ashwagandha and Weed
Edited by Hugh Soames
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ashwagandha and Weed
Most people who consume marijuana do so for its mood-altering and relaxing abilities. Weed gives people a high and allows them to relax. However, heavy consumption of weed can cause unwanted results. It can increase the anxiety and depression a person experiences, and it can interact with certain other drugs including ashwagandha. It is important to remember that interactions do occur with all types of drugs, to a great or lesser extent and this article details the interactions of mixing ashwagandha and Weed.
Mixing ashwagandha and Weed
Withania somnifera, known commonly as ashwagandha or winter cherry, is an evergreen shrub in the Solanaceae or nightshade family that grows in India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. Several other species in the genus Withania are morphologically similar.
The plant, particularly its root powder, has been used for centuries in traditional Indian medicine. Although used in herbalism and sold as a dietary supplement, there is insufficient scientific evidence that it is safe or effective for treating any health condition or disease.
This species is a short shrub growing 35–75 cm (14–30 in) tall. Tomentose branches extend radially from a central stem. Leaves are dull green, elliptic, usually up to 10–12 cm (3.9–4.7 in) long. The flowers are small, green and bell-shaped. The ripe fruit is orange-red.
The Latin species name somnifera means “sleep-inducing”. The name “ashwagandha” is a combination of the Sanskrit words ‘ashva’, meaning horse, and ‘gandha’, meaning smell, reflecting that the root has a strong horse-like odor.
Withania somnifera is cultivated in many of the drier regions of India. It is also found in Nepal, Sri Lanka, China, and Yemen. It prefers dry stony soil with sun to partial shade. To propagate it can be grown from seed in the early spring, or from greenwood cuttings in the later spring.
Withania somnifera is prone to several pests and diseases. Leaf spot disease caused by Alternaria alternata is the most prevalent disease, which occurs in a severe form in Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. A decline in the concentration of its secondary metabolites occurs by leaf spot disease.
The leaves are also prone to Alternaria dianthicola in India.
A treehopper (Oxyrachis tarandus) feeds on the apical portions of the stem, making them rough and woody in appearance and brown in colour.
The carmine red spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) is the most prevalent pest of the plant in India. In recent years, this plant has been serving as a new reservoir host for an invasive mealybug species Phenacoccus solenopsis.
The main phytochemical constituents are withanolides – which are triterpene lactones – withaferin A, alkaloids, steroidal lactones, tropine, and cuscohygrine. Some 40 withanolides, 12 alkaloids, and numerous sitoindosides have been isolated. Withanolides are structurally similar to the ginsenosides of Panax ginseng, leading to a common name for W. somnifera, “Indian ginseng”.
W. somnifera may cause adverse effects if taken alone or together with prescription drugs. Side effects may include diarrhea, headache, sedation, or nausea, and the product should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Research has found that anxiety is one of the leading symptoms created by marijuana in users, and that there is a correlation between ashwagandha and Weed and an increase in anxiety.
Anyone mixing ashwagandha and weed is likely to experience side effects. This happens with all medications whether weed or ashwagandha is mixed with them. Side effects can be harmful when mixing ashwagandha and weed. Doctors are likely to refuse a patient a ashwagandha prescription if the individual is a weed smoker or user. Of course, this could be due to the lack of studies and research completed on the mixing of ashwagandha and Weed.
Heavy, long-term weed use is harmful for people. It alters the brain’s functions and structure, and all pharmaceuticals and drugs including ashwagandha are designed to have an impact on the brain. There is a misplaced belief that pharmaceuticals and medication work by treating only the parts of the body affected yet this is obviously not the case in terms of ashwagandha. For example, simple painkiller medication does not heal the injury, it simply interrupts the brains functions to receive the pain cause by the injury. To say then that two drugs, ashwagandha and Weed, dol not interact is wrong. There will always be an interaction between ashwagandha and Weed in the brain11.J. D. Brown and A. G. Winterstein, Potential Adverse Drug Events and Drug–Drug Interactions with Medical and Consumer Cannabidiol (CBD) Use – PMC, PubMed Central (PMC).; Retrieved September 27, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6678684/.
One of the milder side effects of mixing ashwagandha and Weed is Scromiting. This condition, reportedly caused by mixing ashwagandha and Weed, describes a marijuana-induced condition where the user experiences episodes of violent vomiting, which are often so severe and painful that they cause the person to scream. The medical term for Scromiting by mixing ashwagandha and Weed is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, or CHS. For these reasons, some people choose to quit smoking weed.
