So I've been thinking of how to take our collected knowledge about alternative DIY PD treatments to another level. Capturing and documenting all of the basic answers to questions a person would want to ask about any protocol: Risks? Doses? Purpose? Sources? References? Stuff like that.
Next I want to bring people that have experience with individual protocols together for a quick Zoom call to discuss what we think and know about a protocol and then I will update the web site for that protocol and share it with the group at large.
It is time to plant the flag. Who uses Ashwagandha and would like to participate in a very brief (I have the free Zoom so 40 minutes is my limit) call to discuss? I will record the call so I can pull all the notes, and update the web document on that protocol.
Just message me if you are interested in participating Saturday Nov 13th.
Bolt
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Pregnancy: It is likely unsafe to use ashwagandha when pregnant. There is some evidence that ashwagandha might cause miscarriages.
Breastfeeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if ashwagandha is safe to use when breastfeeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
"Auto-immune diseases" such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions: Ashwagandha might cause the immune system to become more active, and this could increase the symptoms of auto-immune diseases. If you have one of these conditions, it's best to avoid using ashwagandha.
Surgery: Ashwagandha may slow down the central nervous system. Healthcare providers worry that anesthesia and other medications during and after surgery might increase this effect. Stop taking ashwagandha at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Thyroid disorders: Ashwagandha might increase thyroid hormone levels. Ashwagandha should be used cautiously or avoided if you have a thyroid condition or take thyroid hormone medications.
testosterone levels went way up with Ashwagandha. Increase in testosterone results in an increases in Free T and DHT levels...which causes hair loss. It is important to realise that many supplements people use for working out or bulking up can have a devastating impact on your hair.
Medications that decrease the immune system (Immunosuppressants) interacts with ASHWAGANDHA
Ashwagandha can increase the activity of the immune system. Some medications, such as those used after a transplant, decrease the activity of the immune system. Taking ashwagandha along with these medications might decrease the effects of these medications.
Sedative medications (Benzodiazepines) interacts with ASHWAGANDHA
Ashwagandha might cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Some medications, called sedatives, can also cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Taking ashwagandha with sedative medications might cause breathing problems and/or too much sleepiness.
Sedative medications (CNS depressants) interacts with ASHWAGANDHA
Ashwagandha might cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Some medications, called sedatives, can also cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Taking ashwagandha with sedative medications might cause breathing problems and/or too much sleepiness.
Thyroid hormone interacts with ASHWAGANDHA
The body naturally produces thyroid hormones. Ashwagandha might increase how much thyroid hormone the body produces. Taking ashwagandha with thyroid hormone pills might cause too much thyroid hormone in the body, and increase the effects and side effects of thyroid hormone.
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with ASHWAGANDHA
Ashwagandha might lower blood sugar levels. Taking ashwagandha along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.
Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs) interacts with ASHWAGANDHA
Ashwagandha might lower blood pressure. Taking ashwagandha along with medications that lower blood pressure might cause blood pressure to go too low. Monitor your blood pressure closely.
Ashwagandha has most often been used by adults in doses up to 1000 mg daily, for up to 12 weeks. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.
Ashwagandha is an evergreen shrub that grows in Asia and Africa. It is commonly used for stress. There is little evidence for its use as an "adaptogen."
Ashwagandha contains chemicals that might help calm the brain, reduce swelling, lower blood pressure, and alter the immune system.
Since ashwagandha is traditionally used as an adaptogen, it is used for many conditions related to stress. Adaptogens are believed to help the body resist physical and mental stress. Some of the conditions it is used for include insomnia, aging, anxiety and many others, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses. There is also no good evidence to support using ashwagandha for COVID-19.
Don't confuse ashwagandha with Physalis alkekengi. Both are known as winter cherry. Also, don't confuse ashwagandha with American ginseng, Panax ginseng, or eleuthero.
A Prospective, Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Safety and Efficacy of a High-Concentration Full-Spectrum Extract of Ashwagandha Root in Reducing Stress and Anxiety in Adults 2012
An Overview on Ashwagandha: A Rasayana (Rejuvenator) of Ayurveda 2011
Effect on neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, Huntington's and Alzheimer's diseases
In patients with Alzheimer's disease, neuritic atrophy and synaptic loss (Dickon and Vicker, 2001) are considered the major causes of cognitive impairment, as based on the results of neuropathological post-mortem studies of the brain (Dekosky & Scheff, 1990). In the brains of patients suffering from other neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and Creutzfeldt- Jakob disease, the atrophy of neurites has also been observed as a significant part of the etiology. There are dozens of studies that show that Ashwagandha slows, stops, reverses or removes neuritic atrophy and synaptic loss. Therefore Ashwagandha can be used to treat Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's and other neurodegenerative diseases at any stage of the disease, even before a person has been diagnosed and is still in the state of mild forgetfulness, etc. Glycowithanolides withaferin- A and sitoindosides VII–X isolated from the roots of Ashwagandha significantly reversed ibotenic acid induced cognitive defects in Alzheimer's disease model (Bhattacharya et al., 1995).
Ashwagandha has been described as a nervine tonic (Singh et al., 1988, 1993) in Ayurveda and that is why it is a common ingredient of Ayurvedic tonic. Tonics, rejuvenators and vitalizers of Ayurveda appear to allay disease and induce immunity (Singh et al., 1986) and longevity in the users.
Pretreatment with Ashwaganda extract was found to prevent all the changes in antioxidant enzyme activities, catecholamine content, dopaminergic D2 receptor binding and tyrosine hydroxylase expression induced by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in rats (an animal model of Parkinson's disease) in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, these results suggest that Ashwagandha may be helpful in protecting the neuronal injury in Parkinson's disease (Nagashyana et al., 2000).
Withania somnifera shows ability to counter Parkinson's Disease: An Update 2015
Discussion and Conclusion
The present study supports the fact that Ashwagandha is a potent neuroprotective agent and hence, plays a significant role in ameliorating Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder. This review paper delineates the potential of Ws to oppose oxidative damage and decline in catecholamines level and also how it exhibits synergistic effect with Mp and its role in regulation of apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bax. The above discussion clearly outlines the efficiency of Ws to eradicate oxidative stress which is one of the major contributing factor in PD. Thus, the traditional use of Indian Ginseng has a logical and scientific basis which can be exploited in the research area related to PD. Moreover, clinical studies on large scale are needed to prove the efficacy of this herb, especially in PD and other neuronal disorders.
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Departing the Soul
