EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Ashwagandha, a supplement widely marketed for stress relief and better sleep, may offer some benefits for some people, but it can also carry risks, including potential liver damage, according to Dr. Luis Ortiz.
Ortiz said Ashwagandha is a traditional Indian herb that has been “popularized and sold everywhere as a supplement for stress and sleep disorders.” He said research on the supplement has produced mixed results.
“There’s a lot of controversy about the results because there have been multiple studies that have shown that it helps with sleep and with stress,” Ortiz said.
But he added that many studies are small, short-term, and sometimes industry-funded, meaning the results are not definitive.
Ortiz said some studies have reported positive outcomes related to stress and anxiety, with people “endorsing feeling calmer” and anxiety scores decreasing. On sleep, he said people who take ashwagandha report “sleeping better and not waking up frequently.”
Still, Ortiz said ashwagandha can cause side effects. He said the most common side effects are mild and include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach upset. The side effect he said is most concerning is the possibility of liver failure.
“It affects your liver,” Ortiz said, noting the liver’s role in many body processes and as a detox organ.
Ortiz recommended that anyone taking ashwagandha discuss it with a doctor and get appropriate lab work. In more severe cases, he said, skin can turn yellow as bilirubin accumulates in the body.
Ortiz also said some people should not take ashwagandha, including pregnant women and those who are breastfeeding. He said people who have liver failure or who drink alcohol daily should be especially careful with supplements like ashwagandha.
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