Ashwadanga advice - please - xx

[Chouchou1234]

my Cortisol level In the morning a few months ago was 675 (max is 525)

The endo and GP are rubbish and said it’s normal. It’s obviously not normal??

I have bought Ashwadanga

I’m now super perplexed as can raise or lower it.

best timings?

Thank you 🙏

Thank you

Sorry very wobbly today depressed the darkness is overwhelming. Just went for a colonic and feel no relief .

[Regenallotment]

Hi Chouchou

Honestly I wouldn't take it, this week I dropped off my Pukka Peace and Relax teabags that contain it to my yoga class as it makes me feel SO dreadful. It takes the wind out of my sails, makes me want to lie in a darkened room. Which is relaxing but its almost debilitating. I haven't had my cortisol checked so I don't know my levels, what I do know is ashwaganda is not good for me.

Good luck with your progress, are you stable on one dose of thyroid replacement now?

[Imaaan]

I've been using Purica ashwagandha for a few yrs and have benefitted from it

[radd]

Chouchou1234, 

I love Ashwagandha. It doesn’t raise or lower cortisol directly but encourages normalisation of the HPA axis which in turn helps to normalise cortisol levels.

However, when we have autoimmune conditions, its efficacy is dependant upon how our immune system is presently working and I have explained further here ……..  healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

It is important to try reducing long term elevated cortisol levels. Otherwise it can encourage effects such as insomnia, high inflammation and dysregulated blood sugars. Just introduce Ashwaghanda slowly and mindfully, and know if it's not for you there will be other adaptogens better suited.

[Chouchou1234 in reply to radd]

thank you for the reply. .

Do I take at night time?

Also I you mentioned in a chat regarding advice on declining T3. Before i started my T3 I was 2.2 T3 (4.1

To 6.8) my t4 was 19 and tsh 0.02

Could I have been over medicated on thyroxine? As T3 was declining before starting T3 . I am now on more t4 125mcg and t4 is 20 and 30mcg of t3 and last result 5.2 for T3

Also t4 of 20 is 27hours after last dose so maybe higher?

My worry is I take thyroxine which is stalling T3 and lowering it the. Taking T3 on top to then raise it. Is this rubbish thinking?

I’m so confused .

Endocrinologist said he will only approve 20t3 and when I was that my T3 was only 3.8 to 4.1

Maybe I’m talking silly talk .

My ferritin is low 35 so working on that but b12 1550 last test and vit d 102

AX

Maybe it’s crazy thinking this

[radd in reply to Chouchou1234]

Chouchou1234,

You can take ashwagandha anytime depending on your goals. It has sleep inducing properties so many take it before bed. I’ve always taken mine in the morning as being an adaptogen that helps the body's stress response I found it induced calm within a stressful day. I’m presently using a a matcha and ashwagandha combo tea every morning. 

Apologies, I didn’t see the tag, but previously answered in a post you deleted and my thoughts remain the same that you are over medicated. If we exceed our sweet spot thyroid meds can start working against us. Not only can levels reduce as the body turns excess hormone to inactive metabolites but these processes can change the conversion enzymes behaviours making future conversion difficult. Panic attacks can be the result of excess T3 or T3 not being utilised well. 

Not many of us need top or over range levels of both FT4 and FT3. For instance I function best with both hormones about half to two thirds of the way through range, and am very sensitive to T3 changes. Many with top of range FT4 results will need to reduce Levo when introducing T3 which should be in low & slow increments that remain stable.

Well done raising Vit B12 and Vit D as these will certainly help 😊

[Chouchou1234 in reply to radd]

hi there

I am

Taking Solgar ashwagandha 300mg

But has asorbic acid in it

1. I’m having chest pains the past few

Days since vaccine last Friday

Quite bad but I think it’s colon or acid?

Since Friday I had vaccine having achey left area but my

Heart rate is normal.

I had a few years ago non stop pain and I’d loss of tests but it wasn’t my heart. My bpm is 62

I found this Info below in a random

Website selling solgar - but not mentioned anywhere else.

I have been taking 1 at night and one morning since last Friday .

I def felt more calm center feeling so must be working but now I’m

Worried it’s raised my Thyroid.

Basically I’m stressing as can’t tell doctors have pain in that area but I am sure it’s colon?

