Across Canada, a silent crisis is unfolding as anxiety and stress-related disorders rise. Over the past decade, generalized anxiety disorder has doubled from 2.5 to 5 per cent, with rates of anxiety in young women aged 15 to 24 tripling from 4 per cent to 12 per cent.
Still, as many as one in three Canadians reported unmet care needs for mental health issues last year.
Seeking relief, many turn to natural remedies such as ashwagandha, an evergreen shrub that might help calm the brain. Despite its rising popularity, recent viral posts have flooded Instagram and TikTok, claiming the herb can cause anhedonia, a condition linked to emotional numbness and loss of pleasure.
But is there any truth to these online claims?
What is Ashwagandha?
On top of its many therapeutic benefits, ashwagandha is most well-known for its adaptogenic properties. These aid in stress reduction by stimulating the body’s stress response and restoring it to a state of balance.
This adaptogen has been used in Herbalist and Ayurvedic practices for thousands of years, preclinical research showing ashwagandha is known for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-tumour, anti-aging, and neuroprotective effects.
Clinical Research
Despite the surge of online allegations about ashwagandha dulling users’ emotions, there are currently no scientific studies that support such claims. In fact, ashwagandha has been proven to balance the body’s stress response in multiple double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials.
In these trials, ashwagandha was found to reduce anxiety scores by up to 70 per cent in those with anxiety disorders, compared to a placebo. These effects were recognized after two weeks of use and continued to increase six to 10 weeks after.
Another study about the effects of the adaptogenic herb found that ashwagandha root extract produced a 64 per cent reduction in morning cortisol levels over a three-month period, compared to 24 per cent in participants given a placebo.
However, those in natural medicine say that herbal remedies like ashwagandha should not be taken as a quick-fix solution.
Ashwagandha in Herbalism
“Scientific studies back up traditional uses, but they often focus on one aspect of an herb because there is money in selling that idea. However, traditional medicine looks at the full picture,” says Holly Jones, a Calgary clinical herbalist and Elder Song Herbal Therapy founder.
Jones, who trained at Heartwood Education in the United Kingdom, has hundreds of clinical hours training with medical herbalists throughout Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.
Jones says there are no shortcuts when it comes to stress herbal remedies.
“Sometimes we lean into a herb when there is a catchy headline like ‘helps with stress’ and hope that it will solve all of our problems,” says Jones. “However, if you are using any herbs long-term, it may be time to look at other aspects of your life that may need to be adjusted.”
While some individuals use ashwagandha as a tool to support them through challenging times, they can sometimes overlook the root cause of their stress.
Jones theorizes that this, rather than ashwagandha itself, may be the real reason behind online anhedonia claims.
Ashwagandha in Ayurveda
Ayurveda, India’s traditional medicine, harmonizes the mind, body, and spirit through lifestyle and herbal remedies, including herbs like ashwagandha.
For Sachin Sudra, an Ayurvedic practitioner, yoga teacher, reflexologist, nutritionist, and wellness coach, ashwagandha is more than an herbal remedy. It is deeply ingrained in his spiritual practice.
Having personally harvested ashwagandha in California and India, Sudra has incorporated it into his professional work and personal practice for years for longevity and ceremonial purposes.
The Ayurvedic practitioner warns that people should be cautious about what they read online, emphasizing that commercialization has diluted Ayurvedic wisdom.
“Commercialization has invoked capitalism, and capitalism has invoked the dilution of sacred knowledge,” says Sudra. “People are just taking things because they think they’re good for them, but they’re not looking at what the actual applications of it are.”
Illustrating the importance of herbal application, he compares it to having a Slurpee to cool down in the summer. While the slurpee is cold, sugar tends to heat the body, causing a paradoxical reaction.
Sudra is dedicated to restoring traditional knowledge of Ayurveda in the age of commercialization, recently leading a discussion in England on stress-regulating herbs and educating others on the sacred connection of the mind, body, and soul with Earth’s natural gifts.
Finding balance
The conversation surrounding ashwagandha demonstrates a clear gap between modern and holistic medicine, pushing many to social media instead of seeking expert advice.
While personal experiences cannot be dismissed, anecdotal stories do not equate to scientific evidence or traditional medicine. Ashwagandha’s potential to cause anhedonia is a misleading claim.
No matter how popular a social media post is, gathering facts and consulting with qualified practitioners and your family physician before beginning any new health regimen is essential.
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