Ashwagandha - interactions with other herbs/medications

Dear members,

Has anyone experienced or have knowledge of ashwagandha having or

potentially having negative interactions with SSRI or Benzodiapenes

such as Ativan. Also, with St. Johns Wort?

Thank you very much for your help.

Respectfully,

Preston Foell

Dear Preston

It is my opinion that comparison of effects of Ashwagandha with SSRI and

Benzodiazepine will not be possible unless we know that which alkaloids in the

Ashwagandha acts on brain and at/on which receptors.

I think Ayurveda has its own line of thinking and modern medicine has its own.

They have basic differences with their own principals. The mixing of both will

be more harmful to both of them.

Hence Ashwagandha should be used as per the guidelines of Ayurveda and

Benzodiazepine as per modern pharmacology.

Both medicines can be used simultaneously if found beneficial.

Vaidya Upadhye

http://www.astroayurvedalogy.com

http://www.astrotreat.blogspot.com

___________________________

Has anyone experienced or have knowledge of ashwagandha having or

potentially having negative interactions with SSRI or Benzodiapenes

such as Ativan. Also, with St. Johns Wort?

dear Ajeya

i agree that both systems probably should not be combined, but there

is also the other argument that both systems can also compliment one

another

not enough research has been done along these lines, unfortunately

in the case of Ashwagandha, there is data to suggest it has a GABA-

mimetic activity, and thus possible interaction with barbituates and

benzodiazepines, much like other GABA-mimetic herbs like Valerian

i have a fairly thorough monograph on Ashwagandha here: http://

www.toddcaldecott.com/ashwagandha.html

which discuss potential toxicity and contraindications

the fact of the matter is that most herbal-drug interactions remain

hypothetical, but our guiding principle should be " at the least, do

no harm "

one recent text that is receiving kudos for its evidence-based focus is:

http://us.elsevierhealth.com/product.jsp?isbn=9780323029643

Caldecott, Dip. Cl.H, RH(AHG)

Ayurvedic practitioner, Medical Herbalist

web: http//:www.toddcaldecott.com

____________

> I think Ayurveda has its own line of thinking and modern medicine

> has its own. They have basic differences with their own principals.

> The mixing of both will be more harmful to both of them.

Dear Dr Todd

It is my personal view that when we are thinking about Benzodiazepine or any

specific Allopathic drug then we should follow Physiology, Pathology, Medicine

and Pharmacology of Allopathy and when we are going to use Ashwagandha then we

should use the same path dictated by Ayurveda.

Ayurvedic practitioner should advice Ayurvedic medicines and Allopathic

practitioner should advice Allopathic medicine. When Allopathic practioner wish

to use Ashwagandha then he should see active ingredients of Ashwagandha, its

absorption, plasma half life, excretion, site of action, indication and

contraindication, adverse effects as per the line of thinking of Allopathy.

You will agree with me that Ayurveda is not only a material medica. It is a full

science. Hence combination of both treatments should be done by two separate

experts of the respective sciences.

I think this way patient will get more benefits and less harm.

Vaidya Upadhye

_

i agree that both systems probably should not be combined, but there

is also the other argument that both systems can also compliment one

another

not enough research has been done along these lines, unfortunately

>Hence combination of both treatments should be done by two separate

experts of the respective sciences.

I think this way patient will get more benefits and less harm.<

There are some past postings where such a combination proved negative

for the patient, when patient, allopoathic doctor and patients environments was

considered togetther.

On the other hand, based on experience with a number of patients

taking anti-hypertensives, anti-depressants, anti-convulstants, etc

author would say that gradual withdrawl of allopathic drugs, as

decided by ayurvedist(after studying the effects of such action on

central nervous system, pulse, hunger, digestion, elimination etc)

author was able to wean the patients away from synthetic drugs as

well as intoxicants such as nicotine, alcohol.

Posts on anti-depressants exist in archives, which may be read by

everyone concerned.

Most glaring difference between allopathy and ayurveda is lack

of " chemistry " thinking in ayurveda. the net effect on the body of

each herb and other susbtsances is studied and not individual

componenets. Often, though all ayurvedic parameters (Prabhava, Guna,

Veerya etc) are same, herbs differ in their actions, which vaidya has

to add to his book of experience. Combine this with effect as

determined by calendar, region etc. which science has so many factors

combined?

If ayurveda is complete science, it should not need the crutches,

even to manage emergency situations. If there are any messages on

this list where an ayurvedist recommens sending some one to

cadiologist, skin specialist, psychiatrist etc then perhaps he needs

to add more devotion and spiritual insight to his arsenal of knowledge.