If it was heart would it be fast heart beat?

Shall I just not take or take in morning only?

I have had bad acid reflux since then too so no idea if connected I never have reflux but Friday I was vomiting after vaccine and had a meat tomatoe sauce then so

Maybe started it all off.

I feels like a tight band and achey . Not sure but more I think about it the worse it’s getting

Those in the ashwagandha group showed significant increases in triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) levels of 41.5% and 19.6%, respectively. Furthermore, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels decreased by 17.5% (6Trusted Source).Ashwagandha’s cortisol-lowering effects may be responsible.Chronic stress increases cortisol levels, leading to lower levels of T3 and T4. Ashwagandha appears to stimulate your endocrine system, boosting thyroid hormone levels by reducing cortisol (6Trusted Source). 

Xxx

If you are nursing, pregnant or considering pregnancy do not take Ashwagandha containing supplements.If you have diabetes monitor your blood sugar closely, as Ashwaganda can lower the blood sugar level and interfere with the medication you are already taking.Ashwagandha might decrease blood pressure. This could cause blood pressure to go to low in people with low blood pressure; or interfere with medications used to treat high blood pressure. Ashwagandha should be used cautiously if you have low blood pressure or take medications for your blood pressure.Stomach ulcers: Ashwagandha can irritate the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Don’t use ashwagandha if you have a stomach ulcer.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.“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.Ashwagandha can interact with:Sedative medications such as Clonazepam, Lorazepam, Zopiclone, Zolpidem, Diazepam, and others, increasing the sedative effect.ImmunosuppressantThyroid hormone pills such as levothyroxine, as ashwagandha can increase the level of thyroid hormones in the body.

[radd in reply to Chouchou1234]

Chouchou1234,

Oh poor you!

If this were me I would stop the ashwagandha if you’ve had a bad reaction to the vaccine as both are known to possibly higher your ‘frees’ and I think you are over medicated anyway with both FT4 and FT3 at top of range and exhibiting symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks.

Your heart pains could also be a result of over medication. I suffered heart pain in my early days of medicating Levothyroxine that wasn’t working. 

It’s always better to make one change at a time to evaluate better what I causing what and adaptogens can be very powerful instilling bad reactions as well as good.  I hope you feel better soon. 

[Chouchou1234 in reply to radd]

thank you

I am not sure it’s heart it’s in that area as it’s bad after I eat. It stopped before .

I can feel bubbling inside my stomach maybe it’s bad gas as I have horrific Sibo.

I won’t take ashwagandha and reduced T3 .

Thank you again xx

[Incoguto in reply to Chouchou1234]

Hey, I recently was taking 300mg of Ashwagandha and after 12 days my ft3 shot up, had anxiety and tremors, had to stop it and lower t3...my friend had the same reaction. Ashwa stimulates conversion and lowers cortisol according to my endo x

[Chouchou1234 in reply to Incoguto]

thank you . How much did it go up by? How long did it stabilise? Xx

What I am thinking 🤔 isn’t it better for me to be on lower medications and take something natural ?

Thank you 🙏

[Incoguto in reply to Chouchou1234]

Ft3 went from midrange 55% to 85%, my cortisol went down from top range to midrange. I have reduced my t3 about 3.5 weeks ago to help it as I also increased t3 at the time a little. It was a mistake to increase Armour and ashwa at the same time, hard to say what did what.

In theory makes sense to take something natural like ashwagandha than higher dose of hormones, but then I don't know if it will make levels even everyday if you do it? How stable would ashwagandha make you? This is something I don't know...XX

I see you're testing after 13 hours...your ft3 isn't that high after 13 hours, it's normal, but then you need to go by your own symptoms as it's so individual.

[Chouchou1234 in reply to radd]

hi good morning

I am re reading reply and my T3 wasn’t top of the range it was 5.2 (4.1 to 6.8) after 13 hours last dose.

Also thought - if ashwagandha does lower cortisol and makes thyroid work better isn’t it better to take that and lower dose of medication? I’

Maybe it was a one off as my stomach isn’t working at all today again paralysed stuck . This is exhausting and overwhelming. Just the basics to eat .

I started a new supplement for ‘liver and bile flow -

Back to zero motility which is crippling. Very bizarre

Thank you