Ashwagandha - Everything you need to know
Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) is a very revered herb in Ayurveda. It is popularly used as a nervine tonic or Rasayana. Again, Rasayana is a very deep concept. For now, understand it is the group of herbs/medicines which are advised to improve the quality and longevity of life. It basically concentrates on the whole-body nourishment through the Rasa Dhathu or the essence of food that we take.
So, among the Rasayana herbs in Ayurveda, Ashwagandha holds a prominent place. I have been practicing and teaching Ayurveda in the United States for more than 7 years now. In my whole career I have come across random people who come to me and say they are taking Ashwagandha as a supplement. The reasons being increasing general strength, sleep support, improving Testosterone and many others. So, in this perspective article let us discuss Ashwagandha and understand how well you know this herb to be used as an over the counter herbal supplement.
Lack of proper clinical trials and Research
We are all aware that Ayurveda has the potential to treat many chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, arthritis, and asthma. But there is a lack of scientific validation in various concepts and theories.
So why is there a huge buzz about Ayurveda among the western community? Due to the side effects of synthetic drugs and lack of curative treatment for many chronic diseases people tend to have interest in complementary and alternative medicine. But the fact is validated research, techniques, and clinical trials to validate basic principles as well as drugs used in the ayurvedic system of medicine are not there. In the case of Ashwagandha though there has been a couple of studies to prove the various health benefits of the herb, there hasn’t been enough studies to learn all the side effects yet.
Adverse Effects of Herbs
Most people believe single herbs or Ayurveda herbs is devoid of any side effects. It is not always the case that Ayurvedic medicines do not show adverse effects. In a random sample of commercially prepared Ayurvedic drugs purchased online via internet, it has found that nearly 21% contained detectable levels of lead, mercury, and arsenic. Though Ayurveda uses purified Mercury in a branch of science called Rasa Shastra, every content you find an online brought herb may not be purified and authentic.
Remember, Ashwagandha is a herb and it is not a spice that you use in cooking. 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 these properties are not fully known or understood. Also, there are cases where hemolytic anemia and diarrhea were reported as side effects due to continuous intake of Ashwagandha. Also, in cases of hormone resistant prostate cancer the intake of Ashwagandha has shown increased testosterone levels which again is causing harm t the patients.
When I see the bottles of Ashwagandha capsules over the counter or all these YouTube videos about the intake of potent herbs as a daily supplement I often feel like consumers are denied basic knowledge or access to product information. The diagnosis, and treatments including prescription of herbs should
follow a standard operating procedure. When it comes to Ayurveda people seldom ask questions about ingredients or the basis of knowing the safety and efficacy of the drugs.
Next time when you take an Ayurveda herb like Ashwagandha make sure you consult your physician and know about the do’s and don’t because “nothing is totally devoid of side effects”
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