Supplements and Botanicals

Ashwagandha

Ashwaganda is a shrub that is native to India and the Middle East. It has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. In the West, it is used to treat a variety of conditions including anxiety, fatigue, and insomnia. In cancer, ashwaganda is often used to treat cancer-related fatigue, anxiety, and insomnia. Preliminary research also indicates it has anti-cancer activity.

Dose

Dosing for ashwaganda varies widely depending on how it was studied, what condition is being treated, and weather it is in tincture or standardized capsule. Generally, between 300–500 mg, 2-3 times per day is used.

Warnings

Ashwaganda is generally well-tolerated. At very high doses it can cause some gastrointestinal discomfort. Ashwaganda can lower blood pressure slightly, and it may also slightly lower blood glucose. Therefore, for patients taking blood pressure or diabetes medications should be carefully monitored.

References

Dutta, 2019

Biswal, 2013