Rung Five
Supplements
Unclear

Ashwagandha

an Ayurvedic herb. Herbs & mushrooms.

Safety: Linked to herb-induced liver injury in case series from the U.S., Iceland and India. Three patients with existing liver disease died.
Verdict
UnclearThere isn't enough human evidence to say either way.
How sure
Rung 1 · UnprovenLab or animal data only, or never directly tested in people.

The rung shows how sure the science is, not how big the effect is. How to read these ratings

Cancers affected

None shown in people

What the evidence shows

Compounds such as withaferin A slow tumors in animal models. No human trial has shown it prevents or treats cancer. Liver injury typically appeared 2 to 12 weeks after starting.

What to do

Avoid it if you have liver disease, and during cancer treatment unless your team approves.

Sources

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Related

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