Is Ashwagandha Safe During Pregnancy?

When pregnant mothers often have to check what supplements like vitamins, minerals, and herbs such as Ashwagandha can be taken. Though there are various benefits to taking this adaptogenic herb, is Ashwagandha safe during pregnancy, too?

What Is Ashwagandha And What Are Some Benefits?

Ashwagandha is an adaptogen that helps the body adapt and respond to stress, as the name suggests.

Some benefits of Ashwagandha include modulating the stress response.

The daily dosage of Ashwagandha does vary from study to study, but most agree that by taking 240-600mg of ashwagandha per day, cortisol levels were significantly lower compared to a placebo.

Additionally, those same studies show a significant decrease in perceived stress, and better sleep, addressing that ashwagandha could also be used to help with insomnia.

Some research shows it may be beneficial for lowering cholesterol levels, cardiovascular disease, and immune health, but there is only a tiny amount of research in this area.

Lastly, another benefit of Ashwagandha is sexual health in both women and men. Some areas of research it’s been said to benefit are infertility, testosterone levels, and low sperm count.

More research is needed to show Ashwagandha’s benefits over the long term.

So if women can take ashwagandha for fertility, consumers may also assume it is safe to take during pregnancy since it is a “natural” supplement that comes from a plant instead of a pharmaceutical medication.

However, this does not seem to be the case.

Safety Of Ashwagandha And Pregnancy

Currently, the general consensus is that ashwagandha is unsafe to take during pregnancy.

This is mainly because no studies have proven that ashwagandha is safe during pregnancy in humans, so we don’t really know one way or the other. The data just really isn’t there yet.

For example, this trial discussing the safety of ashwagandha in healthy volunteers excluded those who were pregnant or breastfeeding from participating in the trial. (Source)

It is also suggested that ashwagandha should not be taken during pregnancy as it may cause miscarriages. (Source)

In contrast, there is one animal study in which pregnant rats were provided with up to 2000 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day, and no fetal toxicity was shown.

Just because something is deemed “natural” or not a pharmacological medication, it still should be checked and double-checked to ensure there will be no fetal harm if a supplement is taken.

Pregnancy And Supplements In General 

Most herbal supplements are not advised during pregnancy.

They can impact the mother’s body or cross the placenta, making them harmful to the baby and mom.

Some herbs like juniper oil, black cohosh, basil oil, and clove oil stimulate early uterine contractions and should be avoided entirely during pregnancy. (Source)

The Food and Drug Administration does not regulate herbal supplements, so consumers in general, pregnant or not, should always search for a trusted, third-party tested brand.

Is Ashwagandha Safe For Kids?

Similar to ashwagandha during pregnancy, no clinical research shows that ashwagandha is safe for children.

Children are often of lower weight and height than adults, which could indicate a tolerable level for adults might be too high for children.

One study was done with children in India, looking to see if ashwagandha granules or ashwagandha in ghee was more beneficial in improving nutrition.

The concentration of ashwagandha that was provided per day is a bit unclear, and no section discusses the safety or tolerability.

Overall, it would be essential to contact a pediatrician before giving ashwagandha to children.

Are Green Powders Safe For Pregnancy And Breastfeeding?

Green powders provide a variety of benefits, including closing nutritional gaps in the diet, improved immunity, and improved energy.

They contain vitamins, minerals, greens blends, and occasionally probiotics and adaptogens like ashwagandha and rhodiola rosea.

Green powders should be avoided during pregnancy because they contain high amounts of vitamins and minerals.

Usually, a provider recommends a prenatal vitamin and mineral supplement specially formulated for women during pregnancy.

For example, we know folic acid, a B vitamin, should be provided to women of reproductive age at 400 micrograms per day to avoid neural tube defects like spina bifida. (Source)

Too much of certain vitamins or minerals can be harmful.

One well-known harmful vitamin toxicity is vitamin A, which can cause birth defects if taken excessively while pregnant. (Source)

As stated before, the FDA does not regulate green powders like supplements. Even when not, it is essential to choose reputable green powder brands to ensure there are no harmful side effects like heavy metal toxicity.

Supergreen Tonik has some fantastic reviews from consumers, but like other supplements and green powders, it should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Supergreen Tonik contains Ashwagandha and so may be unsafe for pregnancy. 

Conclusion

If you plan on trying out an Ashwagandha supplement in capsule form or powder form to reap the benefits of its stress-relieving, cortisol-decreasing power, do so before or after pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Just because supplements are usually natural, plant-based products do not always mean they are safe.

The research is exciting and promising that adaptogens can positively benefit the stress response, but more research is needed with herbal supplements and pregnancy in general.

You should always run supplements like ashwagandha and green powders by your doctor or dietitian before taking them, as some components may impact certain medical conditions or interact with pharmaceutical medications.