why does ashwagandha make me angry
Ashwagandha,  Ashwangandha - Tutorials, FAQs & More

Why Does Ashwagandha Make Me Angry – Detailed Side Effects, FAQs, & More

This post may contain affiliate links. Read the full disclosure here

Did you have a bad experience with Ashwagandha? Well, let us tell you, you’re not alone. 

It’s not uncommon for Ashwagandha to make you feel worse instead of better. 

Although Ashwagandha is a widely used herb, not a lot of studies have been conducted to confirm its side effects of the herb. 

Let’s discuss some of these side-effects and how you can prevent them in detail. 

Quick Summary


In this post, we will go over: 

  • What is ashwagandha?
  • Why does ashwagandha make me angry?
  • Other side effects of ashwagandha 
  • Who should not take ashwagandha? 

So, without further ado, let’s get started.

What is Ashwagandha? 

By now, you’ve probably heard the buzz about Ashwagandha. But, if you’re unfamiliar, let us tell you a little about this herb. 

Ashwagandha is one of the most popular Ayurvedic medicine for illnesses such as stress, insomnia, and anxiety. It’s also called winter cherry or Indian ginseng. 

Although this herb originates in India, the Middle East, and some parts of Africa, farmers have also started to grow it in North America due to its popularity. 

Here are some of the benefits we found of Ashwagandha:

  • Decreases stress
  • Reduces fatigue and low energy 
  • Improves memory, learning, and concentration 
  • Helps with anxiety 
  • Stabilizes brain-cell degeneration
  • Lowers cholesterol
  • Reduces inflammation
  • Improves blood sugar 

There is a lot of hype around Ashwagandha. You can find it in multivitamins, over-the-counter supplements, protein powders, chai mixes, and even in your shampoos and soap bars.

However, we would not recommend it to you without the proper understanding of how you may react to it under specific conditions. 

Therefore, we urge you to consult your healthcare provider before you add it to your diet. 

Why Does Ashwagandha Make Me Angry?

Here are some of the reasons why Ashwagandha could make you angry. 

Basic Energy of the Herb

In Ayurvedic, we use the term virya. This is the basic energy of the herb. 

To put this simply, the basic energy or virya of Ashwagandha is heating. This means if you’re someone who gets irritated or frustrated easily, Ashwagandha might not be for you. 

If you consume Ashwagandha powder straight or mix it with other heating food such as chocolate or caffeine, it might increase your level of frustration. Consequently, anger and frustration might be common feelings when you’re on Ashwagandha. 

Note: If you want to know How Does Ashwagandha Tastes click HERE.

Quality of The Herb 

Let’s talk about the guna or the quality of the herb. Since Ashwagandha builds and stabilizes, it is oily, heavy, and slow.

It is also drying in taste, which is another factor that might cause irritation in the person consuming it. 

Furthermore, it moves energy (qi) down as opposed to ginseng which moves it up. So, it’s safe to say, Ashwagandha is a sedative. 

Anxiety causes your energy to move upwards in an undesirable way. This makes you feel scattered and cold. But, your basic energy is more frightened than angry. 

In this case, we would recommend Ashwagandha. It can help you feel grounded and calm. 

On the other hand, if you go through mind stagnation where you feel heavy, cloudy, or a feeling of suppressed anger, you should avoid Ashwagandha. Otherwise, it will only make it worse. 

Other Side Effects of Ashwagandha 

Other Side Effects of Ashwagandha 

Gut Issues 

Overuse of Ashwagandha can trigger gastrointestinal issues and cause vomiting and diarrhea. It can also cause severe gut infections. 

Note: If you want to know Why to Take Ashwagandha with Black Pepper click HERE.

Here is the recommended dose of Ashwagandha:

  • 1000 mg to 6000 mg of Ashwagandha root powder 
  • 500 mg to 1500 mg of root extract 

Moreover, we recommend you stop using it after three months to prevent extreme complications.

Tiredness 

Part of the reason why Ashwagandha is so popular is that it can decrease adrenal fatigue. 

However, in our experience, we’ve noticed that adrenal fatigue might be a secondary issue compared to copper toxicity, undermethylation, pyrrole disorder, zinc deficiency, and systemic oxidative stress. 

Therefore, it’s crucial to manage the underlying condition or Ashwagandha might intensify the symptoms of fatigue. 

What might cause adrenal fatigue to begin with? 

It might be due to a gastrointestinal issue, yeast overgrowth, or hormone imbalance. 

Other reasons may include:

  • Excess copper
  • Elevated kryptopyrroles
  • Undermethylation

Out of all these, copper is the most dangerous. It can exacerbate norepinephrine while lowering dopamine. This results in strain on the adrenal gland and impairment of hormone activity. 

Insomnia 

Although most people use Ashwagandha to help with their insomnia, it can also increase it. This is because the herb is known to increase heart rate. 

It also causes headaches which is another reason that might contribute to restless sleep. 

Note: If you want to gain a complete guides and reviews about Ashwagandha click HERE.

Hormonal Imbalance 

Most Ashwagandha users don’t understand the role of the herb in the disruption of hormones and methylation cycles. 

For your body to produce normal levels of hormones, you need a feedback mechanism. That’s why we look at the methylation cycle. If the cycle is abnormal, not only disrupts hormones but also neurotransmitters, and the feedback mechanisms. 

Therefore, if you have ethylation disorder, copper toxicity, or a gut infection, Ashwagandha might be unsuitable for you. 

Decreased Blood Pressure 

Most people might take Ashwagandha for the sole reason that it lowers blood pressure, this can be detrimental to others.

People that suffer from hypertension or high blood pressure are prescribed drugs to lower their blood pressure by their physician. If you take Ashwagandha along with these drugs, your blood pressure might drop even further. 

Therefore, we suggest you only add this supplement to your diet after you consult your physician. 

Miscarriages 

While pregnancy can be stressful, we do not recommend you use Ashwagandha as a stress relief in this case. 

Although it has many benefits, it also contains compounds that may induce a miscarriage. Therefore, if you feel anxious, talk to your healthcare provider for a treatment plan.

Note: If you want to know more information about Ashwagandha we have a complete guide click HERE.

Who Should Not Take Ashwagandha?

You should avoid Ashwagandha if:

  • You are pregnant or nursing 
  • You are on thyroid medications due to a thyroid condition 
  • You have hormone-sensitive prostate cancer 
  • You take medications such as benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants, or barbiturates
  • You suffer from an autoimmune condition 
  • You have diabetes 
  • You have stomach ulcers 

Note: If you are scheduled for a surgery that requires anesthesia, don’t forget to stop taking Ashwagandha two weeks before the surgery. This will help you avoid a possible drug interaction with anesthesia. 

Wrapping Things Up…

This concludes our guide on why Ashwagandha could possibly make you angry. 

Ashwagandha has been used by Indian and African society for thousands of years and it is usually considered safe. However, with any strong medicine caution should be exercised. 

We do not recommend you take ashwagandha without a proper understanding of its actions and how it interacts with different people in different conditions. 

To reap the most benefit, we recommend you consult a practitioner who will advise you on proper usage and dosage. 

If you want to know how you can take care of your body and mind click HERE.