Anyone take ashwagandha?

[ThyroidObsessed]

Done alot of research on this and apparently can help lower cortisol and help with symptoms of anxiety/depression and lots of health benefits too...

Anyone take this?

[radd]

ThyroidObsessed,

Yes, I do. It helps support the HPA & HPT axes, modulates the immune system & reduces inflammation. I keep reading more benefits about it & recently came across how it has been shown to improve muscle strength.

However, if you have Hashi/Graves you need to be vigilant as it is a member of the nightshade family & can cause problems. Ensure to use supplements containing the root & not just the leaves. ‘Withanolides’ should also be listed.

[ThyroidObsessed in reply to radd]

Thank you for your reply... iv currently been using rhodiola root drops and have gone through 2 bottles now, but not sure if it's helping at all...My antibodies were slightly raised when I had them tested around 4 year ago, so presuming I have hashi's? And I shouldn't take it?...

[radd in reply to ThyroidObsessed]

ThyroidObsessed,

I have Hashi too & it will depend on how your immune system works as to whether you will tolerate it or not. The linked article gives a brief resume.

TH (T-helper cells) are lymphocytes, WBC's that recognise foreign pathogens (or in the case of Hashi, normal tissue) & initiate the cytokine (antibody) response. These are divided into subgroups that do different jobs such as deal with viruses, certain bacterias, toxins, allergens, etc.

There are loads but the two main groups associated with Hashi, Graves and other autoimmune disease such as Celiac, RA, Sjoren’s Syndrome are TH-1 (pathogens inside our cells) and TH-2 (extracellular pathogens, ie blood & body fluids).

In a well-functioning immune system, both groups of these T-helper cells work together to keep balance & as different circumstance dictate we continually switch between the two (& many others) to eradicate threats.

However, according to Datis Kharrizan most Hashi suffers are TH-1 dominent and it is this that dictates whether Ashwagandha will be tolerated. Not only is it the TH-1 that induces the exact inflammation that Ashwagandha is matched to easing but in those who are TH-2 dominant Ashwagandha will actually exacerbate their symptoms.

In the linked article Nikolas Hedberg also talks about the positive/negative influence of taking Ashwagandha with or without fats and I think it was Isabella Wentz who also mentioned this. Also, how our gut biome can dictate the tolerance of Ashwagandha, and how it can increase T4 & T3 in those with a bit of thyroid left, so creating a need for less replacement meds.

Ideally the taking of Ashwagandha would be overseen by a heath practitioner as is used widely in functional medicine but as long as you are aware of the way it works it can be managed. Also if you investigate on googlescholar for the research papers they are plentiful with increasing benefits too many to list.

Ashwagandha is powerful in helping if it is your thing. As it is TH-2 that drives the humoral immunity and allergic reactions, an easy way to know if Ashwagandha might be helpful is to assess if you are intolerant of nightshade stuff (tomatoes, bell peppers, potatoes, aubergine, etc) in which case Ashwagandha would best be avoided.

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drhedberg.com/ashwagandha-h...

[goldengoddess]

Yes I did try it a few times but it was too much for me. I have Hashi's. I get on better with Rhodiola now as its much gentler

[goatheard]

Please be aware that ashwagandha, in addition to the nightshade sensitivity - it increased my tsh, antibodies and rT3! - also increases melanin - my melasma was worse and my natural blonde hair is now so dark it is basically brown and I hardly recognize myself! Here in the US, they are adding it at coffee shops with no understanding of the damage it can do. I would suggest trying rhodiola first, and slowly.