Are there clinical studies showing the effects of Ashwagandha on bone injury healing?

Effects of Ashwagandha on Bone Injury Healing

There are currently no clinical studies showing the effects of Ashwagandha on bone injury healing in humans.

Current Evidence on Ashwagandha

While Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a well-established herb in Ayurvedic medicine with various reported health benefits, the clinical evidence specifically for bone healing is extremely limited:

• Safety studies have shown that Ashwagandha consumption (300mg twice daily for 8 weeks) appears to be generally safe in healthy adults 1
• Ashwagandha has demonstrated antioxidant activity and neurotransmitter modulatory effects in animal models 2
• One animal study showed protective effects against adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats, with improvements in bone collagen and antioxidant status 3
• A pilot study in rheumatoid arthritis patients showed some benefit when Ashwagandha was used in combination with another Ayurvedic treatment (Sidh Makardhwaj), but this study had significant limitations including small sample size, short duration, and lack of a control group 4

Established Treatments for Bone Healing

For bone injury healing, current evidence-based approaches include:

1. Calcium and Vitamin D supplementation:

   • Recommended intake of calcium (1,000-1,200 mg/d) and vitamin D (800-1,000 IU/d) 5, 6
   • These nutrients are fundamental for bone health and healing

2. Exercise therapy:

   • Combination of exercise types including balance training, flexibility exercises, endurance exercise, and resistance training 5
   • Exercise should be tailored according to individual patient needs and abilities

3. Bisphosphonates:

   • First-line therapy for improving bone healing in osteoporotic conditions 6
   • Weak evidence suggests that active vitamin D and phosphate supplements may improve healing of post-traumatic or surgical fractures in specific conditions like X-linked hypophosphataemia 5

4. Biological agents:

   • In certain conditions, medications like burosumab have shown improved fracture healing compared to conventional therapy 5
   • In a phase III RCT, burosumab demonstrated 43.1% healing rate of fractures at 24 weeks compared to 7.7% in the placebo group 5

Safety Considerations with Ashwagandha

It's important to note that Ashwagandha has been associated with potential hepatotoxicity:

• Case reports have documented ashwagandha-induced liver injury with cholestatic or mixed pattern 7
• Patients developed jaundice and symptoms such as nausea, lethargy, pruritus and abdominal discomfort after 2-12 weeks of use 7

Clinical Recommendation

For bone injury healing, clinicians should follow evidence-based approaches:

1. Ensure adequate calcium (1,000-1,200 mg daily) and vitamin D (800-1,000 IU daily) intake
2. Prescribe appropriate exercise regimens based on the patient's condition
3. Consider FDA-approved medications with proven efficacy for bone healing when indicated
4. Advise patients to avoid smoking and limit alcohol consumption as these are risk factors for poor bone healing 5

While Ashwagandha shows some promising effects in animal models, there is insufficient clinical evidence to recommend it for bone injury healing in humans. Patients interested in complementary approaches should be counseled about the lack of clinical evidence and potential risks.