In preclinical studies, ashwagandha can also influence GABAergic and serotonin activity,[8,43] which have antidepressant and anxiolytic effects.
The limited research available suggests that ashwagandha may help reduce symptoms of depression and benefit people with some mental health conditions.
The soothing effects of Ashwagandha suppress stress-induced increases in dopamine receptors in the brain as well as plasma corticosterone, blood urea nitrogen, and blood lactic acid.
KSM-66 Ashwagandha can improve your focus and concentration, stabilize your mood, help you feel less anxious, and restore your energy levels.
Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) root extract is statistically efficacious at 1 gram per day after 2 weeks and even more so after 6 weeks of treatment. It has also been found to be safe to use while on SSRIs.
With regard to its antidepressant effects, the same study demonstrated that Ashwagandha can have antidepressant effects similar to those shown by imipramine. This research could justify using products made form Ashwagandha root as mood stabilizers, as well as for the treatment of depression and anxiety.
The root of Ashwagandha is regarded as tonic, aphrodisiac, narcotic, diuretic, anthelmintic, astringent, thermogenic and stimulant.
Ashwagandha, for example, may increase thyroid hormone levels, which could cause fatigue, anxiety, shortness of breath and other problems.
Large doses can cause upset stomach, diarrhea, and vomiting. Risks. Talk to a doctor before using ashwagandha if you have any health conditions, including cancer, diabetes, thyroid problems, bleeding disorders, ulcers, lupus, multiple sclerosis, or rheumatoid arthritis. Ashwagandha might interfere with thyroid tests.
Large doses of ashwagandha might cause stomach upset, diarrhea, and vomiting. Rarely, liver problems might occur. When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if ashwagandha is safe or what the side effects might be. Pregnancy: It is likely unsafe to use ashwagandha when pregnant.
Research suggests that ashwagandha may decrease serum cortisol (stress hormone) levels (Lopresti, 2019; Chandrasekhar, 2012). Other clinical trials show that it may also significantly improve mental health, anxiety, and insomnia (Langade, 2019).
Ashwagandha works to support your body's innate stress management system, ultimately helping to relieve stress and ease those negative effects that can come from it, including feelings of mental fatigue and brain fog.
Ashwagandha and brain fog
In one randomized study, ashwagandha root extract provided both immediate and longer-term improvements in memory, attention span, and information processing speed. Another study found full-spectrum ashwagandha root extract to be effective in promoting mental balance in adults.
Ashwagandha may have a calming effect on anxiety symptoms when compared with the drug lorazepam, a sedative and anxiety medication. A 2000 study suggested that the herb had a comparable anxiety-reducing effect with lorazepam, suggesting that ashwagandha might be as effective for reducing anxiety.
Over time, you should expect to feel changes like an increase in calm, extra energy, or bolstered endurance. Effects can vary, and increase over time. “[Ashwagandha] isn't meant to be used as a spot treatment, it's meant to be used consistently and regularly,” says Robinett.
Ashwagandha is considered safe for most people. However, pregnant or breastfeeding women, as well as people with autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, may need to avoid it.
Other possible side effects include diarrhoea, nausea, abdominal pain, drowsiness and a slowed pulse. This article on Ergogenic Health has anecdotal accounts of how ashwagandha had a negative effect on many people, including dissociation, emotional numbness and apathy.
Ashwagandha is commonly called “Indian winter cherry” or “Indian Ginseng” and is used in Indian traditional medicine (Ayurveda) for its wide-ranging benefits. Yes, taking ashwagandha daily is safe, but people should never take it beyond the recommended doses or periods.
Taking an Ashwagandha dosage for anxiety can potentially give you a feeling of balance and control whilst reducing symptoms of anxiety. An Ashwagandha dosage for anxiety could potentially reduce the severity of panic attacks or start to prevent them if taken consistently.
To see the best results, most research recommends also taking Ashwagandha in the morning. Taking it twice a day can help your body maintain equilibrium in your adrenal system. You can buy ashwagandha in capsule form or as a powder to mix with coffee or tea.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is one of the most popular herbs used in Ayurvedic Medicine. It is known as an energy booster, and many prefer it to drinking coffee, because it doesn't give you the jitters, interfere with sleep, and is not addictive.
Ashwagandha: This cornerstone herb of Ayurvedic medicine is thought to potentially decrease anxiety and stress and improve sleep. However, it may worsen the sedative effects of benzodiazepines.
Interactions between your drugs
No interactions were found between ashwaganda and Zoloft.
L-theanine has been historically reported as a relaxing agent, prompting scientific research on its pharmacology. Animal neurochemistry studies suggest that L-theanine increases brain serotonin, dopamine, GABA levels and has micromolar affinities for AMPA, Kainate and NMDA receptors.
Ashwagandha treatment significantly increased GABA levels in the corticohippocampal lysates over both control and ethanol-treated animals. Ashwagandha has been previously reported to have GABA-mimetic activity by acting on both GABAA and GABAB receptors and may also have glycine mimetic action.