Ashwagandha is “Destroying People's Lives”

About this video

• Video Title: Ashwagandha is “Destroying People's Lives”
• Channel: Natty Plus Protocol
• Speakers: None explicitly named, but a single male speaker.
• Duration: 00:09:45

Overview

This video examines the controversial claim that ashwagandha, a popular herbal supplement, can cause anhedonia (the blunting of the pleasure response). The speaker explores the scientific evidence, potential mechanisms involving serotonin, and argues that the negative narrative is largely driven by the nocebo effect and the financial incentives of some social media influencers. The speaker concludes that for most people, the benefits of ashwagandha outweigh the risks.

Key takeaways

• Ashwagandha's Potential Benefits: Traditionally used for testosterone boosting and stress mitigation, scientific evidence suggests it can lower cortisol, reduce stress and anxiety, increase VO2 max, lower blood sugar, enhance thyroid function, and increase testosterone levels.
• The Anhedonia Claim: Anecdotal reports suggest ashwagandha can cause anhedonia, potentially by increasing serotonin levels, which can inhibit dopamine signaling. This is similar to a known side effect of SSRIs.
• Mechanistic Evidence vs. Anecdotal Reports: While some studies show ashwagandha increases serotonin, these increases have been linked to mitigated symptoms of anxiety and depression, contradicting the anhedonia claims. The speaker suggests the interplay of neurotransmitters is complex and individual.
• The Nocebo Effect: The speaker posits that many negative experiences with ashwagandha are due to the nocebo effect, where the expectation of negative side effects (like anhedonia) psychologically induces those effects.
• Influencer Incentives: The speaker suggests that some fitness and biohacking influencers promote the anhedonia narrative to gain views or to sell their own "ashwagandha-free" products, contributing to the spread of potentially harmful fear.
• Personal Experience: The speaker discontinued a supplement containing ashwagandha for two months and did not notice any significant change in their pleasure response, experiencing only a slight marginal increase in anxiety, which they attribute to discontinuing the supplement.
• Overall Conclusion: The speaker believes that for the vast majority of people, the benefits of ashwagandha outweigh the risks, and it remains a worthwhile supplement, though acknowledging that anhedonia from ashwagandha is possible, just much rarer than suggested.