Ashwaganda

[Lolalee1]

I have tried several alternative medicines including Ashwagandha and did sweet FA for me,but if it works for others that’s great.

[meltedchic]

Any significant side effect of Ashwaganda?

[hlvd]

Any significant side effect of Ashwaganda?

It made me feel slightly detached and slightly clumsy, hit my head twice and bumped into a door frame twice which isn’t the norm.

[Jon644]

I've felt drowsy all day while using it. It's one of the main side effects. Also it interferes with your gut. If you have IBS it's best to stay away from it. They say it improves cognitive function but I found while on this stuff I was docile. I was taking KSM-66 Ashwagandha from Love Life Supplements

[Squishchips]

I've been taking the Goli gummy Ashwganda (very very sweet!) for the last week or so - not sure if ive noticed a difference or not really but going to keep taking to see. Not had a day of really bad anxiety since taking them though!

I take them, and CBD at the same time so hard to know what's working and what isn't though

[Mr Topsy...]

Hi,

I tried it last week for the first time.

The stuff was potently powerful!

I took it in liquid form and it suggested taking between 1ml and 4ml a day. The manufacturer states that for every 1ml = 500g of Ash, and the rest is an organic alcohol, I guess to preserve it.

I tried it for four days. Started will 2ml on the first day, 1ml am and 1ml pm.

By the second day I did 0.5ml am and 0.5 pm.

It was strong and I felt it working almost instantly within those first 24hrs.

Straight away it relieved stress and anxiety. I've read that it inhibits the HPA axis in the brain - the major stress response system in the brain.

No racing thoughts, no ruminating, no worrying. It was good for my system to 'down tools' after years of stress. I got to sleep easily, and check this: I went MTB and felt like a kid again, doing twice the amount of mountain bike trails and spending twice as long out riding covering over 20kms of rugged rainforest and mountains.

I didn't know, but it has a steroid effect and athletes take it to boost their energy and endurance.

I found I got more from it than just the relief from anxiety and stress.

By day three I lowered to 250ml am and pm. I started to read up more on it and it got me worried about side effects, long term issues, liver related problems and anhedonia.

I was able to not get frustrated over the silly things I usually do, I was able to ignore the petty household squabbles that usually turn into arguments, I was able to not give a f**k I haven't done that for years!!!. However, I can see where the anhedonia could possibly come into it because the drug is so powerful, some research suggests that if taken over a long period of time the HPA axis could possibly/potentially turn off for good. Leaving you emotionless, depressed or even suicidal.

I don't know how healthy my liver is either, I like a beer or three, and if you have a poorly functioning liver or an over active thyroid this supplement is supposed to be for you.

Some webpages I have read said that it lowers blood pressure, and can possibly be a supplement for SSRIs.

I'm not giving medical advice on this, I'm just briefly telling you my personal experience and what I've read. There is more out there, but research on this plant is limited. Apparently there are 50 active compound in Ash, and "experts" don't know how 29 of them work, or interact in the body.

I've got it in the cupboard. I won't be using it frequently even though its tempting to use it for strength training or MTB riding. I will air on the side of caution with this plant, but I will say in the four days I took it, it was calming.

[NoraB]

Should be noted that anybody thinking of taking this who takes prescription drugs should run it past their pharmacist as there is evidence that it might interact with certain meds....

Always pays to do your homework...