Ashwagandha for ectopics

[Padayn01]

Has any one taking this supplement with success to lower cortisol levels that could be causing ectopics?

[CDreamer]

It’s not a Herbal supplement I’ve ever taken as it contraindicated for autoimmune. Are you taking this under professional supervision?

As far as I am aware, it is something to take for relatively short periods for month or two - how long have you been taking it for and is there any correlation between you taking the herb and start of ectopics. I would be interested in your replies but I doubt whether too many people are generally aware of this unless they have seen a herbalist or Ayurvedic practitioner.

It’s not a recorded reaction and seems unlikely to be cause ectopics but high cortisol levels could be an indicator of stress which I believe is a factor in ectopics. I believe it can affect Thyroid? I am assuming that you will have checked interactions with any meds you are taking?

It also may lower BP and interact with BP meds which may have an affect? Do you take any Beta Blockers or BP drugs?

I guess the only real way to know is stop taking it and see what happens.

[Padayn01 in reply to CDreamer]

Hi thanks for your reply now I’ve seen no one just doing loads of research and trying to work out what’s best, yes I’m on both blood pressure meds and beta blockers does it interact with meds?

[CDreamer in reply to Padayn01]

Yes it can increase the affect of BP meds and lower your BP too much and it can interact with Thyroid meds. If you want to check anything yourself quickly and fairly reliably without consulting a Herbalist then I would recommend using WebMD.

webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingre...

[Coco51 in reply to CDreamer]

Forgive me, but as a slight digression have you heard of magnesium supplements having a similar effect and lowering BP?

I am on BP medication as well as AF meds, and since I started taking Mag Taurate I have had a couple of incidents where I have felt my BP is very low so was prompted to take it - it 96/62 & 93/55 only for a couple of readings but I did feel very fatigued out walking. It was a hot day and I drank loads of water and felt better, but I have stopped the Mag Taurate in case. I am still getting occasional low readings. I guess I should call the doctor about reducing the BP meds....

[Padayn01 in reply to Coco51]

Thanks for your message, yes I take mag taurate also 2 tablets a day

[CDreamer in reply to Coco51]

Yes, my understanding is that it can do and you need to be very careful. I have had very low BP all my life and was told to avoid Magnesium but I also have a neurological muscular condition which gives me very strong muscle spasms which are painful so I use Magnesium Oil which I spray directly onto the muscles affected. I find I can use topical Magnesium without it affecting my BP so I have Bath Salts to soak once a week and occasional use of Magnesium Oil.

[Coco51 in reply to CDreamer]

That is interesting. Thank you. I have been using the oil too with no noticeable effect on BP. I tried the mag taurate because I got a lot of AF out of the blue after a wasp sting. It was having a good effect. I might try a half dose.

[Padayn01 in reply to CDreamer]

Oh and I haven’t started to take it yet

[Padayn01 in reply to CDreamer]

mensahmedical.com/ashwagand...

[KMRobbo]

Why do you believe you need to reduce your cortisol levels?

[Padayn01 in reply to KMRobbo]

Cause I think they are playing my ectopics up?

[KMRobbo in reply to Padayn01]

I am not medically trained.

However have you been tested to indicate you have high cortisol levels?

If not then why would you want to lower them?

If you had high cortisol levels then that can be potentially being caused by diseases /medical issues that need investigation and medical treatment , not something from a health shop.

I am not criticising your researching potentials for your issues including your ectopics ( I have spent many hours on smilar quests and agree knowledge is power) but to assume that your cortisol is high , and then to further assume that your ectopics are caused by the high cortisol is a massive leap.

I have never heard of ashwagandha until your post, but 5 minutes on Google have shown a lot of potential negatives on taking this. I did not find anything in my short search that supported cortisol reduction anyway but but did find favourable references to adrenal glands.

I know from your posts that ectopics are giving you problems, but would suggest that you discuss ectopic causes , cortisol and the ashwaghandha with your EP or GP before taking this supplement as a cure for ectopics.

What you do not need is to cause other issues with it.

Best wishes.

[CDreamer in reply to KMRobbo]

It’s a popular herbal remedy in Ayurvedic medicine and is classed as an Adaptagen. Studies have shown it reduces Cortisol levels, however, I agree with you that you cannot assume you have high cortisol levels because you have certain symptoms such as anxiety and ectopics. I certainly wouldn’t mess around with this herb unless I had competent professional supervision.

[HiloHairy]

I tried it for over a month and it didn't appear to affect my afib or ectopics. I also tried Hawthorn Aerial Extract, 100mg twice a day which has diminished my ectopics by a small degree. It's also diminished my ability to work out but not nearly as badly as a minimal dose of Metoprolol.

[Andyt36]

healthline.com/nutrition/as...

Seems fine, just have to make sure it does not interact with other things you are taking.

It helps with stress and anxiety and therefore may help calm your system.

[KMRobbo in reply to Andyt36]

The Healthline article is full of claims and maybes, but not one reference to any of the studies it mentions! I am not saying Ashwagandha is good or bad or even that the article is right or wrong, but on this forum many of us have problems with drugs that have had massive clinical trials in double blind studies, so why would you want to take something that has massively less backup studies that can affects something as critical as your heart rhythm and cortisol levels and other important functions. Particularly if you cannot ascertain in any particular supply the content of the active ingredient.

A relevant comment made to me once by a cardiologist when discussing my dosage of Diltiazem was "all (heart) medicines are essentially poisons - it is the dosage that makes the difference between it being good or bad for you". (or similar)

To illustrate my point on the Healthline article using the subject in question, look at the Wikkipedia page on Cortisol - very interesting article, which I think worth reading, with 78 (seventy eight) supporting references, but at the top of the page a large (!) with Wikkipedia stating there are not enough supporting references and unless this is addressed some of the content may be removed!

I am just making this a general point.

Please note I am not against health foods or supplements. I am considering "experimenting" with co-enzyme Q10 supplements myself currently having read about it on this forum and then done a bit of research, but this is already ingested by me in many foods and there does not seem to be any downsides to taking it (unless of course I took very large doses).

I already have the capsules but am happy to be advised otherwise!

Best wishes to all.

[jimlad2]

I used it for several months during 2017 and it had no discernible effect on my AF episodes or intervening abnormal beats. But it did improve the quality of my sleep considerably (I felt much more refreshed in the morning than I had for many years) and caused my dreams to be surprisingly vivid and interesting! However, it also caused itching and dry skin to such a degree that I stopped taking it. But, we're all different and your experience may differ. I was on bisoprolol 2.5mgs and aspirin at the time, and also supplementing with 300mgs of mag citrate and 2000 ius of D3, daily.