816 replies to this topic

[ABCD]

Hi to everybody.

I would like to describe how well I feel after usage of ashwagandha. I hope this will help to somebody with the same problems I had before.

I'm 30 years old in excellent physical condition (running, gym...). I don't drink alcohol or smoke. All my life I tried to live as healthy as possible. However, when I was 20 I experienced symptoms like lack of motivation, sleeping problems, anxiety, depression, hyperactivity, drowsiness, speech problems, brain fog, I never had enough air and I was the one in the office always opening the windows, even during the cold weather, I always felt hot, sweating a lot, lots of headache, without confidence and with hot flashes. ... Coffee, guarana and red bull helped a lot from the beginning (I started to take during the college) and I was full of energy but I felt like bipolar (first almost manic and then burned out). All this was a shock for me because I never felt like this before. I used to be very happy and optimistic person.

Hi, started using ashwagandha powder six months ago ,it helped me a lot at work..and i dont want a single day without it.but i am experiencing decreased libido from it?could there be some problem in my brand i am using a local brand.
http://divyapharmacy...dha_churna.html and it is also in powdered form.

Andrey_81 do you also have the same issue?

Edited by aw1, 31 December 2012 - 10:42 AM.

[Ichigo]

Guys, Ashwagandha and Brahmi, when taken, do they work instantly? if so in what ways? I have taken Ashwagandha for about 1.5 week and I can't feel the slightest change. ofcourse I will continue taking it for a couple of weeks more.

I got a standarized Root from another Brand.. I ordered a few tubes of Ashwagandha and Brahmi from the Himalaya brand.. I heard that brands that sell standarized root are much weaker, not strong enough, no potential almost and can have side effects..

[machete234]

Just a question: When I order from the himalaya shop will it be sent from india?

And yes you should notice something right away

[Ichigo]

Machete,

Most likely!

However ONLY buy from EBAY because it's the cheapest there! like $4.88 just for 1 tube of 60 capsules! there is a deal of 3 tubes of whatever herbs you want for just $14!

[nupi]

Because the cheapest herbs are the best

Jarrow's Ashwaghanda is very good quality but also highly potent. Personally, I would never order supplements on ebay.

[Andrey_81]

Hi, started using ashwagandha powder six months ago ,it helped me a lot at work..and i dont want a single day without it.but i am experiencing decreased libido from it?could there be some problem in my brand i am using a local brand.
http://divyapharmacy...dha_churna.html and it is also in powdered form.

Andrey_81 do you also have the same issue?

Absolutely no. I never had any problems with libido, but I'm can confirm that my sexual life is getting better from the day I started with ashwagandha (extremely hard erections, morning erections, increased sperm...). My wife also confirmed that sex is better than ever OK, this can be due to the lack of stress but I'm sure that there is something in these herbs... Btw. I'm taking ashwagandha but also a small dose of rhodiola rosea (250 mg per day, usually in the morning). Better libido and harder errections could also be from rhodiola. I also read that rhodiola increases sperm count. Ashwagandha makes me calm and confident and rhodiola gives me this boost to stay focused and energized through the day.

[norepinephrine]

I've noticed a very nice calming effect from low-dose ashwagandha recently, and would like to put it in my more regular stack lineup. What kind of cycling have you guys found effective? Don't really want to wrestle with possible GABA downregulation or diminishing returns from daily chronic use so I think I'd prefer a viable scheduling regimen.

[Andrey_81]

The only side effect I've noticed in the past one month is ear ringing (!!). It is noticeable early in the morning and before bed (when everything is quiet). I'm not sure if this could be due to the long time use of ashwagandha or rhodiola. I think it's because of rhodiola considering that I noticed this for the first time I started with 250 mg of rhodiola during one month (I used to take cca 125 mg without negative effect).

Is there any other reason of this ear ringing???

One more thing... today I received Schizandra, 500 mg extract (by swanson). I took half of the content (cca 250 mg) in the morning and for now I feel really good. I'm really sensitive to all I try and I can feel the effects (or side effects) really fast. I will continue with schizandra and I will cycle it with rhodiola. Schizandra should also help a little bit with anxiety and is a good replacement for coffee. Will see if any side effects will arise.... I read that some people are experiencing higher anxiety, but this is probably due to the high dose. I have the same effect with rhodiola. To much is never a good idea, but in lower doses it works really well.

I can say that now I'm using best adaptogen herbs available: Ashwagandha, Rhodiola and just started with Schizandra.

If anyone is interested , schizandra is one of the best natural aphrodisiacs and can be found (together with rhodiola) in many natural replacements of viagra.

Edited by Andrey_81, 03 January 2013 - 07:49 AM.

