Ashwagandha for cortisol levels

[jand123]

Hello everyone,

My thyroid specialist recommended I take Ashwagandha to keep my cortisol level up after a treatment to improve my levels. I took this brand (not sure if I can state the brand) for a couple of months and was fine, then suddenly I started experiencing diarrhoea, then I became violently sick. So not connecting the problem I went to the hospital and we looked at what I was taking and there was nothing new in the last couple of days. So I went through a gastro and colon scope and they found nothing. I cut out all supplements and reintroduced them slowly. I had read not to take Ashwagandha for more than 3 months and to have an interval. So I left it for 6 months. 4 days ago I took one capsule of 450mg and 3 hours later I was violently sick both ends and even beyond an empty stomach, the pain lower back was awful just like before. Other ingredients are modified cellulose, rice flour, maltodextrin & magnesium stearate.

Has anyone else had a similar experience and health shops think it can't be a problem. Sadly I bought a few bottles of it from an online shop that I have used before!

Any thoughts please?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

jand123

My thyroid specialist recommended I take Ashwagandha to keep my cortisol level up after a treatment to improve my levels.

Obviously I don't know who your thyroid specialist is but did you do a cortisol/DHEA 24 hour saliva test? What was the "treatment" to improve your level?

Although Ashwagandha is said to be balancing, it is known to lower cortisol.

I took this brand (not sure if I can state the brand) for a couple of months and was fine, then suddenly I started experiencing diarrhoea, then I became violently sick.

It's OK to mention brands.

If you didn't have a reaction soon after starting the supplement it does make one think that it's possibly not the culprit if the symptoms started a couple of months or so later.

4 days ago I took one capsule of 450mg and 3 hours later I was violently sick both ends and even beyond an empty stomach, the pain lower back was awful just like before.

Yet this does suggest the supplement might be a problem. Maybe it's not the actual supplement itself but could it be interacting with something else you take? Did you start taking something a couple of months after initially starting the Ashwagandha?

[jand123 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi, no I haven’t added anything since or after which was different, that’s the strange part ! And for 3 months I had no reaction. Very odd

[jand123 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi I forgot to reply re the test, yes, the rather pricy saliva test, dips in levels lunchtime and then in the evening again. Doctor put me on a gradual dose of Thorne adrenal cortex but increasing to a very high dose for several weeks and then back down. I found I was piling on a lot of weight so he suggested a maintenance dose of Ashangandha and you know the rest. So at the moment I am on nothing.

[Bertwills]

Hi, is it possible that it was the specific batch of supplement that was contaiminated with something? I think I would get in touch with the supplier & tell them what you experienced as it certainly seems as if there is a problem with the tablets. Presumably you used more than one bottle during the 3 months? Were the tablets you took when you restarted from the same batch as the ones that made you ill originally? I’d return all you have to the manufacturer and ask for a refund and investigation. Which brand have you did you use?

I tried Ashwagandha once but unfortunately I suffered an increased need to pee, especially at night when I took it to help with sleep! On researching I discovered that it’s a side affect of using the wrong part of the plant so it was the manufacturer’s fault. Cheap supplement from Amazon was a bad idea.

[jand123 in reply to Bertwills]

yes I used the open bottle to start up again, I don’t have the used bottles now but have 3 more unopened which appear to be the same batch. They are California Gold Nutrition brand. I ordered from online store I used before, can’t recall now , will look up

[jand123 in reply to jand123]

iHerb

[helvella in reply to jand123]

I'd contact iHerb and consider writing a review.

uk.iherb.com/pr/california-...

[jand123 in reply to helvella]

Yes just emailed them

[Bertwills in reply to jand123]

Might be worth sending the manufacturer an email, maybe others suffered in the same way.

[jand123 in reply to Bertwills]

Done

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

Could it be an intolerance to nightshades? I've not used ashwagandha but it is in the nightshade family and this is the effect they have on me 🤷‍♀️

[jand123 in reply to TiggerMe]

ok really! I didn’t know that. It is strange that I was ok for the first couple of months.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to jand123]

Just thought I'd throw it out there... I used to live on potatoes and tomatoes and then things changed 🤷‍♀️ never could stand the smell of peppers

[jand123 in reply to TiggerMe]

oh interesting! I am allergic to tomatoes and I love them !

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to jand123]

Me too! Life without tomato sauce is a curve ball, no chips to dip in it either though🤣 never did like the smell of the plant ...🤔

[Regenallotment Ambassador]

I discovered Ashwaganda is in some of my favourite Pukka Teas. I get a 24hr jet lag effect if I drink the Peace tea, fine that day but am very hypo day after. Relax does something similar, I’m going to have to give those away. I mentioned it on their online form but they didn’t reply. My thought was if u take it when I’m stressed it should help, but I think the delayed reaction means it doesn’t go back up again as it should 🌱

[jand123 in reply to Regenallotment]

Ok that's interesting !