Once one develops his insight to see every herb as living herb, having

spiritual energies given to it by its environment rather than a

compound having certain chemicals, miraculously simple cures emerge

on for complex diseases. Few examples such as Tulsi for depression,

turmeric for cancer should suffice.

hi Shirirsh and Ajaye,

I agree that Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine have

a lot to offer when we work within their modality. One important

issue I have is when these practices are reduced to an analysis of

just the materia medica, forgetting that the most important thing is

the _system_ behind their use. This is a big problem in clinical

research, when using methods such as the double-blind placebo

controlled trial. My argument is that while this type of study may

be legitimate for modern medicine, where a " one size fits all "

approach is used, holistic practitioners don't prescribe the same

thing to all patients, even in specific patient sub-groups. I am

thinking that the only valid comparison would be to take a population

of patients to a walk-in clinic and randomly select them to receive

medical care or alternative care, and then compare the outcomes. Of

course, the medicos would never allow it, ostensibly because it would

compromise their " ethics " , but I think they would be very afraid,

especially if the outcomes were no worse or better than conventional

treatment. The argument that " unproven " alternative treatments might

be dangerous and therefore unethical doesn't hold much water when we

consider that a great deal of the population already uses herbs and

natural remedies, with comparatively fewer side effects than modern

medicine (even when factoring in a relative lack of adverse effects

reporting).

I do want to stress however, that when it comes to emergency medicine

there really isn't any system of traditional medical that can hold a

candle to modern medicine. Considering the sheer volume of people

whose lives are saved by first aid, paramedical and emergency medical

treatment, it would be totally irrational to chose an alternative

method that does not have the same degree of precision or speed of

action, both of which are crucial to saving lives. Look at

cardiopulmonary resuscitation - in thousands of years of medicine,

nobody came up with this treatment (although with much less CVD,

there was probably less need!).

Sometimes looking for the holistic answer isn't always appropriate.

I don't think that when it comes to saving lives we should

necessarily be beholden to a particular philosophy. Certainly there

are legitimate alternative forms of first aid (for eg. aloe for

burns, ephedra for anaphylaxis), but we should be clear to see if

there is a net benefit before even thinking about rejecting emergency

care. In our human history, while we suffered from less chronic

disease, our ancient and recent ancestors died more often because of

a failure to effectively treatment traumatic injuries and infections,

all over the world. It was the recurrent epidemics of bubonic plague

and syphilis that stimulated the development of modern medicine. In

India, a foreign herb (Smilax chinensis) was chosen to deal with the

syphilis brought by the Portuguese. It took vaidyas thinking

" outside the box " to deal with syphilis, and so we shouldn't reject

anything because it is unfamiliar, including emergency medical

treatment. Some day, a good emergency practitioner might be able to

combine conventional and holistic modalities into the most effective

form of treatment. So I don't think we should shy away from

integration, but there needs to be more respect for holistic

knowledge than there currently is.

best....

Caldecott

www.toddcaldecott.com

_____

> If ayurveda is complete science, it should not need the crutches,

> even to manage emergency situations...........

Dear Dr Todd

At present for emergencies moder medicine is the only answer. But I do not think

it is the only answer. Because if we think about medicines in 18th century or

before that then one question always props up in mind is that if in a situation

of emergency in ancient time whether patients were succumbing due to

unavailability of medicines ? Definitely not.

But today we do not have that type of medicines [ Matra kalpa] to tackle

emergency effectively. As I know Matra kalpas are very tricky to manufacture. It

is the requirement of the Ayurveda to evaluate Matra kalpa by eminent group of

Vaidya and if it is necessary then experts from Moder Medicines should called

for help.

Another point to discuss is Research Methods applied through out the world.

Though these methods are accepted through out the world they do have there own

short coming. In this scenario I would like to emphasis about the method applied

by ancient Stalwarts of Ayurveda to know about the usage of herbs and medicinal

properties of metals. What they have discovered thousands of years back is

proving today also. But there are many things which we have discovered 50-100

years back is being discarded by new concepts.

My point is that there should be a research on the research methodology of

ancient Ayurvedic Science. Because in my view the method used by stalwarts of

Ayurveda is full proof.

Vaidya Upadhye

http://www.astroayurvedalogy.com

http://www.astrotreat.blogspot.com

______________

I do want to stress however, that when it comes to emergency medicine

there really isn't any system of traditional medical that can hold a

candle to modern medicine.

Dear Preston;

One of my mentors and colleagues, Dr. Saraswati Buhrman (among many

others I know of, but her practice is better known to me on this) uses

ashwagandha among other herbs very successfully alongside SSRI

medications while the patient, after 1 month of using both, gradually

starts to reduce their dose of the allopathic. I do not know how long

she takes for this, and am concerned that a good 6 months is probably

needed unless perhaps client uses panchakarma and other deeper ama

removing techniques along with whatever else is needed, over this time.

But the point to your question is that Saraswati has long term

experience with many clients using this (in combination with) other

herbs. You can contact her through the Rocky Mountain INstitute of

Yoga and Ayurveda in Boulder, Colorado (rmiya.org) where she teaches.

She is published on subject of antidepressants and Ayurvedic use.

About benzodiapenes, I know nothing.

Warm REgards;

Ysha

__________

> Has anyone experienced or have knowledge of ashwagandha having or

> potentially having negative interactions with SSRI or Benzodiapenes

> such as Ativan. Also, with St. Johns Wort?