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Weaning Off Adaptogen

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Posted 12/31/2020 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
For a long time (maybe 6 years?) I have been taking ashwagandha. I recently stopped all of my supplements for a week (as an unrelated experiment) and found myself totally exhausted, I think because of the lack of ashwagandha. I'm disturbed by my body's dependence on it. I could skip it for a day and not notice, but after a week without it, I wanted to sleep all day and my appetite was gone. I want to find out what my baseline is like without it. I'm sure a body adjusts over time, but since I've been taking it for so long, I imagine I should wean off slowly. Any other advice? Should I take or do anything else to support my body as I gradually decrease my dose? I use a liquid extract, so I can decrease very gradually.

Thanks, folks!
Posted 1/1/2021 6:03 PM (GMT 0)
Weaning off sounds like a good option, but I don’t have any particular knowledge on adaptogens.

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Posted 1/2/2021 12:55 AM (GMT 0)
Well, like an RX drug its hard to just stop.

If its a capsule, open and dump half out, close back up and ingest.

You can also switch to a non adaptogen herb in its place, lavender, pashion flower, chamolie ect, or even magnessium for calming. Taurine and others for energy + tea.

Other similar adaptogens too- get to know them by trial and error.

Its said to not take adptogens for longer than three months without changing it up. Its good to know your options.

Life is trial and error.
Posted 1/2/2021 3:44 PM (GMT 0)
i have also been taking a cocktail of buhners adaptogens for a long time now - around 2 years I think
-eleuthero
-ashwaghanda
-rhodiola

around 30 drops each 3x a day

i haven't had any adverse symptoms from these and as far as I can tell the effects have been very subtle but helpful and gradually build over time.

i think the ashwagandha makes me feel a little slowed down right after taking it - but the eleuthero gives me a little more energy - was a lifeline during the days/years of overwhelming fatigue - i used to take it as a tea as well as the tincture at that time - again without any ill effects - it would just make it a bit easier to do necessary tasks like cooking when my limbs felt like they were loaded down with sandbags and all i wanted to do was sit down.

i haven't seen any need to stop or change them so far

my partner felt they helped her also - esp when she was at her worst with this illness but as she got better she decided she would like to know if they were needed and so decided to stop - she reduced dose by half for a couple of weeks - then stopped a week or so after that. Said she felt no ill effects of difference at all - but her energy levels were pretty much normal by that time.

i would suggest doing something similar if you wish to come off them.
ie reduce gradually - but i also suspect that the changes they cause when taken long term are kind of long-lived and so may naturally taper down after stopping for most people.
everyone is different though and the gradual reduction approach would be teh safest approach.
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