I tried Ashwagandha for six months, here's what to expect

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an evergreen shrub plant that grows in India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. It has gotten increasingly popular because of its effect on the body and mind.

Positive effects

1. Relieves stress and anxiety
2. Lowers blood sugar and fat
3. Increase muscle and strength
4. Increases sexual function in women
5. Boosts fertility and testosterone in men
6. Sharpens focus and memory
7. Supports heart health
8. Improves sleep

Risks, side effects, and dangers

Even though Ashwagandha has a lot of positive effects it is not harmless. Some side effects include nausea, upset stomach, and diarrhea. This is more common when taking large doses of Ashwagandha, such as more than 6,000 mg of root powder or 1500 mg of root extract.

You can also experience drowsiness, this is more common if you take benzodiazepines as well. You should also avoid Ashwagandha if any of the following affects you:

1. You’re pregnant
2. You have a thyroid condition or take medications such as for thyroid,  benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants, or barbiturates
3. You take thyroid medication or have a thyroid condition
4. If you have diabetes or stomach ulcers, if so talk to a doctor first
5. You have hormone-sensitive prostate cancer
6. You have an autoimmune condition

Does Ashwagandha kill emotions?

This is something that I’ve come across numerous times when researching Ashwagandha. A lot of people are claiming that they essentially become emotionless when taking this substance. I have not come across this side effect myself, but it’s something to keep in mind before taking Ashwagandha.

Do you get withdrawal symptoms?

The withdrawal of Ashwagandha has been mild, I’ve had nausea but it’s not certain that it’s because of quitting Ashwagandha. This nausea did however come within a week of quitting it. Other than that I’ve had no withdrawal symptoms from it.

I have researched the withdrawal of Ashwagandha and I’ve come across someone claiming to get so-called “Brain Zaps” after quitting, which is also common when quitting anti-depressants such as Sertraline. There have also been cases where people get memory problems, insomnia, and severe fatigue when quitting the substance.

Dosage

The dosage may vary on your need and on the actual product that you buy, as they have recommended dosage on the label. But generally, it’s 250-500mg per day, for at least a month. When I started I used 1200mg for a week, then went down to 600mg. It’s recommended to take a break every couple of months, I’m taking a break for a few weeks after taking it for six months, but most people take a break after 2-3 months. The break time can be anything from a few days to a few weeks.

My Experience

I started using Ashwagandha in August 2022 because of an event that lead to a close mental burnout. Naturally, I looked for how I could recover from this, and I came across Ashwagandha. I started taking two pills in the morning, and two pills before bed. The result? I miraculously recovered after only one week.

From not being physically able to take in new information and instructions, to work 100% without any issues. Truly astonishing, but that’s not everything. It definitely helped me with my physical workout, people started noticing and complimenting me more on my workout progress.

I personally never had any side effects with it, a normal reaction is that you become less emotionally sensitive. This is not something that I was affected by.