Should You Take Ashwagandha For Your Thyroid?

The results so far confirm that Ashwagandha is a promising drug candidate for many conditions. The study showed that participants who were administered Ashwagandha root extract for 8 weeks showed no adverse effects. The widespread use of Ashwagandha carries the risk of not controlling other therapies the patient is receiving. It is worth remembering that the plant itself also has many contraindications. For example, in patients with hyperthyroidism, it can exacerbate the effects of the disease—irritability, restlessness, nervousness, anxiety, hand tremors, palpitations, psychomotor agitation, etc.—by increasing the levels of T3 and T4 2.

• Withanone is detoxified by glutathione (GSH), at limited levels of which it can induce DNA damage 39.
• The aim of this review is to find and summarize the effect that Ashwagandha root extract has on the endocrine system and hormones.
• Three of the patients with Ashwagandha-induced liver injury and underlying liver disease died during the follow-up 62.
• He’s been quoted in the New York Times, Shape Magazine, and The Daily Beast.
• Early detection and treatment can prevent complications and improve quality of life.

The Role of Ashwagandha in Managing Thyroid Health

They proved that aqueous extract from Ashwagandha’s leaves stimulates GnRH cells activity which results in increased GnRH release. Based on in vitro studies on mice hypothalamus slices, it was established that W. Somnifera can exhibit GABA-mimetic action due to its interactions with GABA type A receptors 40. Thus, it leads to increased secretion of GnRH in hypothalamus and that is the way Ashwagandha can modulate HPG axis at the hypothalamic level 12.

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Histopathological studies have noted that the administration of Withania somnifera significantly reduces damage to the heart caused by ischemia. Ashwagandha has a cardioprotective effect due to its anti-apoptotic properties and due to its restoring of the oxidative balance 86. The cardioprotective effect of withaferin A, a component of Ashwagandha known for its anticancer properties, was also studied.

This condition occurs when thyroid hormone levels fall below normal due to the thyroid’s gland inability to produce sufficient hormones. The main symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, weight gain, dry skin, constipation, and goiter (swelling in the neck caused by an enlarged thyroid gland). One of the most important lifestyle changes for managing thyroid health is to avoid smoking and limit alcohol consumption.

Overall, ashwagandha doesn’t seem to have many reported significant drug interactions. Studies are inconclusive, but ashwagandha may have immune-stimulating properties. If you take a drug meant to suppress your immune systems, such as methotrexate or mycophenolate, they may have conflicting effects. Based on the above-mentioned characteristics, Ashwagandha can be considered as an adaptogen. Neurodegenerative diseases cause the destruction of the central nervous system, resulting in irreversible damage. Over the course of Alzheimer’s disease, an abnormal deposition of β-amyloid protein in the brain is observed.

Body composition i.e. the percentage of fat tissue and muscle mass is an important element for both health and sports performance. Ashwagandha supplementation augments desirable body composition changes resulting from strength training 30. It is known that sleep quality and quantity affect the proportion of fat mass reduction during weight loss and muscle mass gain with strength training 48. Positive impact on body composition can also be potentially explained by the changes in cortisol and testosterone levels. Direct impact on body composition could involve both sides of energy balance – energy intake and expenditure. In rodents fed a high-fat diet, addition of Ashwagandha increased energy expenditure via enhanced mitochondrial activity, thus suppressing obesity 49.

• Ashwagandha also contains steroidal saponins that contain an acyl group–sitoindoside VII and VIII.
• The extract was standardized by high-performance liquid chromatography to contain 35% withanolide glycosides—approximately 84 mg withanolide.
• The study showed that participants who were administered Ashwagandha root extract for 8 weeks showed no adverse effects.
• These significant improvements were noted in the study group, and they experienced only minimal side effects 118.

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• Studies have shown that withaferin A is characterized by low bioavailability, which may translate into a low therapeutic effect 63.
• An increased expression of pro-inflammatory and immune factors was observed in the sleep-deprived animals (GFAP, TNF α, IL-6, OX-18, OX-42).
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• For instance, while not conclusive, there is some evidence that ARE can be used safely even in the treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism.
• In both dogs and humans, a progression of oxidative damage in the brain is noted with age.

A review by Bonilla et al. showed improvements in strength, power, vertical jump, maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) and reduced muscle fatigue. However, the number of studies examined was relatively small, especially in reference to trained subjects and athletes 13. However, it is important to note that ashwagandha may interact with other medications, including thyroid medication. Therefore, it is crucial to inform your healthcare provider if you are taking ashwagandha or any other herbal supplements. Your healthcare provider can monitor your thyroid hormone levels and adjust your medication dosage accordingly to prevent any adverse effects.

4. Antibacterial Properties

It also contributes to other health problems such as cardiovascular diseases, insulin resistance, diabetes or cancers risk 34, 35. Research conducted on glioblastoma and neuroblastoma cells shows that Ashwagandha extract protects those cells from damage induced by oxidative stress. Withanone, one of withanolides which are considered the main active constituents of Ashwagandha extract, emerged as a compound profoundly responsible for this effect 36. In recent years, characterised by a fast pace of life, intensive mental work and prevailing stressors, the decrease in sleep duration 1, and increase in stress levels 2 are observed. Due to those factors, there’s a strong interest in strategies aimed at improving cognitive function and psychological well-being 3, 4. Supplementation with adaptogens, i.e. herbs that normalize physiological processes and help the body adapt to changes in times of increased stress, seems to be a promising health-oriented strategy 5.

All the trials that looked at cortisol levels found significant reductions in this hormone. For DHEA, the two trials included in the analysis showed conflicting results 53. Steroid levels have an influence on mood, sexuality, the immune system, blood pressure, growth and many other important components of human health. It seems that Ashwagandha and its active compounds, due to the modulating impact on hormonal axis, can be promising in maintaining overall human wellness. If you take ashwagandha with thyroid hormone medication, watch for symptoms related to high hormone levels.

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Therefore, they can be used to treat cancer alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents 66. Witanolides are alkaloids present in the plant that show great anti-cancer potential. They are also the most promising compounds showing this action, as they play a major role in the induction of apoptosis. Ashwagandha is effective against cancers such as breast, colon, lung, prostate, and blood cancers 67. It acts as a chemotherapeutic agent against many different types of breast cancer, especially ER/PR-positive breast synthroid immunosuppression cancer and triple-negative breast cancer 68. Research also suggests the potential of Ashwagandha in improving the quality of life of breast cancer patients 68.