It was first included in scientific reports in 2004. Since then, researchers have determined that Scromiting is the result of ongoing, long-term use of marijuana—particularly when the drug contains high levels of THC, marijuana’s main psychoactive ingredient. Some experts believe that the receptors in the gut become overstimulated by THC, thus causing the repeated cycles of vomiting.
In the long run, a person can become even more depressed. There is a belief that marijuana is all-natural and not harmful to a person’s health. This is not true and ashwagandha and weed can cause health issues the more a person consumes it.
How does Weed effect the potency of ashwagandha?
The way in which the body absorbs and process ashwagandha may be affected by weed. Therefore, the potency of the ashwagandha may be less effective. Marijuana inhibits the metabolization of ashwagandha. Not having the right potency of ashwagandha means a person may either have a delay in the relief of their underlying symptoms.
A person seeking ashwagandha medication that uses weed should speak to their doctor. It is important the doctor knows about a patient’s weed use, so they can prescribe the right ashwagandha medication and strength. Or depending on level of interactions they may opt to prescribe a totally different medication. It is important for the doctor to know about their patient’s marijuana use. Weed is being legalized around the US, so doctors should be open to speaking about a patient’s use of it.
Sideffects of ashwagandha and Weed
Many individuals may not realize that there are side effects and consequences to mixing ashwagandha and Weed such as:
- Dizziness
- Sluggishness
- Drowsiness
- Shortness of breath
- Itching
- Hives
- Palpitations
- Respiratory Depression
- Cardiac Arrest
- Coma
- Seizures
- Death
Interestingly, it is impossible to tell what effect mixing this substance with Weed will have on an individual due to their own unique genetic make up and tolerance. It is never advisable to mix ashwagandha and Weed due to the chances of mild, moderate and severe side effects. If you are having an adverse reaction from mixing ashwagandha and Weed it’s imperative that you head to your local emergency room. Even mixing a small amount of ashwagandha and Weed is not recommended.
Taking ashwagandha and Weed together
People who take ashwagandha and Weed together will experience the effects of both substances. Technically, the specific effects and reactions that occur due to frequent use of ashwagandha and weed depend on whether you consume more weed in relation to ashwagandha or more ashwagandha in relation to weed.
The use of significantly more weed and ashwagandha will lead to sedation and lethargy, as well as the synergistic effects resulting from a mixture of the two medications.
People who take both weed and ashwagandha may experience effects such as:
- reduced motor reflexes from ashwagandha and Weed
- dizziness from Weed and ashwagandha
- nausea and vomiting due to ashwagandha and Weed
Some people may also experience more euphoria, depression, irritability or all three. A combination of weed and ashwagandha leads to significantly more lethargy which can easily tip over into coma, respiratory depression seizures and death.
Mixing weed and ashwagandha
The primary effect of weed is influenced by an increase in the concentration of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, which is found in the spinal cord and brain stem, and by a reduction in its effect on neuronal transmitters. When weed is combined with ashwagandha this primary effect is exaggerated, increasing the strain on the body with unpredictable results.
Weed and ashwagandha affects dopamine levels in the brain, causing the body both mental and physical distress. Larger amounts of ashwagandha and weed have a greater adverse effect yet leading medical recommendation is that smaller does of ashwagandha can be just as harmful and there is no way of knowing exactly how ashwagandha and weed is going to affect an individual before they take it.
Taking ashwagandha and weed together
People who take ashwagandha and weed together will experience the effects of both substances. The use of significantly more ashwagandha with weed will lead to sedation and lethargy, as well as the synergistic effects resulting from a mixture of the two medications.
People who take both weed and ashwagandha may experience effects such as:
- reduced motor reflexes from ashwagandha and weed
- dizziness from weed and ashwagandha
- nausea and vomiting of the ashwagandha
Some people may also experience more euphoria, depression, irritability or all three. A combination of weed and ashwagandha leads to significantly more lethargy which can easily tip over into coma, respiratory depression seizures and death.
Weed Vs ashwagandha
Taking ashwagandha in sufficient quantities increases the risk of a heart failure. Additionally, people under the influence of ashwagandha and weed may have difficulty forming new memories. With weed vs ashwagandha in an individual’s system they become confused and do not understand their environment. Due to the synergistic properties of ashwagandha when mixed with weed it can lead to confusion, anxiety, depression and other mental disorders. Chronic use of ashwagandha and weed can lead to permanent changes in the brain22.G. Lafaye, L. Karila, L. Blecha and A. Benyamina, Cannabis, cannabinoids, and health – PMC, PubMed Central (PMC).; Retrieved September 27, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5741114/.
ashwagandha Vs Weed
Studies investigating the effects of drugs such as ashwagandha and weed have shown that the potential for parasomnia (performing tasks in sleep) is dramatically increased when ashwagandha and weed are combined. Severe and dangerous side effects can occur when medications are mixed in the system, and sleep disorders are a common side effect of taking weed and ashwagandha together.
