How Does Ashwagandha Affect the Thyroid for Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism?

Studies in mice also show that Withania somnifera extracts (especially those at higher concentrations) are effective in the treatment of malaria, significantly reducing parasitaemia 56. Current medications only work on the symptoms and slow down the progression of the disease. The disease is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner, which means that statistically, half of the offspring will receive the disease-causing allele. A mutation in the IT15 gene encoding the huntingtin (htt) protein on chromosome 4 leads to a conformational change in huntingtin, into its insoluble form. The N-terminal part of the mutant huntingtin protein, containing expanded polyglutamine repeats, accumulates leading to accelerated neuronal apoptosis.

Does Ashwagandha Interact With Prescription Drugs?

• Ashwagandha has been found to possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties that can help manage thyroid health.
• Current literature on Ashwagandha and sports performance has some shortcomings.
• Evidence is still lacking to unequivocally confirm the safety of taking Ashwagandha-based preparations during such sensitive periods of life.
• Despite worldwide research efforts in the fight against cancer, it remains a major cause of death.

They will help you determine if the supplement is safe with other medications and supplements you may be taking. They can also examine how ashwagandha could affect your medical conditions. Ashwagandha increases the chance of side effects from thyroid hormone medications, which include weight gain or loss, hair loss, joint pain, sweating, and nervousness. If you are taking ashwagandha with any blood pressure-lowering medication, monitor your blood pressure closely. Let your healthcare provider know if you experience any episodes of low blood pressure. It is essential to find ways to manage stress and anxiety, such as practising yoga, meditation, or mindfulness, engaging in calming activities like walking in nature or reading, and seeking therapy or counselling if required.

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All cases had a similar pattern with jaundice and other symptoms which occurred 2 to 12 weeks into supplementing Ashwagandha or Ashwagandha-containing supplements, with daily doses ranging from 450mg to 1350 mg. All cases were reversible, with liver tests normalizing after 1–9 months after cessation of supplementation 67. Contrary, other clinical studies didn’t notice synthroid forms any changes in hepatotoxicity markers after Ashwagandha supplementation 65, 66.

On the other hand, in the control group, the levels of T3 and T4 were either lower than the baseline values or remained at the same level. The largest increase in the study group for triiodothyronine level in serum was observed in the 4th (+18.6%) and 8th (+41.5%) week of Ashwagandha supplementation. In the case of T4, the increase was 9.3% in the 4th week and 19.6% in the 8th week of the study. In addition, the TSH level decreased significantly after 4 weeks of the study (−12.5%) and (−17.4%) after 8 weeks. The above study may suggest that Ashwagandha supplementation in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism may be beneficial in the treatment of this condition. More studies are needed, both in patients with SCH and other dysfunctions affecting the thyroid gland, to fully confirm the benefits of Ashwagandha supplementation and the safety of its use 13.

To objectify our opinion about Ashwagandha, we delved even deeper into research on its safety. One of the studies presents 8 cases (6 males and 2 females) of Ashwagandha-induced liver injury. Three patients had pre-existing liver injury and two of them were diagnosed to have underlying chronic liver disease simultaneously with the diagnosis of herb-induced liver injury (HILI).

Larger-scale studies are necessary to determine the efficacy of ashwagandha in treating hypothyroidism and even Hashimoto’s disease. Therefore, do not stop taking your thyroid medication in place of ashwagandha. If you’re interested in taking ashwagandha to help improve your thyroid function, talk with your healthcare provider about the best strategy for you. One must question the mechanism by which ARE may exert its effect on thyroid status. Although the pathophysiology is not yet entirely known, it is postulated that ARE stimulates thyroidal activity as manifested by an increase in serum T4 and T3 concentrations 5.

Associated Data

Among those, Withania somnifera (also known as Ashwagandha) has the potential to improve quality of life 6. Ashwagandha root may interact with anti-anxiety, sleep, myorelaxant and sedative preparations, exacerbating their effects due to synergism. In the general population, anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric problems.

Ashwagandha’s effects on hypothalamus, pituitary gland and their axis—a summary of the studies. Potential therapeutic effects of some active substances found in Ashwagandha. Plenty of research supports ashwagandha’s beneficial actions on the various branches of the endocrine system, including the pituitary, adrenal glands, ovaries, testes, and thyroid.

Therefore, consuming ashwagandha might not be advisable for people with hyperthyroidism and requires adequate medical supervision. So, in people with existing hyperthyroidism, taking ashwagandha may boost T3/T4 levels to dangerous levels. In another study of people with bipolar disorder who were given ashwagandha, three people showed an increase in T4 levels. Add your drug list to My Med List to view medical information in a simple, easy-to-read, personalized format.

The thyroid gland is a crucial component of the endocrine system, responsible for producing hormones that regulate various bodily functions. The hypothalamus and pituitary gland tightly control thyroid function through a signaling cascade called the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis. 90% of the thyroid hormones are released as thyroxine (T4), which is converted to triiodothyronine (T3).