Is Ashwagandha Safe During Pregnancy?

If you’re wondering is ashwagandha safe during pregnancy, this article will be helpful.

Your pregnancy is making you learn everything about food, drinks, medicines, and supplements.

You have to take care of your diet and sometimes you don’t know what’s good for you and what isn’t. Many pregnant women live normal lives, they just stay away from addictive substances.

However, sometimes even a good thing can be harmful during pregnancy.  Ashwagandha during pregnancy might sound like a great idea since it has so many health benefits.

The answer will surprise you and you will enrich your knowledge about this plant.

Is Ashwagandha Safe During Pregnancy?

When it comes to answering the question is ashwagandha safe during pregnancy, there is no right answer.

The best answer would be – no, ashwagandha is not safe to consume during pregnancy.

The problem with this question is the fact there aren’t studies that show the effect of ashwagandha on pregnant women.

This plant has many great properties, but it’s simply not confirmed that it’s safe to use when pregnant. This is why the best option is to avoid it or reduce its consumption.

Some experts say that it’s okay to use ashwagandha when pregnant, but you should consume it in moderation just in case.

Ashwagandha contains ingredients that can cause low blood pressure, low blood sugar, diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea.

The worst thing that ashwagandha can cause is miscarriage and bleeding. This happens because ashwagandha works as a natural anti-depressant.

It reduces the stress hormone cortisol, which is great for anxiety and insomnia. However, pregnant women need normal cortisol levels to sustain the pregnancy. If the amount of this hormone is reduced, that could jeopardize the pregnancy.

This is the main reason why so many people think that taking ashwagandha during pregnancy is not safe.

All these side effects are rare and there is a small chance for them to happen. If you’re very interested in consuming ashwagandha while pregnant, you should consult with your doctor.

Many women claim that ashwagandha is actually beneficial to consume while pregnant. They believe it can have a positive effect on the baby.

Therefore, we will find out everything about this plant, and you can then decide whether is ashwagandha safe during pregnancy.

What Is Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha – Withania somnifera is a plant that is very beneficial for health. It is commonly used in India, Africa, and the Middle East.

It’s one of the most important herbs used in Ayurveda. Ayurveda is a traditional form of medicine that originates from India.

This plant is mostly famous because it’s great for stress, sleep problems, insomnia, anxiety, and depression.

It’s also one of the best natural remedies to boost your immune system. As you can see, consuming ashwagandha while pregnant sounds great, since it’s so powerful.

We will discuss some of the most popular effects of ashwagandha on your body.

Reducing Stress And Anxiety

We live in a stressful world and we all have to deal with many life hardships every day. Using strong medications is not a solution if you don’t have some serious mental condition.

However, using natural remedies to reduce high cortisol levels, stress, and anxiety sounds great. It won’t harm you in any way, and you won’t get addicted.

Ashwagandha is marked as an adaptogen. Adaptogen is a substance that assists the body to deal with stress, panic, and anxiety.

Many studies prove this amazing effect of ashwagandha. Since pregnancy can be very stressful, many women would like to use something to help themselves.

Natural things are always better than medications, but in this case, you have to talk with your doctor.

As I’ve mentioned, even though it’s efficient, ashwagandha is not marked as safe during pregnancy. So, no matter how badly you want to consume it, think about this and consult with a professional.

Improving Energy And Stress

Ashwagandha is a great supplement that can boost your athletic performance and physical strength and endurance.

There are some studies that show the amazing effects of ashwagandha. It helps our bodies to consume more oxygen.

It makes us stronger, more energized, and alert. It’s even proven that ashwagandha can help with muscle growth. Therefore, ashwagandha is a great supplement for every person who’s into sports and taking care of their body.

Pregnant women will also be tempted by this benefit of ashwagandha. We all know that energy levels during pregnancy are usually low.

There are some other things that could help with this, like Liquid IV or Pedialyte.

Improving Mental Health

I’ve already mentioned that this plant has some great benefits when it comes to anxiety, stress, and similar conditions.

However, if you’re diagnosed with a certain condition, consuming ashwagandha might help.

Some people used ashwagandha while they were using medications for their diagnosis and they’ve reported positive effects.

This is important to remember because ashwagandha is not something that can replace real medicine. It’s just something that could be a good addition to your therapy.

This is something you have to discuss with your doctor and something that has to be approved. Maybe consuming ashwagandha is not for you. You have to listen to your doctor.

If you’re pregnant and you’re mentally struggling, you should ask for medical help.

Improving Fertility

In the last few years, many people are using natural herbs and plants to treat their infertility.

Chinese herbs, like Dong Quai, are quite popular among men and women.

Ashwagandha is also one of the magical plants that can help you to deal with your infertility. It’s good for men and women. However, the great effect of this plant is more noticeable in men.

