Ashwagandha is a flowering shrub native to India, Asia and Africa, and naturalized elsewhere. The long, dark brown roots of the plant are used in ayurvedic medicine to produce medicines to treat numerous disorders, such as rheumatism, chronic fatigue, impaired fertility, memory loss and senility. Although this herb has been used in medicine for at least 3,000 years in India, there are certain risks and side effects associated with ashwagandha. Aside from possible allergic reactions, ashwagandha may increase the effects of some prescription medications. See your doctor before using this herb or any other botanical medicine, especially if you have a chronic condition or take other medications.
Botanical Background
This herb is also known as Indian ginseng and by the botanical name of Withania somnifera, the species portion of which roughly translates to "to induce sleep" in Latin. However, its Sanskrit name of ashwagandha is appropriate since the word translates to "sweaty horse" and aptly describes both the appearance and smell of the plant's root. Although this herb is sometimes called Indian ginseng, the reference points to the use of the plant as a tonic to promote longevity and does not indicate that the herb is related to any of the ginsengs.
Composition
According to Kieran Cooley and fellow researchers at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto, the primary active agents in ashwagandha root include a variety of steroidal alkaloids and lactones collectively referred to as withanolides. In particular, the withanolides labeled as withaferin A and withanolide D are thought the be the most prevalent compounds, although a total of 35 withanolides have been identified.
Anti-Anxiety Effects
In a paper published in the August 31, 2009 issue of "PLoS One," a journal of the Canadian Public Library of Science, Cooley and colleagues reported that, in addition to dietary counseling, deep breathing exercises and other natural interventions, ashwagandha root extracts standardized to 1.5% withanolides contributed to a reduction of symptoms in patients with mild to severe anxiety. Although these findings suggest that this herb may hold promise as a potential alternative or complementary therapy to prescription medications, they also indicate that ashwagandha may increase the effects of anti-anxiety drugs.
Substance Abuse Prevention
Researchers from the national institute on drug dependence at Peking University in Beijing, China, conducted a review of existing clinical trials on the efficacy of acupuncture and a variety of botanical therapies in treating drug addiction. The abstract, published in the "American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse" in 2009, reported that, even though data specific to ashwagandha is limited, animal studies indicate that the herb curbs alcohol intake and morphine tolerance. While the review authors suggest that herbal therapies may complement pharmaceutical treatments for drug addiction in the future, they also note that further research is needed.
Herb-Drug Interactions
The University of Maryland Medical Center cautions that this herb may promote hyperthyroidism, which means the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone. This means that you should not use ashwagandha if you take thyroid medication or corticosteroids, such as prednisone. Other prescription medications known to be affected by ashwagandha compounds include drugs used to treat autoimmune disorders. Consult your physician if considering incorporating any supplement into your treatment regime.
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