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Ashwagandha and Eye Pressure: What You Should Know

by Vorst Canada
Ashwagandha and Eye Pressure: What You Should Know

 

Ashwagandha is well known for how it relaxes the mind and body, but there are now doubts regarding how it affects eye pressure. If you're worried about glaucoma or your eye health in general, it's crucial to know how ashwagandha might affect intraocular pressure. This is especially true if you're already treating an eye condition or taking other medications.

Disclaimer: This content is intended solely for informational and educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 

Table of Contents

  • What Is Eye Pressure and Why It Matters
  • Ashwagandha: A Quick Overview
  • The Link Between Stress, Cortisol, and Eye Pressure
  • What the Research Says
  • Should You Use Ashwagandha for Eye Health?
  • References and Resources

What Is Eye Pressure and Why It Matters

The fluid pressure inside your eyes is called intraocular pressure (IOP). It's a normal part of how the eye's internal fluid system works, but too much pressure might hurt the optic nerve. This is an important part of glaucoma, which is a disease that can cause vision loss if not treated appropriately. A lot of glaucoma therapies work by lowering this pressure, so any substance that might boost or lower it naturally needs to be looked into carefully.

Ashwagandha: A Quick Overview

Adaptogenic herbs, like ashwagandha, assist the body deal with stress. Ayurvedic medicine has used it for a long time to treat a wide range of problems, from relaxing anxiety to boosting energy and resilience. One of its main ways of working is by reducing cortisol, the hormone that is released when you are stressed. High amounts of cortisol can affect the whole body, including blood pressure, inflammation, and maybe even pressure inside the eye.

The Link Between Stress, Cortisol, and Eye Pressure

Some persons who are under a lot of stress have higher intraocular pressure. Cortisol levels rise when you're under a lot of stress, which can raise your blood pressure and change the way fluids move in your eye. Some studies think that ashwagandha might help keep ocular pressure healthy by regulating cortisol. It may help lower ocular pressure by lowering stress and keeping the neurological system in balance.

But this doesn't have the same effect on eye pressure directly. There is no general clinical recommendation to use ashwagandha to treat glaucoma or other eye pressure disorders because it is not an ocular medication. Still, its effects on the body's stress response and inflammation may help in a different way when administered cautiously.

What the Research Says

The evidence connecting ashwagandha directly to alterations in intraocular pressure is currently limited although compelling. Some modest studies and anecdotal evidence indicate that adaptogens such as ashwagandha may influence pressure regulation through hormonal or vascular mechanisms. A study conducted on mice indicated that specific adaptogens may mitigate stress-induced increases in intraocular pressure (IOP); nevertheless, human data remains limited.

Some practitioners in holistic or integrative circles do advocate ashwagandha for overall eye and nervous system support, especially when stress seems to be a key contributing cause. But for now, scientists are being careful. Ashwagandha is safe for most people, but it shouldn't be used alone to treat eye problems like glaucoma.

If you are already taking prescription eye drops or getting therapy for excessive eye pressure, you should talk to your eye doctor before taking herbal supplements. Some plants can change how drugs work, and each person reacts differently.

Should You Use Ashwagandha for Eye Health?

If you're generally healthy and want to better control your stress, ashwagandha might help. It may have an influence on other systems in the body, such as those that affect eye health, because it can relax the nervous system and suppress cortisol. But it doesn't take the place of routine eye checks or treatments for glaucoma.

If you have high intraocular pressure, ashwagandha is best thought of as an extra alternative at most. There is no proof that it elevates eye pressure, and its soothing effects might even lower some risk factors, although this is still only a theory.

If you have eye problems and are thinking about adding ashwagandha to your supplements, it's best to talk to your ophthalmologist or healthcare practitioner first. They can help you figure out if the possible benefits are worth the dangers based on your own health history.

Key Takeaway

Ashwagandha may help with stress-related causes of ocular strain, but additional research is needed. You should always talk to a doctor before using it for eye health.

References and Resources

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