Ashwagandha Contraindications: Who Should Avoid This Ayurvedic Herb?

When you hear about ashwagandha, a traditional Ayurvedic adaptogen used to reduce stress and boost energy. Also known as Withania somnifera, it’s one of the most popular herbal supplements in India—but it’s not safe for everyone. Many people take it without knowing the risks, especially if they have underlying health issues. The truth is, ashwagandha can interfere with your body’s natural balance, and in some cases, make serious conditions worse.

One major red flag is autoimmune diseases, conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or multiple sclerosis where the immune system attacks the body. Ashwagandha stimulates immune activity, which sounds helpful—until it’s not. For someone with lupus, that boost can trigger a flare-up. Same goes for thyroid disorders, especially hyperthyroidism. Ashwagandha may increase thyroid hormone levels, which can push an already overactive thyroid into dangerous territory. If you’re on thyroid medication like levothyroxine, mixing it with ashwagandha could throw your dosage off entirely.

Another hidden risk is medication interactions, how ashwagandha reacts with prescription drugs. It can lower blood pressure and blood sugar, so if you’re already on pills for hypertension or diabetes, you might end up with dangerously low levels. It also interacts with sedatives and anti-anxiety meds, making you overly drowsy. Even over-the-counter sleep aids can become risky when combined. And if you’re scheduled for surgery, stop ashwagandha at least two weeks before—it can interfere with anesthesia and blood pressure control during the procedure.

It’s not just about diseases and drugs. Pregnant women should avoid it entirely—there’s evidence it may trigger early contractions. Breastfeeding mothers? The safety data simply doesn’t exist. And if you have a history of liver problems, ashwagandha could add stress to an already overworked organ. Even healthy people can react badly: nausea, diarrhea, or headaches aren’t rare. Most people assume herbal means harmless, but that’s a dangerous myth.

What you’ll find in the posts below aren’t just generic warnings. These are real, practical stories from people who took ashwagandha without knowing their own health risks—and what happened next. You’ll see how someone with uncontrolled diabetes ended up in the ER after adding it to their routine. How a woman with Hashimoto’s thought she was healing, but her antibodies spiked. And why a man on blood pressure meds had to quit cold turkey after his dizziness got worse. These aren’t hypotheticals. They’re lessons written in real experiences.