Ashwagandha: Why It's Not Working for Your Anxiety & What to do About It
{watch the video above to learn more}
Hey Mama,
Today, we're talking about why ashwagandha might not be working for your anxiety. By the end of this video, you'll understand the benefits of ashwagandha, why everyone is using it, dosing tips, common mistakes, and how ashwagandha can be an integral part of your anxiety healing journey.
For the best natural remedies for women’s and children’s health, hit the subscribe button and the bell to be notified of my new video each Tuesday. If we haven’t met, I’m Tara Gregorio, a certified women’s herbal educator and mama of twins. On this channel, we talk about all things postpartum and beyond. I have a video coming up for moms who are currently pregnant and struggling with anxiety.
Ashwagandha Benefits for Women
So, why is Ashwagandha so popular right now? It's an adaptogen and a mild sedative, making it soothing for the body. You can take it during the day without getting sleepy. It's a wonderful botanical with other benefits, including being anti-inflammatory, calming, and helpful with acute pain, anxiety, depression, fatigue, headaches, HSV, hypothyroidism, mental exhaustion, PCOS, PMS, PPD, and more. Ashwagandha takes us out of the fight-or-flight response.
In this video, I share how ashwagandha helped me overcome depression, but it wasn't the only botanical I used. That's probably why it might not be working for your anxiety. If you're experiencing anxiety, look for botanicals that are nervines, which soothe the nervous system. You want a combination of adaptogens and nervines plus a catalyst botanical to help with your anxiety.
Can Ashwagandha Cause Anxiety?
Some women have reported feeling more anxious when taking anxiety medication. This could be for two reasons.
1. The company and way you’re taking it. For example, we’ve found the traditional way to take Ashwagandha is by the root, so a supplement like KSM-66 is best.
2. You could have hyperthyroidism, and we’ve found that Ashwagandha is not the best botanical for you.
Why doesn’t Ashwagandha work for me?
#1 You may have hyperthyroidism, and other herbs may be better for you.
#2 You may be using a tincture instead of powder.
#3 You may notice KSM-66® works best, like in this blend.
Here are a few things to consider:
1. Quality: Where are you getting your ashwagandha? Gummies may not be of the best quality. The quality of supplements is crucial. One mom mentioned that changing the probiotic brand helped her child's eczema.
Ashwagandha Tincture
2. Dosing: For tinctures, you can take 20 to 60 drops three times a day.
Typically, I fill a dropper and place it in a quarter cup of water, usually twice a day. For severe anxiety and depression, three times a day may be needed.
You may want to try a glycerine tincture or a supplement, as mentioned above if a regular tincture does not work for you.
3. Combining Botanicals: Consider adding Nervines like motherwort. Herbal teas are also beneficial because they're rich in vitamins and minerals.
Addressing anxiety involves more than just adaptogens. Here are six ways to heal your body from anxiety:
Adaptogen: Ashwagandha may work for you, but you might need a different adaptogen.
Nervines: Add nervines like chamomile, milky oat tops, blue vervain, or lemon balm to lift your spirits.
Diet: Reduce sugar, caffeine, alcohol, dairy, gluten, and meat. These inflammatory foods can contribute to anxiety.
Digestion: Check for issues like leaky gut syndrome, dysbiosis, or food sensitivities. I took the Everlywell food sensitivity test and found some surprising results.
Trauma: Unresolved trauma can manifest as anxiety. EMDR therapy helped me significantly after my husband's death.
Insomnia: Improve your sleep. Restful sleep is crucial for managing anxiety.
Let me know if these tips are helpful. I'd love to hear from you in the comments. Don't forget to grab your nine-step anxiety relief checklist below to get started on healing your body naturally.
Thank you!
xo
