Drug info - Does Ashwagandha have any psychoactive properties?

[Ontherooftops]

Eh? SWIM got a bottle of Ashwagandha extract for free, how can it be useful to him? The latin name, withania somnifera, would imply that it could be some sort of sleep aid, but SWIM isn't sure about any effects.

[0utrider]

i heard that it is being used in ayurvedic medicine so i guess there is some kind of purpose for the existence of that plant

[Swimster]

please UTSE, doing so, i found this:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashwagandha

-It will indicate that:
It is a plant in Solanaceae or nightshade family.

Here's a usefull quote:

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

In Ayurveda ashwaganda is considered a rasayana herb, an herb which works on a nonspecific basis to increase health and longevity. This herb is also considered an adaptogen which is a nontoxic herb that works on a nonspecific basis to normalize physiological function, working on the HPA axis and the neuroendocrine system. The roots and berries of the plant are used in herbal medicine.

[Ontherooftops]

SWIM searched plenty on it, found that and a couple other things.

He tested it twice, but is unsure as to psychoactive effects. He said it seemed mildly calming/sedating beyond placebo. SWIM has a big imagination though and sometimes placebo catches him off gaurd, so further testing is in order.

[ironhorse]

I have taken bella donna or jimson weed seeds it is very hallucinogenic. how ever its not a good trip as you dont remember what you did .Some friends of mine put a cushion off their couch in the oven and thought it was a pizza the neighbors thought the house was on fire. But that is jimson weed seeds I think its the same as bella donna or a cousin at least. After you come down your vision is blurry when you look at some thing up close for a few days. Its not some thing i would do again or recommend

[Neosapien]

My friend had a horrible experience with it. First nervous anxiety fidgety like ephedra or too much ginseng. After a few hours of that vomiting, sweats, passed out for two hours. Woke up and it was gone. My friend and nightshades don't get along well.

[genaro]

a few things about the wikipedia article:

it was probably called "horse's smell" because the fresh berries just stink.
also, they say only the root is used, but unless I'm wrong, berries are also used.

I think I heard it was a soporific/sleep-aid and dangerous in excessive dose

[Swimster]

well, most Solonaceae family plants are evil. They seem to have the character of something great, but then they always seem to be dangerous or pathetic. Some examples in this family are: Tobacco, Datura Genus, Nightshade, etc (aren't worth it!)

Anyway, to Genaro - No one can believe anything from wikipedia! It's just nice because it is a realy quick way to look things up.

[sterling77]

Ashwagandha isn't evil, and I don't understand why swiy was trying to get high off of it. It boosts the thyroid and is a diuretic, and stimulates the growth of neurons and dendrites. It is relaxing and swim takes it at certain periods in hopes of reverse any brain damage that may have occured at certain points...

[Swimster]

swim didn't say that ashwagandha specifically, was evil. Just other solmanaceae plants. Anyway, it sounds positiveor healthy, rather than pschoactive.

[sterling77]

I know, I was being dramatic. Bacopa on the other hand, actually has a pleasant buzz to it. Feels opiate-ish. Both bacopa and ashwagandha have been shown to reduce opiate tolerance if I remember correctly.

[Bajeda]

Originally Posted by sterling100

I know, I was being dramatic. Bacopa on the other hand, actually has a pleasant buzz to it. Feels opiate-ish. Both bacopa and ashwagandha have been shown to reduce opiate tolerance if I remember correctly.

If you could find a reference for that, anecdotal or scientific, I would be interested in learning more.

[Swimster]

Originally Posted by sterling100

I know, I was being dramatic. Bacopa on the other hand, actually has a pleasant buzz to it. Feels opiate-ish. Both bacopa and ashwagandha have been shown to reduce opiate tolerance if I remember correctly.

oooh... Swim is interested aswell!

[sterling77]

Some bits about Ashwagandha:

"What I noted and recall most - was that my prescribed opioids after dental surgery were working MUCH STRONGER and also lasted longer - than any other time I had used the same/similar Dr. Prescribed meds in the past - while intentionally combining them with the herbal supplements for a boost in their pain-killing effects."

"Also If you are taking a break from opiates, Ashwagandha is a great way to speed up the process of getting your tolarence down. It screws with the effects if you take opiates and ashwagandha together. So it's not a good idea to take them at the same time. You may even need a couple days for the ahwagandha to clear out of your system."

"Chronic treatment with Withania somnifera (Ws) (family: Solanaceae, 100 mg/kg) commercial root extract followed by saline on days 1-9 failed to produce any significant change in tailflick latency from the saline pretreated group in mice. However, repeated administration of Ws (100 mg/kg) for 9 days attenuated the development of tolerance to the analgesic effect of morphine (10 mg/kg). Ws (100 mg/kg) also suppressed morphine-withdrawal jumps, a sign of the development of dependence to opiate as assessed by naloxone (2 mg/kg) precipitation withdrawal on day 10 of testing."

"From a pharmacological perspective...Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)...might prove effective for individuals recovering from brain damage from an opiate addiction (be it morphine, heroin, methadone, etc.) restore whatever cognitive function may have been compromised by damage to synapses -- especially in the dopaminergic system."

[genaro]

bringing back this thread up there!

so, as a few people seem to have some experience with withania somnifera, I'd like to know how much of the berries/root/leaves they've been using

Swim have plenty of this plant on hand, and swim would like to know more about dosages for sedative/sleep-aid/relaxation uses.

[0utrider]

SWIm read that the dosage as a health benefit / tonic would be 2x300mg of the extract (whatever type of extract, not sure)..

swim would also like to know the dosage for relaxing effects, also as a sleep aid