Ashwagandha While Breastfeeding
Wondering how to use Ashwagandha while breastfeeding?
Ashwagandha, or Withania Somnifera, native to India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and part of Africa; has become very popular in the past year; possibly due to Covid and all the stress we've endured.
It's the ONE botanical, that helped me shift out of postpartum depression as it is an adaptogen and it may even boost your milk supply!
So, How do you take Ashwagandha? It's simple, let me show you how.
In this post, I'll share the benefits of using Ashwagandha, dosing, and safety concerns.
Ashwagandha Benefits for Women
Ashwagandha is known to give you the strength and stamina of a stallion! Maybe due to how well you sleep, you’ll wake up feeling more refreshed.
It’s calming, but not sedating so some people can take it a few times a day; especially with anxiety.
It’s bitter, warm, and dry. This is important because if you run hot, you may want to choose another adaptogen.
It can re-regulate the thyroid & adrenal glands {a common concern postpartum} It’s better for hypothyroidism.
It's effective in helping if you have anxiety, fatigue, cloudy thinking, and insomnia.
It's rich in iron and can be used to treat iron deficiency when taken as a powder * see below
It can relieve muscle pain and cloudy thinking.
In Ayurveda, it's considered a Rasayana; "one of the herbs that reportedly promotes youth and longevity and alleviates suffering".¹
And, master herbalist; David Winston adds: "It's known to prolong your life, stimulate your mind and enhance vigor and sexual prowess". ²
Is Ashwagandha Safe While Breastfeeding?
I look to Mills & Bones for breastfeeding safety.
The popular researchers; Simon Mills & Kerry Bones list Ashwagandha as a Lactation category C; Yes, compatible with breastfeeding. ³
Mills & Bones also suggests, there are no warnings or precautions with Withania, but at high doses, you may get gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, or vomiting.
Withania was traditionally used to promote lactation in Ayurvedic medicine and the traditional medicine of Southeast Asia. - Mills & Bones
Dr. Aviva Romm also suggests it's a Level 1; the safest herb to be used during lactation in her book Botanical Medicine for Women's Health. ⁵
Who should avoid Ashwagandha?
David Winston suggests:
Avoid using the herb if you're sensitive to plants in the nightshade family - but this could be a case-by-case situation.
He also states: not to use the powder internally if you have excess iron.
And, if you have hyperthyroidism, you may want to avoid this botanical, as Ashwagandha can increase T4 and maybe T3.
David Winston also suggests avoiding it during pregnancy. Still, Mills & Bones consider it a Category B1: Studies in animals have not shown evidence of an increase in the occurrence of fetal damage. So, it's a bit confusing if you're pregnant and want to try Withania.
Additionally, caution may be needed if you have auto-immune conditions as it can increase T1 activity.
Ashwagandha Dosing
Dosing and Safety:
Herbal Tincture or Extract
You can take 30-40 drops; up to 3x a day
Capsules
400-500 mg capsule; 2x day
Powder
Traditionally, In India, Ashwagandha was taken in warm milk with ghee at night for sleep or to increase milk supply.
Take 1 tsp. in warm milk with ghee at night to aid sleep.
* Powder Dosing: 1 tsp. of Withania powder may be given 2x day with milk for insufficient lactation. ³
>>Always start with a small amount to see how you and your baby respond if you’re breastfeeding!
Ashwagandha Powder
Ashwagandha is commonly available as a churna, a finely sieved powder that can be mixed with water, ghee (clarified butter), or honey. ⁴
The popular company Apothekary, has made this easier for us to integrate once again.
When to take Ashwagandha
For my moms who are breastfeeding, I always suggest trying one herb at a time to see how you and your baby respond.
If it's safe, you can take it as a blended tincture with motherwort to ease stress.
I prefer taking tinctures, but if it affects your sleep - try the powdered version.
Conclusion
Ashwagandha is considered a Level 1 or safe while breastfeeding and in fact, may even boost your milk supply! It's calming, but not sedating so you can take it any time of day. Traditionally, it was used as a powder, but I enjoy using it as a tincture most days. It's considered an adaptogen, so it can help take you out of the "fight or flight" response and help ease tension and stress.
As always, check with your doctor before adding any new botanicals to your diet.
I'd love to know your thoughts. Have you tried Ashwagandha? Let us know below in the comment area💕
xoTara
P.S. Ready to learn more about natural remedies and breastfeeding? Grab this affordable resource sheet to learn more: https://tarascourses.samcart.com/products/26-breastfeeding-herbal-remedies
References
¹ http://herbalgram.org/resources/herbalgram/issues/99/table-of-contents/hg99-herbprofile-ashwagandha/
¹ Romm M.D., Dr. Aviva; Hormone Intelligence pg. 34
² Winston, David & Maimes, Steven (2007); Adaptogens Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief. Healing Arts Press.
³ Romm, Aviva, (2014): Botanical medicine for women's health. Churchill Livingston.
Upton, Roy; Bear, Soaring, Winton, David; Gagnon, Daniel; Romm, Aviva Jill; Low Dog, Tieraona; Hardy, Mary; Craker, Lyle. Botanical Safety Handbook, Second edition (2013).CRC Press.
⁴ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3252722/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501905/ [/learn more]
