Ashwagandha extract use for relaxation and for children, what is the right dosage to take and what time of day should you take it

Ashwagandha is a shrub cultivated in India and North America whose roots have been used for thousands of years by Ayurvedic practitioners. Ashwagandha root extract contains flavonoids and many active ingredients of the withanolide class. Several studies over the past few years have indicated that ashwagandha extract has anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor , anti-stress, antioxidant, mind-boosting, immune-enhancing, and rejuvenating properties (see studies at bottom of page). Historically ashwagandha has also been noted to have sex-enhancing properties. Ashwagandha may be used by children at the third of the dosage in the capsule, but only a few times a week with a full week off each month.

Buy Ashwagandha 500 mg, 60 veggie caps
Formulated by medical doctor Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Ashwagandha extract is used as a general tonic and "adaptogen", helping the body adapt to stress.  In addition, Ashwagandha extract has been shown to possess antioxidant activity.

 
Ashwagandha Extract Supplement Facts:
Ashwagandha extract (5:1 extract) - 500 mg - this means it is five times the concentration of the regular ashwagandha herb powder. Suitable for vegetarians.
 
Suggested Use: As an herbal dietary supplement, take half or 1 Ashwagandha extract capsule a few times a week.

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Ashwagandha benefits and which medical conditions to use this herb

Ashwagandha Extract studies
Growth inhibition of human tumor cell lines by withanolides from Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) leaves.
Jayaprakasam B. Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. Life Sci. 2003 Nov 21;74(1):125-32.
Ayurvedic medicines prepared in India consist of ashwagandha as one of the main ingredients. Ashwagandha is consumed as a dietary supplement around the world. The leaves of ashwagandha were used in the treatment of tumors and inflammation in several Asian countries. We have isolated twelve withanolides from the leaves of this species. Compounds were tested for their anti-proliferative activity on NCI-H460 (Lung), HCT-116 (Colon), SF-268 (Central Nervous System; CNS and MCF-7 (Breast) human tumor cell lines. Withaferin A and its derivatives exhibited inhibitory concentrations (50%) ranging from 0.24 +/- 0.01 to 11.6 +/- 1.9 microg/mL. Viscosalactone B (12) showed the 50% inhibition at concentrations ranging from 0.32 +/- 0.05 to 0.47 +/- 0.15 microg/mL whereas its 27-O-glucoside derivative (10) exhibited IC50 between 8 and 17 microg/ml. Therefore, incorporation of ashwagandha in the diet may prevent or decrease the growth of tumors in human.

Ashwagandha attenuates antioxidant defense in aged spinal cord and inhibits copper induced lipid peroxidation and protein oxidative modifications.
Gupta SK. Department of Zoology, Kurukshetra University, Haryana, India. Drug Metabol Drug Interact. 2003;19(3):211-22.
We investigated the effects of Ashwagandha on copper-induced lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in aging spinal cord of Wistar rats. The activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) decreased significantly in the spinal cord from adult to aged mice. Treatment with Ashwagandha successfully attenuated GPx activity and inhibited lipid peroxidation in a dose dependent manner. Ashwagandha inhibited both the lipid peroxidation and protein oxidative modification induced by copper. These effects were similar to those of superoxide dismutase and mannitol. The results indicate the therapeutic potential of Ashwagandha in aging and copper-induced pathophysiological conditions.

Ashwagandha supplement pill emails
Q. Is ashwagandha appropriate for children with anxiety, age 10?
   A. If the child's doctor approves, a third of a capsule of the ashwagandha product listed above is worth a try. The capsule can be easily opened by pulling on the ends and mixing the content with an ounce or two of juice.

Q. Your product product is 5:1 extract 500 mg which I think is pretty good. I am confused however, I came across an ashwagandha  product that states 1.5% 4.5mg extract at 300mg. Yours is simpler to understand and not forgetting the nice price but what does the other mean?
   A. Ashwagandha herb is available as a regular powder and in various extract potencies. We have come across at least a dozen different extract potencies for this herb with different strengths and different standardization and withanolide percentages. There are no accepted guidelines regarding whether it is preferable to take the whole herb or an extract. If an extract, which is the best form? There are no clear answers to this. The best way to find out is for a consumer to try 2 or 3 different ashwagandha products in varying dosages to see which one works best for them. One person may like a particular product, another person may like another.

