2024-09-12 14:21:16
The Indian ginseng is one of the many dietary supplements sold in all sorts of ways. However, the preparations can cause serious harm to some people.
The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is currently warning against the use of ashwagandha preparations, which are often sold under the name Ashwagandha. Children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people with liver disease in particular should avoid the powders, capsules, drops, or teas available in stores and online, the BfR said. In any case, there is not a single scientifically proven positive effect of such products.
The providers often advertise supposed health effects – such as increased performance, better sleep or stress reduction. “However, the promised positive effects have not been scientifically proven and the health risks that can be associated with taking these herbal preparations have not yet been well researched,” the experts said.
There are not enough studies on the drugs to date. However, there are reports of acute effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea as well as dizziness, headaches, vertigo, drowsiness and skin rashes. “There are also indications that the drugs can affect the immune system and the endocrine system – effects on cortisol and blood sugar levels, thyroid and sex hormones.”
According to the BfR, case reports of liver damage that may be linked to the consumption of preparations containing Ashwagandha give cause for particular caution. “There are also indications that Ashwagandha preparations interact with other medications, such as those that regulate blood sugar levels (antidiabetics), blood pressure (antihypertensives) and the immune system (immunosuppressants),” warned the Federal Institute.
“Based on the risk assessments published to date and the internationally registered case reports, the BfR and other European authorities recommend not taking any preparations containing Ashwagandha,” was the authority’s conclusion.
Ashwagandha plants are traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine, especially the roots or preparations thereof. The type and content of the ingredients in the dietary supplements available in Europe vary greatly, it was said.
Unlike medicinal products – including those with herbal active ingredients – food supplements do not undergo a comparable official approval process before they are placed on the market, as the BfR explains. They are not specifically tested for safety and tolerability; rather, the manufacturer, importer, supplier and distributor are responsible for this.