Ashwagandha Safety

Many people who have an interest in herbal supplements and alternative medicine may have heard of an obscure herb called ashwagandha. This little plant has long been a part of Ayurvedic medicine and is growing in popularity among consumers today for the treatment of various ailments.

Ashwagandha Drowsiness

• Those who experience a significant amount of drowsiness when using ashwagandha can be advised not to operate a vehicle or any heavy machinery.

Drug Interactions

• According to an index of natural and alternative treatments available online, ashwagandha will increase the effect of any sedatives, such as other medications or alcohol, if taken concurrently with the other sedatives.

Considerations

• According to the Healthwise Knowledgebase utilized by the University of Michigan Health System with regards to ashwagandha, the herb has no known toxic drug interactions.

Warnings

• It is not advisable for pregnant women to use ashwagandha because it can induce abortion, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center website.

Safe Dosage

• Abnormally high doses of ashwagandha have been proven to cause kidney lesions in laboratory animals. People using ashwagandha are warned to adhere to the recommended safe dosage.