The Dark Side Of Ashwagandha - MJ Fitness

The Dark Side Of Ashwagandha

Ashwaghanda. It’s the go-to for stress relief, sleep improvement and overall mental health. It’s a dream come true for people that live a high stress life, right? Well, maybe not. Recently, there’s been an uproar of an unexpected side effect: Anhedonia. If you’re unfamiliar with what that even means, it’s the inability to feel pleasure from things that would otherwise be fun. Imagine not being able to enjoy your favourite hobbies, like the gym!

Why Does Anhedonia Happen With Ashwagandha?

The link between Ashwagandha and anhedonia has little scientific evidence. What we do know comes from people sharing their experiences with this on internet forums, Reddit threads and other sources of social media. People have found a few theories as to why this might happen.

  • Too Much Chill?

Cortisol, your stress hormone, gets reduced on Ashwagandha. On those big days where you’re stressed and overwhelmed, this can be a gamechanger. However, if your cortisol gets that little bit too low, it can get in the way of dopamine production, the ‘feel good’ hormone. The less dopamine you have, the more flat and “meh” you feel.

  • Relaxation Vibes

Ashwagandha can be sedating for some users as well. If it relaxes you a little bit too much, it might be hard to get excited about things. Like everything is in slow motion and has no thrill to it.

  • Playing with Hormones

Ashwagandha affects your hormones. Particularly thyroid hormones. A sudden shift in your body’s chemistry can influence your energy and mood. For some people that may lead to anhedonia.

How To Stay In Your Feels

The stress relief from Ashwagandha can be a big benefit in everyday life. If you want the benefits, but want to keep enjoying the things you love, here are some ways to get around feeling like a zombie:

1. Lower Your Dose

Less is more. If you’re taking a higher dose of Ashwagandha and experiencing anhedonia, maybe give cutting back a shot. See if you get the calming effects without the emotional numbing.

2. Cycle Your Usage

Taking your Ashwaghanda in a cycle can be helpful to give your body a break and prevent your emotions from leaving. Doing a cycle of, for example, 5 days on, two off can give your body the break it needs to keep you happy.

3. Support Dopamine Production

Adding in activities like music and exercise, or foods high in tyrosine like nuts and lean proteins can help boost dopamine and get you feeling good. People also supplement L-tyrosine to help with the mood and energy.

Our Emotional Takeaway

While it isn’t a common side effect, anhedonia from ashwagandha is definitely something that’s been reported by the community. If you experience anhedonia, don’t panic (even though you probably can’t) It’s easily managed by tweaking dosages, giving yourself a break or bringing up your dopamine levels. Remember that everybody is different, so what might work for you won’t be a good fit for someone else.

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