Q.  I am confused about ashwagandha having or not having the amino acid arginine. Please send a quick response and let me know if ashwagandha herb does, or doesn't have arginine in it. I have been reading a bunch about it and hear that it has high amounts of arginine and ornithine, which would account for its sex-enhancing properties ( erectile function). Or do other properties in the herb enhance things? Ashwagandha sounds like it does the exact same thing to the male reproductive system as supplemental arginine would or by eating foods high in the amino acid?
   A. The sexual effects of ashwagandha are not due to arginine. If arginine is present in ashwagandha herb it is in the tiniest amounts that are clinically irrelevant. Arginine has dozens of compounds in it that work in many ways in the body and their effects are very different than arginine. It is a distraction to focus on the arginine content or lack thereof in ashwagandha herb.

Q. Can butea be taken with ashwagandha pills?
   A. If the dosages are low, yes.

Which is more potent, ashwagandha or yohimbe bark in terms of their aphrodisiac effects?
   Yohimbe is more potent.

I started to take it after hearing about it from an individual who was learning Ayurvedic medicine. Started with another brand last summer 2009 with the idea of strengthening the immune system for the winter (long and cold in central Maine!). Probably started a bit early as it generated significant heat. Found the Physician Formula website after conducting an ashwagandha search. Felt Dr Sahelian had researched thoroughly, was open about the source of supply and, I guessed, would have a knowledge of Ayurvedic medicine. I am unsure whether it has strengthened my immune system but as the herb has anti oxidant and anti stress/anxiety properties I plan to continue using it and have changed my source of supply to Physician Formula. There is a possibility the herb has enabled me to be more accepting of life's situations. My current thinking is to stop the ashwagandha during our warm and hot months of May to September.

My wife uses ashwagandha Indian herb for Parkinson's disease made by Medi-Herb and distributed by Standard Process. It is pharm grade and is only sold to health professionals. My daughter is a VET, so I had her register and ordered thru her. There is a Canadian outfit called Promedics, that markets it from British Columbia. She takes one teaspoon in H20 or juice, has been taken it now for about a month;- with the benefits she felt after 2 weeks, as follows:
MORE ENERGY; Her mobility has improved a lot....walking better, more active BETTER appetite: She eats and drinks very good, even if most of the foods have to be soft, as she cannot chew her food too well. Has gained 5lbs! Was very low before at 99 lbs. HAS IMPROVED HER BLOOD Pressure! Even if she is hypertensive, her BP is now much better regulated, less highs and less real lows (Hypotensive). It tastes terrible, being a bitter herb, but she gulps it down, as she knows it does her good. It costs $43.95 for 200ml, or $93 Canadian dollars for 500ml.    She also takes 3 sinemet (25/100) per day + 1 CR before retiring. 

I’ve used ashwagandha from a reputable herb shop in the city. It had a distinct smell and flavor. The flavor was similar to maca, both are unique. It was a fine powder with a beige color. It had distinct relaxing effects. Recently I tried a source for ashwagandha from the internet. The company distributing it is 1Fast400. They call it ashwagandha 5%. Apparently they mean 5% withanolides. This ashwagandha 5% smells, tastes and appears very different. Even at a 5% concentration it should not appear, smell and taste as different as it does. The 5% version smells, tastes and looks like fine ground freeze dried coffee. It’s very dark and abundant with sparkling facets just like freeze dried coffee. It dissolves instantly on contact with water. None of these qualities and characteristics are found with the strait powdered ashwagandha which does not mix easily in water and certainly does not dissolve at all. Also the effect of the 5% version acts like a stimulant. I’m rather concerned that this company is distributing an unknown substance under the name ashwagandha. Is there any way to test this 5% version to confirm what it really is?
    There is a way to test and it costs about 250 dollars for a HPLC test at a scientific laboratory that does such testing. The same herb, from different manufacturers, could have different colors based on a number of factors including the original plant, harvesting, use of stems, leaves or bark, how it is processed, etc.

I am tapering off prozac, currently down to 3 mgs per day. Can I start taking the Ashwagandha now?
    This is a decision you and your doctor need to make.