Hi David & Happy Holidays to you & your family. I saw that Ashwagandha was an ingredient in H&A’s Calm Adapt and was curious if that is okay for someone to take that has Hypothyroidism and is on 0.05mg of Synthroid/once a day? Thank you in advance for any input and information.

That would depend on their TSH level, if normal I would avoid adding Ashwagandha, if it is still over 2.5 it should be fine to add.

David, Somewhat related to this thread, do you ever help folks reduce their thyroid hormone replacement dosage by supplementing with ashwagandha, and perhaps other herbs, while they get bloodwork to see what is happening. Sharing a personal experience - I don't know if it has anything at all to do with it, but I have been on some version of Synthroid for 27 years (and now my thyroid gland is quite atrophied apparently, very small), and the dosage I've needed has trended towards increasing over the years (started on 75 mcg, and have taken up to 112 mcg/d). Recently, my TSH dropped quite low, so clearly I was overmedicated. I was thinking of all the reasons why this could have happened -- yes, the pandemic, so my lifestyle changed (from being super busy going to work in the office with patients to being at home, working from home, different stressors, but in some ways more relaxed) -- but also, I started to drink a very mild tulsi ashwagandha tea daily (the tea bag from Organic India, so I believe this is a very very small dose, they don't even list the amount). But I began to wonder if my need for so much thyroid hormone replacement was linked to the ashwagandha. I think it's probably hard if not impossible to really know since there is the factor of the pandemic changing lifestyle, but I was just curious if you've ever worked with someone who wanted to see if they could reduce their dosage with the use of herbs. I have known folks who had not yet started on Synthroid who were able to avoid it with lifestyle changes (sometimes gluten-free, some herbs, acupuncture), but I haven't known of those reducing dose once on it. Thank you for any thoughts!

I do not try to reduce the dose of Thyroid hormones in patients. If they are on Synthroid, Levoxyl, Armour, etc and it is working for them, I leave well enough alone (it can be challenging to get the dose right in the first place). If they are on Thyroid hormones and their TSH is still above optimal, then I may use herbs (including Ashwagandha) to improve thyroid function. I have my doubts that the small amount of Ashwagandha you are taking as a tea is bringing your TSH down significantly, but I cannot say with certainty it is having no effect.

Thank you! Appreciate your thoughts.