Ashwaganda?

[Seaview20]

I just saw someone posting on another site that Ashwaganda has really helped their RLS. Does anyone have any thoughts on this please? I currently take Tramadol but only when desperate as I don't really want to be dependent on any drug if I can avoid it. However I have had to appreciate that I am taking paracetamol and codeine a lot too.

[ChrisColumbus]

It's a traditional Ayurvedic treatment for insomnia and anxiety, and it has been suggested that it could consequently help RLS.

A medical study in India published in 2019, which looked at its effects on insomnia and anxiety across 40 patients, with another 20 taking a placebo, concluded: "Ashwagandha root extract is a natural compound with sleep-inducing potential, well tolerated and improves sleep quality and sleep onset latency in patients with insomnia at a dose of 300 mg extract twice daily. It could be of potential use to improve sleep parameters in patients with insomnia and anxiety, but need further large-scale studies."

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

How it might react with other meds you are taking....?

[Seaview20 in reply to ChrisColumbus]

Thanks Chris, that is very helpful.

[ChrisColumbus in reply to Seaview20]

If you haven't already read the informative posts by Sue Johnson and Joolsg about causes, triggers and treatments for RLS it would be good to read up. Checking serum Ferritin levels by having a full fasting iron panel is particularly important. Trying to get to the root causes of your RLS before embarking on (further) treatment is vital

[SueJohnson]

Yes - it may help and no harm in trying it. Have you had your ferritin checked? If it is below 100 improving it to 100 or more helps 60% of patients and in some will completely eliminate their symptoms. If you haven't had your ferritin checked, ask your doctor for a full iron panel. Stop taking any iron supplements 48 hours before the test and fast after midnight. Have your test in the morning. When you get the results, ask for your ferritin and transferrin saturation (TSAT) numbers. You want your ferritin to be over 100 and your transferrin saturation to be between 20 and 45. If your ferritin is less than 100 or your transferrin saturation is not between 20 and 45 post back here and we can give you some advice.

[SueJohnson]

If you do decide you need medicine, be sure your doctor does not prescribe a dopamine agonist like ropinirole (requip) or pramipexole (mirapex). They used to be the first line treatment for RLS, but no longer are because of the danger of augmentation. Instead ask your doctor to prescribe gabapentin.or pregabalin. Check out the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS which will tell you everything you want to know including about its treatment and refer your doctor to it if needed as many doctors do not know much about RLS or are not uptodate on it atHttps://mayoclinicproceedings.org/a...

[Seaview20 in reply to SueJohnson]

My GP tried to prescribe Ropinirole but I refused it because of what I knew from this site. I tried to get my iron/ferritin checked at GP but was only allowed the info that it was "normal " so looking to get it done privately. I love the info on this site, the help you all give is so valuable and massively appreciated.

[ChrisColumbus in reply to Seaview20]

Just ask your doctor to share the numbers that they got: they have them in your record .

If you're in the UK, you can also request (in writing) that your surgery shares your health record with the Patient Access app/website (supposedly available to all UK now, although some services may still be restricted to England) and/or NHS app (apparently for England and IoM only) and then you can see ALL test results with the actual numbers. This stops the shenanigans with 'normal' reports. I don't think that they can refuse to share.

If you're not in the UK there may still be routes to get to the numbers

[Seaview20 in reply to ChrisColumbus]

I am in the UK. Thank you, I will do that.

[ChrisColumbus in reply to Seaview20]

UPDATE: If you're in the UK but not in England you may have to enquire whether other services to access your detailed health record exist

[Moonwalker1967 in reply to ChrisColumbus]

I have asked for a print out and shared it on here. I am in the UK and the surgery had no problems with sharing the information.

[ChrisColumbus in reply to Moonwalker1967]

Great! Some doctors are a pain about sharing numbers during a meeting, and some surgeries restrict what they share online. My GP is excellent, and I also have full online access. But I think an additional problem is that some people are reluctant to press doctors for detail. This is a shame because I don't *think* that most doctors are ogres 😉. But I do think that some don't like to reveal that they don't know everything about everything!

[Seaview20 in reply to ChrisColumbus]

It is a really good point, thanks. I am usually pretty good about being assertive without any aggression, and actually work for the NHS myself! I think in these difficult times it has felt like a struggle too far, but I will tackle it now as I firmly believe we are all going to increasingly need to be in control of our own health information and treatment.

[Seaview20 in reply to Moonwalker1967]

Ok thanks.

[SueJohnson]

Some things that can make RLS symptoms worse for some people are alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, sugar, carbs, foods high in sodium, foods that cause inflammation, ice cream, estrogen, dehydration, MSG, collagen supplements, electrolyte imbalance, melatonin, stress and vigorous exercise. Some things that help some people include caffeine, moderate exercise, weighted blankets, compression socks, elastic bandages, masturbation, magnesium glycinate, low oxalate diet, selenium, 5 minute shower alternating 20 seconds cold water with 10 seconds hot water finishing with hot water for another couple of minutes, hot baths, distractions, applying a topical magnesium lotion or spray, doing a magnesium salts soak, vitamins B1, B3, B6, B12, D3, K2, if deficient, and potassium and copper if deficient, massage including using a massage gun, using a standing desk, listening to music and yoga. many medicines and OTC supplements make RLS worse. If you list them here I can tell you if this is so and may be able to provide a safe substitute.

[Parminter]

healthfully.com/can-certain...

[Seaview20 in reply to Parminter]

Thanks, very helpful

[HappyGreenBean]

I've read conflicting science/research of it causing a rise in testosterone. Some say it does, some say it doesn't.

Anecdotally, for me and a few other people I know it sped up hair loss. As I'm sure others are aware its common for women to lose their hair as they age because of the loss of estrogen and compounded by the sensitivity to DHT. I won't use it again, my hair didn't recover. A friend's partner who was balding lost a ton of hair using it, he feels the same. The brand we used is a big name brand that has independent testing to confirm it's source and ingredients, bought from the manufacture not amazon/ebay and such.

Others may find it helpful and have no negative response from it.