[Andrey_81]

I've noticed a very nice calming effect from low-dose ashwagandha recently, and would like to put it in my more regular stack lineup. What kind of cycling have you guys found effective? Don't really want to wrestle with possible GABA downregulation or diminishing returns from daily chronic use so I think I'd prefer a viable scheduling regimen.

I'm using ashwagandha for the past 10 months without any long breaks. I make max one week break every 2-3 months, or 5 days on 2 days off (during the weekend). It depend on the situation. When I have many thing to do during the week (hard work, many meeting...) I stick with 250 mg three times a day. Usually I take 500 mg a day or just when I feel the need to take it. Sometimes during the break I can feel really bad, and I can feel the symptoms like I used to feel before I started with ashwagandha (bad anxiety, lack of confidence, hot flashes). If I feel this bad I stop with the break and I take my dose and in 5 minutes I'm back to normal life. It works like a miracle and even though I've been using it so long, it works like the first time I took it. I never experienced tolerance or that ashwagandha is losing the power.

[machete234]

Andrey do you get headaches sometimes because I get them at least when I take the AWG all day long in several doses?
The headaches typically occur when it wears off.

With one evening dose Im mostly fine.

[nupi]

Andrey what Ashwagandha are you using? It never had those strong effects on me but I might try again.

Edited by nupi, 04 January 2013 - 09:59 PM.

[Buzzing Health]

Ashwaghanda is an amazing supplement and the things I have experienced and seen with this supplement are astounding and it simply cant be put down to just the testosterone boosting benefits.
experienced a little hypoglycemia and general tiredness and bad stress response due to very high caffeine use no supplement I would try worked to relax me or stop my blood sugar crashes I mean they were so bad that I was low in potassium and mineral depleted as well as suffering a lack of adrenaline and to low cortisol after depleting it due to the roller coaster of blood sugar I decided to take Ashagwandha from Organic india as well as trying one from biotivia in otheir bioforge supplement.

The results were nothing short of astounding and no other supplement I have ever tried even comes close and believe you and me I have tried probably more than most on this forum.

This is one of those must have supplements on this forum I would like to know about other brands out there so I can try them and also the ones the readers of this board have had success with if you arent having success with this supplement perhaps try and switch it with another brand but like I said the two I have tried are astounding.

[Andey]

Ashwaghanda is an amazing supplement and the things I have experienced and seen with this supplement are astounding and it simply cant be put down to just the testosterone boosting benefits.
experienced a little hypoglycemia and general tiredness and bad stress response due to very high caffeine use no supplement I would try worked to relax me or stop my blood sugar crashes I mean they were so bad that I was low in potassium and mineral depleted as well as suffering a lack of adrenaline and to low cortisol after depleting it due to the roller coaster of blood sugar I decided to take Ashagwandha from Organic india as well as trying one from biotivia in otheir bioforge supplement.

The results were nothing short of astounding and no other supplement I have ever tried even comes close and believe you and me I have tried probably more than most on this forum.

This is one of those must have supplements on this forum I would like to know about other brands out there so I can try them and also the ones the readers of this board have had success with if you arent having success with this supplement perhaps try and switch it with another brand but like I said the two I have tried are astounding.

Tnx for sharing ) I bought some Jarrow made extract after your message )

[Andrey_81]

Andrey do you get headaches sometimes because I get them at least when I take the AWG all day long in several doses?
The headaches typically occur when it wears off.

With one evening dose Im mostly fine.

Sometimes yes, but this really happens very, very rarely so I'm not sure whether it has something to do with ashwagandha. I used to have headaches before I started with ashwagandha once to two times a week (together with chronic fatigue). I also had strong migraines once in a two months. During that time I was drinking coffee 3 times per day. Now I can't remember when I had my last migraine and I don't remember when I took pain killer for headache.

Andrey what Ashwagandha are you using? It never had those strong effects on me but I might try again.

The one and only I tried is the one from Himalaya (India). I never tried any other so I'm not the one who can say that Himalaya is good or bad. For me it works great so it makes no sense for me to try another brand considering that this one is one of the cheapest on the market (ebay). I read that Himalaya is the brand you can trust. After I had great results with their pills, I even ordered their herbal toothpaste which is also great

I'm still experimenting with herbs, but the one I have to take all the time to feel 'normal' is ashwagandha. It is my stress relief and it gives me boost of confidence in 2 minutes. One example, I have a meeting and I feel stressed and unsecured. I go out of the room, open the pill and spill the content on my tongue. After 2 minutes I'm back in the meeting room but completely confident. A new person. Not sure why it works so well and why it works so fast. Another example... I used to be afraid of places with many people. I had that feeling that everybody is looking at me and I felt bad. A week ago I had a new years party and during that time I was on the break period without ashwagandha (only for few days). I had to go in the place with many people but I started to feel that I'm completely without confidence. I sad to myself, f..k the break, and I took ashwaganhda. After 2 minutes I was laughing with my wife, completely ready for party, without any fear. I was dancing whole night long.

