Ashwagandha and Autoimmune

In Ayurvedic, Indian, and Unani medicine Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), is also known as Indian Ginseng, Smell of Horse, and Solanaceae.

The name Ashwagandha literally means ‘Smell of Horse,’ which refers to the fresh root’s distinct horse-like smell, and the traditional belief that ingesting the herb will confer the strength and virility of a horse. The species name somnifera means “sleep-inducing” in Latin.  The supplement Ashwagandha is made out of the roots and berries of a plant.

First off, let’s just notice that this is a very pretty plant, it reminds me a little of St. John’s Wort: 

Ashwagandha reportedly has a lot of uses, and when you have an autoimmune issue, a supplement like this looks like just the thing:

Reduce swelling
Lowering  blood pressure
Arthritis
Anxiety
Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
Tumors
Tuberculosis
Asthma
Leukoderma (a skin condition marked by white patchiness)
Bronchitis
Menstrual problems

Ashwagandha is also used as an “adaptogen” to help the body cope with daily stress, and as a general tonic. Some people also use ashwagandha for improving thinking clarity.  It is also used for fertility problems in men and women as well as increase libido, but if you are already pregnant can cause a spontaneous abortion for the baby.  

Let me just say that the bottle is clearly labeled not to take it if you have an autoimmune.  

So when I tried it, I really thought this could be a way to stop the stress.  

Here are the issues for us: 

For those of us who have “Autoimmune diseases” such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis:  Ashwagandha causes the immune system to become MORE active, and this will increase your immune response.  The Cavalry (bless their hearts) doesn’t need to sent in when you just needed 1 good Mountie to do the job.  Ashwagandha is known to irritate the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.  Many autoimmune disorders have some aspect of stomach of grouchiness as a symptom (Diarrhea, pain, blood, cramping, nausea, gnawing), and this makes it a double whammy for many of us.  You should definitely not use Ashwagandha if you have a stomach ulcer. If your belly is sensitive, this will poke the bear.  

I want to make this unambiguous, because I know how our brains are.  

I saw the label and thought:  Wow, this is worth trying, it addresses many of my symptoms. Our brains play tricks on us and rationalize taking things that are clearly understood to cause problems for the gamble of being the 1% who broke the mold. I personally experienced such a strong reaction that I couldn’t even sleep at any of the days I took it.  It jazzed up my whole body in such unpredictable and direct ways that I threw the bottle away.

I really wish that there was something like Ashwagandha that would be beneficial for us automimmuners, but there is something about Indian Ginseng that works with the body incorrectly for us. I wonder if the response that it does cause might someday be meaningful when finding a cure.  A gal can hope!

What you can do is accessible, don’t underestimate the value of these practices. Our bodies are deeply linked to our subconscious, if they aren’t in fact the same thing.  So these act on the body in the best way to move out out of our fight or flight mode when we are in flare up.  

1. Intentional deep belly breathing: breathe out longer than you breathe in.  Imagine you are filling in the area below your belly button first! Close your eyes, or keep them half closed.  Smile into your belly or your other body parts as you breathe with it.
2. Lay down between 11-1 and give your liver a break.  You don’t have to sleep, but you do need to close your eyes and be horizontal.
3. Qigong
4. Yoga or Tai Chi
5. Drink lots of room temperature or warmish water
6. Get enough sleep go to bed if you can by 11 to make sure all your organs have a chance to regenerate at night.
7. Invite your best supportive friends out for tea or walk in a park.
8. And of course, eating yummy foods like we blog about here!

All of these allow your psyche to find the spaciousness in your life which is to date the most effective way to lower your immune system response. 

L’Chaim! 

Terradon and Marianne