Ashwagandha improves the quality of sperm and it can increase sperm count. It’s also good for testosterone levels.

Another important fact about ashwagandha and fertility is in reducing stress. It’s well-known that men and women often have problems with conceiving because they’re too stressed.

Our mental state can control everything in our bodies, including hormones. And we need hormones to get pregnant.

Since taking ashwagandha can calm us down, it could lead us to making a baby without worrying all the time.

Using ashwagandha while pregnant could be beneficial if you’re struggling with hormonal imbalance. If your doctor gives you a green light to try this, then go for it.

Reducing Blood Sugar And Blood Pressure

Ashwagandha is a powerful herb that can affect our hormones, and it is great for reducing blood sugar levels and blood pressure.

Even though ashwagandha is not recommended during pregnancy, your doctor might suggest it if your pregnancy is compromised by high blood sugar or high blood pressure.

Boosting Immunity And Reducing Inflammation

Ashwagandha is used to boost the immune system and fight inflammation. It contains great nutrients that can heal your body and energize it.

Many people use ashwagandha to stay healthy.

Ashwagandha While Breastfeeding

When it comes to breastfeeding and ashwagandha, you will find the same answer as you did with ashwagandha and pregnancy – it’s better to avoid it due to a lack of evidence.

However, many practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine claim that ashwagandha is a great supplement for breastfeeding moms and pregnant ladies.

Since it has so many health benefits, it’s great for postpartum healing, energy levels, sleep problems, immunity, and milk production.

It makes your body stronger and more resilient. However, there is no scientific evidence to back up this theory, so you will have to decide what to do.

As always, consult with a doctor before doing anything. Additionally, if you decide to take ashwagandha, then pay attention to the amount.

Follow the instructions and recommendations, because nothing is good for you if you’re consuming it in large amounts.

Balance and moderation are always good choices. Pregnancy and breastfeeding periods are complicated, and you have to take care of your diet and health.

Ashwagandha Recipes

I always like to give you some great recipes. Most of these natural, healthy things are not so delicious.

That’s why it’s important to prepare them the right way. Luckily, there are many ashwagandha powders, pills, capsules, and other supplements.

If you want to make something on your own, then keep reading.

Ashwagandha Tea

For this tea, you will need milk, ashwagandha powder, water, and some honey.

Ashwagandha powder is made by blending the ashwagandha root. You can do this by yourself, but you can also buy the powder.

You will need to mix ½ cup of milk, ½ cup of water, and 5 grams or one teaspoon of ashwagandha powder. Simmer everything together at low temperature for a few minutes.

When you’re done, add some honey and cinnamon.

Ashwagandha Smoothie

You can always experiment with smoothies. My favorite smoothie that contains ashwagandha powder also contains bananas, milk, honey, almonds, and cinnamon.

You will need 1 cup of milk, ½ cup of almonds, a banana, 1 teaspoon of ashwagandha powder, and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.

Blend it all together and enjoy. If the taste of ashwagandha is still too strong, you can always add some honey.

Ashwagandha Dessert

This is a healthy dessert that is also delicious. You will need 1 teaspoon of grounded ashwagandha root, a few chopped dates, 1 cup of grounded nuts, and some milk and honey just to make a compact mixture.

Shape the mixture the way you want it. I suggest making little balls and adding some coconut flakes to them.

You can experiment with this recipe by adding your favorite ingredient. Ashwagandha is used to make many healthy desserts, you just have to explore a little bit.

Ashwagandha Oatmeal

If you’re a fan of oatmeal, simply add some ashwagandha powder to it. If the taste is too strong, just add something sweet to balance it out.

Fruit and honey are a great way to mask the strong smell and taste of ashwagandha.

Conclusion

Ashwagandha is known for many of its powerful effects on physical and mental health. The benefits of ashwagandha are numerous and this plant can help you with many things.

Pregnancy and ashwagandha are not best friends. There aren’t any studies that can tell us something more about the positive or negative effects of ashwagandha.

Many people believe that it’s better to stay safe and avoid this plant. On the other hand, many people believe that the possible side effects of using ashwagandha while pregnant can happen even without ashwagandha.

Ultimately, the choice is yours. Your doctor will advise you and you will make your decision.

I am always a fan of being safe and careful. I know there are small chances of a negative outcome, but if it does happen, it’s hard to change it.

There are many other things that could be as beneficial as ashwagandha. So many natural herbs, remedies, drinks, and supplements can give you what you’re looking for.

Stay safe and take care of your body, health, and unborn baby. A good diet, a  positive attitude, and a clear mind will help you to feel good and stay healthy.

It’s good that you’re looking into these things. It means you’re responsible and you want what’s best for your baby. There are many things that cause confusion during pregnancy. Luckily, you can always learn the most important things with us.