I also take rhodiola from NOW foods, but up to 200 mg per day or even less. It's too strong and sometimes I feel more anxious if I take too much. I love rhodiola because it keeps me energized and focused whole day and is my great replacement for coffee. It's amazing that I take small dose in the morning and I can feel the benefits whole day.

The last I tried in combination with these 2 is schizandra. I'm taking it for the past 4 days, and I can say that for now it works OK. It is too early to say anything more, but it calms me down a little bit and in the same time it gives energy. I read that in combination with rhodiola it makes very strong energizer. Will see after 2-3 weeks.

Edited by Andrey_81, 05 January 2013 - 06:57 PM.

[anagram]

l-histadine + beta alanine + gaba

nothing will shake you with this stack.

The l-Histadine and beta alanine will increase the level of Carnosine in your body.
Carnosine helps people with socialization and protects against glutamate toxicity.
another benefit of Carnosine is that it may extend human life.
http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/20043985
http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/12585724
http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/20681748

as for the Gaba, well Gaba can be used as energy for the brain, and it also has a dampening effect on anxiety which is common knowledge.
do not use Gaba receptor activating drugs, they do not afford the same energy giving , cell regulating effects that actual Gaba gives.
Your brain can run off of Gaba and its analogues, but not Valium.

Edited by anagram, 06 January 2013 - 12:09 AM.

[Strelok]

The l-Histadine and beta alanine will increase the level of Carnosine in your body.

It looks like the combination of L-Histadine and Beta-Alanine may be cheaper than the equivalent amount of L-Carnosine, but is it as effective as preformed Carnosine?

[dc303]

Purchased ashwaganda after reading this thread. So far I'm loving it. I'm taking 250mg 3 times a day.

I'm thinking about adding piracetam back in. Does ashwaganda synergize well with piracetam? Or should they not be taken together?

Thanks!

[Andrey_81]

Andrey do you get headaches sometimes because I get them at least when I take the AWG all day long in several doses?
The headaches typically occur when it wears off.

With one evening dose Im mostly fine.

Sometimes yes, but this really happens very, very rarely so I'm not sure whether it has something to do with ashwagandha. I used to have headaches before I started with ashwagandha once to two times a week (together with chronic fatigue). I also had strong migraines once in a two months. During that time I was drinking coffee 3 times per day. Now I can't remember when I had my last migraine and I don't remember when I took pain killer for headache.

Just one small update.... I have realized that mild headache is possible but it only happens when I take 500 mg or more within short period of time. Let's say one pill at 12:00 and another at 15:00, or 500 mg at once. If I take 250 mg at 8:00, 250 mg at 15:00, and 250 before bed everything is just perfect. 500-750 mg is my usual dose. Sometimes even 250 mg is enough.

Is there anybody who experimented with higher doses of extract? Let's say 2000 mg per day, or 1000 mg at once? Is this safe and how did you feel? I'm looking for something that will help for situational panic attack. For me the best combination for situational panic is 250 mg of ashwagandha before bed, 250 mg next morning and 250 mg 20 minutes before anxious situation starts (lets say meeting or presentation). With ashwagandha I take 5 mg of propranolol (30 minutes before the meeting.

With this combination I'm really calm. Ashwagandha kills panic in me (emotions) and propranolol kills body reactions (heartbeat, sweating...). If there is no body reaction, the panic will not start. Usually my body reactions trigger panic. This combination is something I take once in a month, sometimes even rarely.

I'm planing to try with phenibut considering that I know which situation causes my panic and I know in advance when this situations will happen so I have enough time to prepare myself and to take phenibut early in the morning to be 'normal' during the day. Not sure how will I react, will see. Even though ashwagandha + propranolol work well, sometimes I feel that I'm not completely OK and that I need something stronger. Maybe phenibut could be that I'm looking for.

Edited by Andrey_81, 07 January 2013 - 05:55 PM.

[MenDis]

Does anyone have any insight into the analysis I did suggesting that Withaferin A is neurotoxic at levels that are present in common ashwagandha products? I'm hoping the analysis is wrong and that I have missed something, but any corrections/input would be greatly appreciated. The thread is here (posts # 53 and 54):

http://www.longecity...136#entry557136

[Guardian4981]

Ashwagandha really seems to help my workout performance and mental well being.

However the issue I have with it is I always get a dull persistent headache for days on end.

Anyone have any idea why this might be or how to correct it?

Almost makes me wonder if it has vaso dilatory effects, maybe taking a vaso constrictor may help?

[machete234]

Drinking water did help in my case since it could be due to dehydration but thats not the only reason.
I quit for a few days because I need something done and anxiolysis doesnt help me getting things done, the point is I had the headache for over a day and then it went away so it cant only be dehydration even though drinking seems to help.

