The Glorification of Ashwagandha

With over 100,000 TikTok videos circling around the topic of Ashwagandha, the supplement has recently increased in popularity as many have been using it for its performance enhancing effects. Influencers report that Ashwagandha can “numb emotions” and help with severe anxiety, captivating the attention of TikTok’s majority teen audience. However, social media has its way of only showing the beneficial side of things. Considering that Ashwagandha is a substance we take into our bodies, TikTok is potentially promoting something that could be unhealthy for many. Ashwagandha is proven to help with anxiety, balancing emotions, and sleep, but since credible research surrounding it is limited, its underlying and true long term effects are unknown.

Ashwagandha is an evergreen shrub that can be found in India, Africa, and the Middle East, and is a medicinal plant that contains a group of naturally occurring steroids known as withanolides, which are responsible for producing the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects known to Ashwagandha. The active ingredient within the withanolide group, Wi-A, was among the first to be isolated from the extraction of the Ashwagandha root to be studied. Using mice models, a study showed that this active ingredient significantly reduced brain damage and abnormal cell growths in strokes by activating the PI3K pathway, which is a protective signaling pathway between cells that activates molecules for processes like cell growth, cycling, and proliferation. In addition, another compound in the same withanolide group, Wi-N, has shown anti-aging and anti-stress effects in cell-culture and mice experiments. For example, when rats were given Ashwagandha extracts in the Department of Pharmacology Medical College in Baroda, it was reported that the rats have shown an increase in relative heart weight, swimming endurance, and in glycogen levels in the liver (which helps mobilize blood sugar and metabolism in the body). Wi-N accomplishes this as it has strong influence on the body’s muscle; it improves mitochondrial function of the skeletal muscle and can cause strong cell differentiations in myotubes, which are preliminary muscle fibers.

In addition to emotional impacts, Ashwagandha has also been proven to have fertility related benefits. In a 2019 placebo-controlled trial, researchers made it so 60 participants took either 240 mg of an Ashwagandha extract daily or a placebo for approximately two months. Researchers administered the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) in order to measure the psychological and emotional effects of the drug on the subjects. They also examined changes in cortisol (which is a hormone responsible for the human’s stress response system) and testosterone (hormone known for its male characteristics, but also influences empathy and social interactions). In the end, researchers concluded that the supplement was associated with a significant reduction in cortisol compared to the placebo. Over time, men experienced increased testosterone levels, but interestingly, when the data was compared to women, women did not receive the same statistically significant increase. Increased testosterone combined with reduced cortisol means increased motivation, better sexual health, and increased muscle mass. The results from the above study and more demonstrate that Ashwagandha supplementation may offer significant physical improvements over time for the healthy adult population, but since there are a few trials with small samples surrounding Ashwagandha research, studies with larger, more diverse sample sizes are also necessary. 

Limited research is not the only flaw when it comes to Ashwagandha — side effects can include liver problems, sedation, and nausea. Researchers found that based on dosages of herbs and dietary supplements, Ashwagandha can damage mitochondria and cause apoptosis, leading to liver damage. It has also been proven that Ashwagandha does not work well with certain other medications. Because Ashwagandha can make the immune system more active, medications like cyclosporine and prednisone, which suppress the immune system, can be counteracted. In addition, using sleeping medication alongside Ashwagandha can lead to excessive fatigue. Ashwagandha is also known for increasing thyroid hormone levels, so doctors strongly advise patients with thyroid issues to be monitored by doctors when patients are taking the supplement. Thus, taking Ashwagandha without proper medical supervision can be dangerous to viewers on social media as it can cause harmful reactions when taken with the wrong medication. 

In recent years, there have been several cases of liver damage that have been caused by taking an Ashwagandha supplement from all around the world. In 2021, when a 40-year old patient was admitted to a hospital, urine tests showed that there was a significant amount of copper and he therefore showed signs of extreme cholestatic liver damage along with severe jaundice (when yellow mucus builds up in the membrane and eyes). During the same year in Ireland, a female patient was also admitted to a hospital for the same symptoms of nausea and jaundice after taking Ashwagandha, highlighting the extent to how harmful taking this supplement can be without proper precautions.

These negative side effects are not discussed on TikTok, leaving teenage audiences vulnerable to long term health issues resulting from taking incorrect or excessive dosages or using Ashwagandha alongside other medications. The glorification of this product on Tiktok has resulted in many teenagers buying Ashwagandha without doing proper research behind it. Ashwagandha is easily accessible for anyone as it can be found in most pharmacies, and since it is a dietary supplement, it is not FDA approved. It comes to show that people should be more cautious of what can be exposed online and to what extent things should be glorified. Thus, if you ever come across a Tiktok encouraging the use of Ashwagandha, know about the potential dangers that can be associated, and make sure to consult a professional to make sure you are taking the supplement in a healthy and well-advised manner.