Ashwagandha?

I just started taking it a few days ago on the recommendation of a very
knowledgeable person at my favourite health food store. I've noticed only
a slight increase in energy during the day but I've slept a lot better at
night. Also, I think adaptogens take a while of continuous use to really
show their full effects.

RRzVRR said:

Has anyone here tried Ashwagandha?

Has anyone seen any objective information sites?

All I'm finding online are commercial sites
and of course they aren't offering any worthwhile overviews.

-----
Bev

This site confirms that you need to take it for a while for the full
effects will be felt:

http://www.ayurvediccure.com/ashwagandha.htm

Bev-Ann said:

I just started taking it a few days ago on the recommendation of a very
knowledgeable person at my favourite health food store. I've noticed only
a slight increase in energy during the day but I've slept a lot better at
night. Also, I think adaptogens take a while of continuous use to really
show their full effects.

-----
Bev

Lots of interesting studies on it on Medline.

Altern Med Rev. 2000 Aug;5(4):334-46. Related Articles, Links

Scientific basis for the therapeutic use of Withania somnifera
(ashwagandha): a review.

Mishra LC, Singh BB, Dagenais S.

Los Angeles College of Chiropractic (LACC), 16200 E Amber Valley Dr.,
Whittier, CA 90609-1166. [email hidden]

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper is to review the literature
regarding Withania somnifera (ashwagandha, WS) a commonly used herb in
Ayurvedic medicine. Specifically, the literature was reviewed for
articles pertaining to chemical properties, therapeutic benefits, and
toxicity. DESIGN: This review is in a narrative format and consists of
all publications relevant to ashwagandha that were identified by the
authors through a systematic search of major computerized medical
databases; no statistical pooling of results or evaluation of the
quality of the studies was performed due to the widely different
methods employed by each study. RESULTS: Studies indicate ashwagandha
possesses anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antistress, antioxidant,
immunomodulatory, hemopoietic, and rejuvenating properties. It also
appears to exert a positive influence on the endocrine,
cardiopulmonary, and central nervous systems. The mechanisms of action
for these properties are not fully understood. Toxicity studies reveal
that ashwagandha appears to be a safe compound. CONCLUSION: Preliminary
studies have found various constituents of ashwagandha exhibit a
variety of therapeutic effects with little or no associated toxicity.
These results are very encouraging and indicate this herb should be
studied more extensively to confirm these results and reveal other
potential therapeutic effects. Clinical trials using ashwagandha for a
variety of conditions should also be conducted.

Publication Types:
Review
Review, Tutorial

PMID: 10956379 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Quoted message said:

Altern Med Rev. 2000 Aug;5(4):334-46. Related Articles, Links

Scientific basis for the therapeutic use of Withania somnifera
(ashwagandha): a review.

Mishra LC, Singh BB, Dagenais S.

Los Angeles College of Chiropractic (LACC), 16200 E Amber Valley Dr.,
Whittier, CA 90609-1166. [email hidden]

SNIPE:

Quoted message said:

Studies indicate ashwagandha
possesses anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antistress, antioxidant,
immunomodulatory, hemopoietic, and rejuvenating properties. It also
appears to exert a positive influence on the endocrine,
cardiopulmonary, and central nervous systems. The mechanisms of action
for these properties are not fully understood. Toxicity studies reveal
that ashwagandha appears to be a safe compound.

Thank you very much for finding and posting this. I appreciate
your efforts.

--
Rudy - Remove the Z from my address to respond.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees!"
-Emiliano Zapata

Check out the a.s.d.l-c FAQ at:
http://www.grossweb.com/asdlc/faq.htm

Bev-Ann said:

I just started taking it a few days ago on the recommendation of a very
knowledgeable person at my favourite health food store. I've noticed only
a slight increase in energy during the day but I've slept a lot better at
night. Also, I think adaptogens take a while of continuous use to really
show their full effects.

If you continue to take it for another month will you please post
your opinion here?

Thanks for your input.

--
Rudy - Remove the Z from my address to respond.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees!"
-Emiliano Zapata

Check out the a.s.d.l-c FAQ at:
http://www.grossweb.com/asdlc/faq.htm

Quoted message said:

RRzVRR said:

Has anyone here tried Ashwagandha?

Has anyone seen any objective information sites?

All I'm finding online are commercial sites
and of course they aren't offering any worthwhile overviews.

-----
Bev

You're welcome. If you look up this article on Medline (easiest using
the PMID #) and then click on "Related Articles", you'll find many more
studies on it.

I've taken it intermittently for years, but I'm not sure I could ever
feel any subjective effects.

Well, it's only been about 5 days but I can definitely say that I'm a lot
calmer during the day and I'm sleeping much more soundly at night so it's
worth continuing for me. The only thing I'm worried about is the study
done showing that it raised thyroid levels, although that was in mice. But
I'm already borderline hyperthyroid so I'll have to keep an eye on it.

RRzVRR said:

If you continue to take it for another month will you please post
your opinion here?

Thanks for your input.

-----
Bev

I should point out that I'm taking Nature's Way brand that's 500mg of
standardized extract at 2.5% withanolides. All the other brands I've seen
are much less potent. So if you do decide to try it, check the
withanolides percentage since that's the active component.

Bev-Ann said:

Well, it's only been about 5 days but I can definitely say that I'm a lot
calmer during the day and I'm sleeping much more soundly at night so it's
worth continuing for me. The only thing I'm worried about is the study
done showing that it raised thyroid levels, although that was in mice. But
I'm already borderline hyperthyroid so I'll have to keep an eye on it.

-----
Bev

May I ask why you are taking this and how you came to decide to take it
in the first place? What are the "symptoms" you are taking it for, and
what is your diet like at present?

I am asking because I was a long-time vegetarian/herbal supplement
taker, and since I've been doing low-carb, I have consistently found
that following this diet, and taking the basic supplements recommended
in the books, have had a FAR more profound effect on my health than my
old habit of trying to treat symptoms with herbal remedies.

In general, the amount of an herb you would have to use to achieve a
therapeutic effect would be cost-prohibitive compared to simple diet
changes. Plus assuming you're a white woman, taking this
Ayurvedic/Indian herb is completely outside of your genetic heritage,
so you're introducing an "unknown quantity" to the body's
cells...however this is only my opinion!!

I'm taking it for stress management on the advice of a knowledgeable person
at my favourite health food store. My diet is very healthy. Lots of
fruit, veggies and meat. I rarely eat anything pre-processed.

garhi said:

May I ask why you are taking this and how you came to decide to take it
in the first place? What are the "symptoms" you are taking it for, and
what is your diet like at present?

I am asking because I was a long-time vegetarian/herbal supplement
taker, and since I've been doing low-carb, I have consistently found
that following this diet, and taking the basic supplements recommended
in the books, have had a FAR more profound effect on my health than my
old habit of trying to treat symptoms with herbal remedies.

In general, the amount of an herb you would have to use to achieve a
therapeutic effect would be cost-prohibitive compared to simple diet
changes. Plus assuming you're a white woman, taking this
Ayurvedic/Indian herb is completely outside of your genetic heritage,
so you're introducing an "unknown quantity" to the body's
cells...however this is only my opinion!!

-----
Bev