For those who have the head aches do you take other supplements, cigarettes, coffee consumption?

Strange that this wasnt mentioned in earlier threads, it could be that it doesnt happen when I stick to my usual pattern which used to be an evening dose.
It could have happened when I dosed at random times

[Guardian4981]

I do not have any caffeine or smoke.

I am planning to use Ashwagandha again, I ordered some Nutri Gold off amazon which claims to be the most strongest on the market, I have used and like some of their other products so we shall see.

The headache could also potentially be related from having an influence on lowering serotonin. Low serotonin leads to headaches. Sometimes if I use straight tyrosine I get a headache.

From this theory, stacking Ashwagandha with a pro serotonin product may be of use, perhaps Cissus or Uridine or SAMe.

I also know Ashwagandha is a dieuretic, perhaps not only drinking more water but getting more sodium may help with this. I mix a couple grams of sea salt into my workout water and find it helps my energy. If you eat a very clean diet like me and are active getting enough sodium is hard.

[Andrey_81]

Ashwagandha really seems to help my workout performance and mental well being.

However the issue I have with it is I always get a dull persistent headache for days on end.

Anyone have any idea why this might be or how to correct it?

Almost makes me wonder if it has vaso dilatory effects, maybe taking a vaso constrictor may help?

When I started to use ashwagandha I took only 250 mg before bed. I realized that I sleep like never before so I continued with 250 mg before bed for the next 2 weeks. Never had any side effect and the only benefit was better sleep. After a while a started to take another dose of 250 mg (extract) early in the morning. From the beginning it was a strange feeling and I was sleepy but never had any headaches. Then I realized that 500 mg taken in short period completely reduces my anxiety and from that time a started with 500-750 mg per day. I don't drink coffee but sometimes when mixed with red vine I will have headaches.

Maybe you just take too much or your ashwagandha is more potent than the one I'm using (Himalaya). I experienced headaches few times, but this is only mild headache and there is no need to take pain killer. I wake up completely fresh and without headache. It could also be that you are fresh user of ashwagandha and you need to start with lower doses and after some period raise it to normal dose that helps you the most. It makes no sense to take more than you need. If 250 mg makes you feel better why should you take 1000 mg?

What is your daily dose? Do you take extract or root?

Edited by Andrey_81, 09 January 2013 - 08:03 PM.

[Guardian4981]

I ordered NutriGold ashwagandha, i was using NOw Brand, almost out of it.

My interest in ashwagandha is for its thyroid boosting influence, and I will say it has helped more then anything else i have tried. I have always had borderline hypothyroid and it has gotten progressively worse over the years.

I agree with you that the headache is not so bad where I need to take something but its bad enough to bother me. I may try stacking it with uridine, uridine for me seems to boost serotonin alot and eliminate any headaches I have. When I am "clean" as in no supplements at all I often get stress headaches, I attribute this to low serotonin. I am not sure if the headache from ashwagandha is from a serotonin reduction or some other mechanism, perhaps maybe just its diuretic influence, so I may also increase sodium intake to counter this.

The Nutrigold brand claims to have the strongest ashwagandha on the market with minimum 15% active compound. Maybe this will be too strong, but I am looking to really help my thyroid along.

[Pirate]

I ordered some ashwagandha fro I herb. Himalayas brand.

I am hoping to get my wife to use it instead of zopicline/imovane for sleeping.

I took 2 last night to test it out, slept very lightly, and woke up with sleep paralysis and could not get up to go to work!
I am narcoleptic, and the sleeping lightly thing is normal, but I haven't had sleep paralysis for a number of years.

Anyone else having trouble waking up?

[Adaptogen]

i too noticed a light buzzing headache after taking ashwagandha

[Andrey_81]

250 mg before bed works perfect. There is no need to take more.

[machete234]

Anyone else having trouble waking up?

No, it also feels like a GHB rebound to me that means something like that I cant say for sure that there is a DA rebound like with GHB.
That means I will wake up earlier than usual feeling awake.

[Andrey_81]

Anyone else having trouble waking up?

No, it also feels like a GHB rebound to me that means something like that I cant say for sure that there is a DA rebound like with GHB.
That means I will wake up earlier than usual feeling awake.

I can also confirm this. Same happens to me.

[Ichigo]

I ordered some ashwagandha fro I herb. Himalayas brand.

I am hoping to get my wife to use it instead of zopicline/imovane for sleeping.

I took 2 last night to test it out, slept very lightly, and woke up with sleep paralysis and could not get up to go to work!
I am narcoleptic, and the sleeping lightly thing is normal, but I haven't had sleep paralysis for a number of years.

Anyone else having trouble waking up?

2 weeks ago I woke up with a sleep paralysis too! and it was my very first one ever.