrhea, and vomiting. Liver problems are rare.

Underlying medical problems and drug interactions

ashwagandha: cautions and drug interactions

When taking ashwagandha, use caution when you have the following medical problems:

1. Diabetes

Ashwagandha may increase insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar and it may interfere with medications for diabetes. Your blood sugar could go too low.

Advertisements

2. High or low blood pressure

Ashwagandha may increase or decrease blood pressure and can interfere with blood pressure medication.

3. Stomach ulcers

Don’t use ashwagandha if you have a stomach ulcer. It may irritate the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

4. Autoimmune diseases

Avoid ashwagandha if you have multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other autoimmune conditions. Ashwagandha might increase immune system activity, which could increase the symptoms of these diseases.

5. Surgery

Stop taking ashwagandha at least 2 weeks before surgery. It may interfere with anesthesia.

Advertisements

6. Thyroid disorders

Use ashwagandha cautiously or avoid it if you have a thyroid condition. Ashwagandha may alter thyroid hormones and interfere with thyroid medications.

Most-Asked Questions About Ashwagandha

general queries about ashwagandha

Does ashwagandha promote growth?

Ashwagandha does not promote growth in height. In Ayurvedic medicine, ashwagandha paste is given to emaciated children. (13)

Does ashwagandha improve immunity?

Ashwagandha is an adaptogen. It enhances the body’s resilience to stress and improves immunity by improving the body’s cell-mediated immune response. (13) Human studies are needed to study ashwagandha’s effect on immunity.

Is ashwagandha safe for kids and pregnant women?

Ashwagandha is considered unsafe for pregnant women and may even cause a miscarriage. Safety has not been determined with breastfeeding, so you should avoid use. Clinical trials are needed to confirm the safety of ashwagandha for kids.

Final Word

Stress increases oxidative stress and inflammation and may increase the risk of certain diseases. Ashwagandha’s potential to reduce stress could have many other health benefits.

Ashwagandha shows some therapeutic potential in treating other conditions, but this is not sufficiently supported by clinical studies. Herbal supplements should not replace medical care.

Every country has safety regulations for herbal supplements. While ashwagandha is generally recognized as safe (GRAS), you should consider its side effects and interactions with other medications before use.

Ashwagandha can be part of a healthy lifestyle for stress reduction by taking it as recommended and after consulting your doctor.

References
  1. Ekor M. The growing use of herbal medicines: issues relating to adverse reactions and challenges in monitoring safety. Frontiers. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2013.00177/full. Published December 23, 2013.
  2. Kalani A, Bahtiyar G, Sacerdote A. Ashwagandha root in the treatment of non-classical adrenal hyperplasia. BMJ Case Reports. https://casereports.bmj.com/content/2012/bcr-2012-006989.abstract. Published September 17, 2012.
  3. Salve J, Pate S, Debnath K, Langade D. Adaptogenic and Anxiolytic Effects of Ashwagandha Root Extract in Healthy Adults: A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Clinical Study. Cureus. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6979308/. Published December 25, 2019.
  4. S; CKKJA. A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults. Indian journal of psychological medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23439798/.
  5. Kelgane SB, Salve J, Sampara P, Debnath K. Efficacy and Tolerability of Ashwagandha Root Extract in the Elderly for Improvement of General Well-being and Sleep: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study. Cureus. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7096075/. Published February 23, 2020.
  6. Langade D, Kanchi S, Salve J, Debnath K, Ambegaokar D. Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Root Extract in Insomnia and Anxiety: A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Study. Cureus. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6827862/. Published September 28, 2019.
  7. Lopresti AL, Smith SJ, Malvi H, Kodgule R. An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6750292/. Published September 2019.
  8. Gannon JM, Forrest PE, Roy Chengappa KN. Subtle changes in thyroid indices during a placebo-controlled study of an extract of Withania somnifera in persons with bipolar disorder. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4296437/. Published 2014.
  9. Choudhary B, Shetty A, Langade DG. Efficacy of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera [L.] Dunal) in improving cardiorespiratory endurance in healthy athletic adults. Ayu. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4687242/. Published 2015.
  10. Shenoy S, Chaskar U, Sandhu JS, Paadhi MM. Effects of eight-week supplementation of Ashwagandha on cardiorespiratory endurance in elite Indian cyclists. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3545242/. Published October 2012.
  11. Palliyaguru DL, Singh SV, Kensler TW. Withania somnifera: From prevention to treatment of cancer. Molecular nutrition & food research. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4899165/. Published June 2016.
  12. Raut AA; Rege NN; Tadvi FM; Solanki PV; Kene KR; Shirolkar SG; Pandey SN; Vaidya RA; Vaidya AB; Exploratory study to evaluate tolerability, safety, and activity of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in healthy volunteers. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23125505/.
  13. Singh N, Bhalla M, de Jager P, Gilca M. An overview on ashwagandha: a Rasayana (rejuvenator) of Ayurveda. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines: AJTCAM. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3252722/. Published 2011.
  • Was this article helpful?
  • YES, THANKS!NOT REALLY
Spread the Love❤️
Advertisements

You Might Also Like

Nutrition

9 Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy

By Shiza Khan, M.Sc. – Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics

Read more

Newsletter

Get our BEST updates delivered to your inbox:



This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Categories

  • Nutrition
  • Wellness
  • Oral Care
  • Eye Care
  • Heart Health
  • Skin & Beauty
  • Women’s Health
  • Ear, Nose & Throat
  • Respiratory Health
  • Web Stories

Links

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Cookie Policy
  • Editorial Policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
eMediHealth

This site provides content for informational purposes only. The information provided is not intended for use as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. In case of a medical concern or emergency, please consult your healthcare provider.

This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation.

Our Network: Little Extra

© 2019 eMediHealth. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Nutrition
  • Skin & Beauty
  • Wellness
  • Yoga & Meditation
  • Women’s Health
  • Heart Health
  • Allergy & Immunology
  • Bones & Joints
  • Child Health
  • Digestive
  • Ear, Nose & Throat
  • Eye Care
  • Glands & Hormones
  • Health News
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Mental Health
  • Nervous System
  • Oral Care
  • Pain Management
  • Respiratory Health
  • Sleep Disorders
  • Urological Health
  • Web Stories

© 2019 eMediHealth. All rights reserved.