Ashwagandha is the Latin name of the plant Withania somnifera, whose roots and leaves are used for health purposes. With a long-standing history in traditional Indian medicine, the ashwagandha plant has been used to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, increase appetite, treat insomnia, and improve various other ailments.
What is Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha, Withania somnifera, is a plant known as Indian ginseng with origins in India and the Middle East. The root and leaf parts of the plant contain adaptogen components thought to support the body's ability to cope with stress. Adaptogens are natural substances that help the body fight physical and emotional stress.
Ashwagandha can be consumed in powder, capsule, gummy, or tea form. Its traditional usage aims to balance the body in conditions such as stress, fatigue, anxiety, low energy, and insomnia.
What Does Ashwagandha Do?
Due to its adaptogen properties, the ashwagandha plant may support the body's mechanism for dealing with stress. It is considered a natural plant that may have positive effects on the nervous system, immune system, and hormonal balance.
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May reduce stress and anxiety: Ashwagandha may alleviate feelings of tension and anxiety by balancing the levels of cortisol, known as the stress hormone. This property can also help increase mental resilience.
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May improve sleep quality: Thanks to its calming effects, it may support sleep patterns in individuals experiencing insomnia due to stress or anxiety.
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May increase energy and exercise performance: It may help enhance performance during exercise by increasing muscle endurance.
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May have positive effects on pain and inflammation: The active components in ashwagandha may help alleviate symptoms in inflammatory processes, such as in rheumatic diseases like arthritis.
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May strengthen the immune system: Thanks to its antioxidant effects, it can protect cells against free radical damage and support the defense mechanism of the immune system.
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May support hormonal balance: Ashwagandha may increase testosterone levels and fertility.
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May support thyroid health: There are studies indicating that the plant may have regulatory effects on thyroid hormones; therefore, it is important for individuals with thyroid dysfunction to consult a doctor before use.
What are the Dangers of Ashwagandha?
The effects of herbal ingredients on the body can vary depending on personal health status, dosage, duration of use, and concurrently taken medications. Therefore, unconscious use may lead to unwanted side effects in some individuals.
Effects on the Digestive System
When used in high doses, ashwagandha can cause gastrointestinal discomforts such as nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, gas, or heartburn. These effects may be pronounced in individuals with stomach sensitivity when taken on an empty stomach.
Keeping the supplement usage at a low dose and taking it with meals can help reduce such side effects.
Effects on Sleep, Mind, and Mood
Ashwagandha may have calming effects on the nervous system. However, when this effect becomes excessive for some individuals, excessive drowsiness, dizziness, distraction, and headaches may occur.
Conversely, when stimulant effects become dominant, insomnia or restlessness may also emerge. Therefore, caution is advised, especially during periods requiring intense mental concentration and before vehicle operation.
Effects on Hormone and Thyroid Balance
Ashwagandha may have a regulatory effect on thyroid hormones. However, in individuals with hyperthyroidism, this may trigger the condition. Since it can affect hormonal balance, its use with thyroid medications, birth control pills, or hormone therapies is not recommended. Individuals with thyroid conditions should use this supplement only under the supervision of a specialist physician.
Effects on Blood Sugar and Blood Pressure
Ashwagandha has the potential to lower blood sugar and blood pressure. Therefore, individuals at risk for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or hypotension (low blood pressure) need to be cautious. In patients using diabetes and blood pressure medications, ashwagandha may enhance the effects of the medications, leading to sudden drops in blood pressure or sugar imbalance.
Effects on Liver Functions
High doses of ashwagandha use may lead to elevated liver enzymes and liver dysfunction. Therefore, its use may be risky for individuals with liver disease.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Period
The use of ashwagandha during pregnancy is not recommended. It is thought that the plant may increase uterine contractions and trigger the risk of miscarriage. During the breastfeeding period, due to insufficient clinical data on the effects on the baby, its use is also not recommended.
Drug Interactions
Ashwagandha may interact with various drug groups. It is particularly beneficial for individuals using certain medications to be under the supervision of a specialist physician:
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Sedatives and sleep medications
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Immunosuppressant drugs
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Thyroid hormone medications
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Diabetes medications
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Blood pressure-lowering drugs
Allergic Reactions
Although rare, allergic reactions to the ashwagandha plant can occur. If symptoms such as rash, itching, shortness of breath, or facial swelling appear, usage should be discontinued and medical support should be sought.
Potential Risks of Long-term Use
Ashwagandha is used in short-term cycles. Long-term and high-dose use may alter immune system responses and impose a burden on the liver.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Ashwagandha be used every day?
Ashwagandha should be used not continuously, but in specific periods and under expert supervision. Long-term and uncontrolled use may cause undesirable effects on liver and thyroid functions.
Does Ashwagandha induce sleep?
Ashwagandha may have a calming effect on the nervous system. Therefore, it facilitates easier transition to sleep for many people, while for others, it may cause opposite effects such as insomnia and restlessness. Its effect depends on personal physiology.
Who should not use Ashwagandha?
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Pregnant or breastfeeding women
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Individuals using thyroid, diabetes, and blood pressure medications
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Those with liver or kidney disease
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Children and elderly individuals with chronic diseases
should consult a doctor before using this supplement.
Can Ashwagandha be used in thyroid disease?
Since it can affect thyroid hormones, individuals diagnosed with hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism should use it under their doctor's supervision. Taking it in inappropriate doses may disrupt thyroid hormone balance.