Can Ashwagandha be used with alcohol?

Alcohol has become very deeply ingrained in our culture. There are a multitude of occasions throughout the year that involve the social consumption of alcohol. And while alcohol is definitely detrimental to health in any amount, some people don't want to give up the occasional consumption of alcohol. However, what about when you are in the middle of several months of Ashwagandha treatment? It's worth asking what the relationship is between Ashwagandha and alcohol in recreational doses.

• Ashwagandha and alcohol - is there any interaction?
• Can Ashwagandha help wean off alcohol?

Ashwagandha and alcohol - is there any interaction?

Ashwagandha with ethanol work synergistically. Both agents stimulate the GABA system, so together they can do so more effectively. Thus, they mutually enhance their inhibitory effects on the nervous system.

Getting to the point: is it possible to drink alcohol during Ashwagandha supplementation?

It is possible, under certain conditions.

If you do reach for alcohol while using Ashwagandha, it should be an appropriately small amount, adjusted for the possibility of Ashwagandha enhancing its effects. For example, a study on rodents showed that by attaching Ashwagandha to alcohol, it is possible to reduce social anxiety, even when the dose of alcohol is so low that on its own it would not be able to produce such an effect.

When using Ashwagandha, it is possible to drink less alcohol and still enjoy increased social openness and less toxicity.

Can Ashwagandha help wean off alcohol?

This is an interesting question. In fact, there are indications of this, although mostly from animal studies. Ashwagandha alone or in combination with other supplements can be helpful in reducing the symptoms of withdrawal syndrome after stopping alcohol consumption, such as increasing levels of anxiety. Shilajit or Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) have been tested in tandem with Ashwagandha.

The use of Ashwagandha also has the potential to reduce the attraction to alcoholic beverages. This is because Ashwagandha, by acting on the GABA system, improves baseline mood. When one feels better on a daily basis, with less stress, anxiety and emotional tension, the potential benefits of drinking alcohol are not as necessary. The contrast between how we feel without and with alcohol is simply reduced.

Sources:

• Gupta GL, Rana AC. Effect of Withania somnifera Dunal in ethanol-induced anxiolysis and withdrawal anxiety in rats. Indian J Exp Biol. 2008;46(6):470-475.

• Ruby B et al. Evaluation of Ashwagandha in alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease, Volume 2, Supplement 2, 2012, Pages S856-S860

• Haque IM, Mishra A, Kalra BS, Chawla S. Role of Standardized Plant Extracts in Controlling Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome-An Experimental Study. Brain Sci. 2021;11(7):919. Published 2021 Jul 12. doi:10.3390/brainsci11070919

• Peana AT, Muggironi G, Spina L, et al. Effects of Withania somnifera on oral ethanol self-administration in rats. Behav Pharmacol. 2014;25(7):618-628. doi:10.1097/FBP.0000000000000078