When a small to medium amount of weed is combined with ashwagandha, sleep disorders such as sleep apnea can occur. According to the latest data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) most ER visits and hospitalizations caused by too much weed were associated with other substances such as ashwagandha.
How long after taking ashwagandha can I smoke weed or take edibles?
To avoid any residual toxicity it is advisable to wait until the ashwagandha has totally cleared your system before taking weed, even in small quantities.
Overdose on ashwagandha and weed
In the case of Overdose on ashwagandha or if you are worried after mixing ashwagandha and weed, call a first responder or proceed to the nearest Emergency Room immediately.
If you are worried about someone who has taken too much ashwagandha or mixed weed with ashwagandha then call a first responder or take them to get immediate medical help. The best place for you or someone you care about in the case of a medical emergency is under medical supervision. Be sure to tell the medical team that there is a mix of ashwagandha and weed in their system.
Excessive Weed intake and result in scromiting, chs, and anxiety disorder. It is advisable to quit vaping weed if you are feeling these symptoms.
Mixing ashwagandha and weed and antidepressants
Weed users feeling depressed and anxious may be prescribed antidepressant medication. There are some antidepressant users who also use ashwagandha and weed. These individuals may not realize that there are side effects and consequences to consuming both ashwagandha, marijuana and a range of antidepressants.
Studies on weed, ashwagandha and antidepressants is almost nil. The reason for so little information on the side effects of the two is mostly down to marijuana being illegal in most places – although a number of states in the United States have legalized the drug.
Self-medicating with Weed and ashwagandha
A lot of people suffer from depression caused by weed and ashwagandha. How many? According to Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), in any given year, it is estimated that nearly 16 million adults experience depression. Unfortunately, that number is likely to be wrong due to under reporting. Many people do not report suffering from depression because they do not want to be looked at as suffering from a mental illness. The stigmas around mental health continue and people do not want to be labeled as depressed.
Potential side effects from mixing ashwagandha and weed
Quitting weed to take ashwagandha
Medical professionals say an individual prescribed or taking ashwagandha should not stop using weed cold turkey. Withdrawal symptoms can be significant. Heavy pot users should especially avoid going cold turkey. The side effects of withdrawal from weed include anxiety, irritability, loss of sleep, change of appetite, and depression by quitting weed cold turkey and starting to take ashwagandha.
A person beginning to use ashwagandha should cut back on weed slowly. While reducing the amount of weed use, combine it with mindfulness techniques and/or yoga. Experts stress that non-medication can greatly improve a person’s mood.
Weed and ashwagandha can affect a person in various ways. Different types of marijuana produce different side effects. Side effects of weed and ashwagandha may include:
- loss of motor skills
- poor or lack of coordination
- lowered blood pressure
- short-term memory loss
- increased heart rate
- increased blood pressure
- anxiety
- paranoia
- increased energy
- increased motivation
Mixing ashwagandha and weed can also produce hallucinations in users. This makes marijuana a hallucinogenic for some users. Weed creates different side effects in different people, making it a very potent drug. Now, mixing ashwagandha or other mental health drugs with weed can cause even more unwanted side effects.
Mixing drugs and weed conclusion
Long-term weed use can make depression and anxiety worse. In addition, using marijuana can prevent ashwagandha from working to their full potential33.J. D. Brown and A. G. Winterstein, Potential Adverse Drug Events and Drug–Drug Interactions with Medical and Consumer Cannabidiol (CBD) Use – PMC, PubMed Central (PMC).; Retrieved September 27, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6678684/. Weed consumption should be reduced gradually to get the most out of prescription medication. Marijuana is a drug and it is harmful to individual’s long-term health. Weed has many side effects and the consequences are different to each person who uses it, especially when mixed with ashwagandha.
If you take ashwagandha, and also drink Alcohol or MDMA, you can research the effects of ashwagandha and Alcohol , ashwagandha and Cocaine as well as ashwagandha and MDMA here.
To find the effects of other drugs and weed refer to our Weed and Other Drugs Index A to L or our Weed and Other Drugs Index M-Z.
Or you could find what you are looking for in our Alcohol and Interactions with Other Drugs index A to L or Alcohol and Interactions with Other Drugs index M to Z , Cocaine and Interactions with Other Drugs index A to L or Cocaine and Interactions with Other Drugs index M to Z or our MDMA and Interactions with Other Drugs Index A to L or MDMA and Interactions with Other Drugs Index M to Z.
ashwagandha and Weed
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