From Pharmaceuticals to Plants: A Nurse Practitioner’s Journey with Ashwagandha
Heidi Sykora DNP, GNP-BC (retired)
A Shift in Perspective
After 25 years as a Registered Nurse, Clinical Nurse Specialist, and Nurse Practitioner, I believed I had a solid understanding of what supported health. My practice was grounded in the principles Florence Nightingale championed: nutritious food, movement, cleanliness, and fresh air. But as my career advanced, I watched the holistic nursing model be overshadowed by the medical model — one that often prioritizes pharmaceuticals over prevention. Much of what I was taught reflected the priorities of the pharmaceutical and medical establishment, not always what was most helpful or healing for patients. I began to question whether we were truly serving our patients' best interests.
An Unexpected Teacher
My appreciation for plant medicine began with a 95-year-old hospice patient living with Lewy body dementia.
His hand tremors had worsened to the point where he could no longer feed himself. We tried conventional treatments like Ativan (lorazepam), but they offered little relief — and came with serious side effects: confusion and falls. Discontinuing the medication left us with few options.
Then I remembered a conversation with a friend who had mentioned Ashwagandha, an herb said to help with tremors. With the family's consent, we started a small test dose to monitor for adverse effects. When none appeared, he began taking 300 mg daily.
The results were extraordinary. His tremors stopped completely. His sleep improved. But most meaningful of all — he regained the ability to feed himself and share meals with his family. That experience sparked my deep respect for plant medicine.
What Is Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an evergreen shrub native to Asia and Africa. Its name in Sanskrit — the sacred language of Hinduism — translates to "horse smell," referring to its distinct odor and the strength it is said to impart. Traditionally, it has been used in Ayurvedic medicine to promote vitality, resilience, and calm. Today, it is most commonly used for anxiety, stress, and insomnia.
Safety and Considerations
Ashwagandha is metabolized through the liver, primarily via the cytochrome P450 pathway. Though rare, there have been reports of liver toxicity. For individuals taking other substances processed through the same pathway, caution is warranted. There are no long-term clinical trials to guide extended use, so periodic monitoring of liver enzymes is a reasonable precaution.
Rooted in Ancient Wisdom
In Ayurveda, one of the eight branches of traditional Indian medicine is Rasayana, which focuses on restoring health and longevity through herbal remedies and rejuvenation practices. Ashwagandha is considered one of the most important herbs in this system — a true cornerstone of plant-based healing.
To learn more about this amazing plant supplement, please watch this informative video:
A Broader View of Healing
Exploring Ashwagandha opened my eyes to the vast potential of plant medicine — not as an alternative to conventional care, but as a valuable complement. My patient’s experience reminded me that healing is not always found in high-tech interventions or pharmaceuticals. Sometimes, it’s in the wisdom of nature and the traditions that have stood the test of time. As healthcare providers, we owe it to our patients to remain open-minded, curious, and willing to look beyond the boundaries of what we were taught. Ashwagandha was just the beginning for me — a doorway into a deeper, more integrative understanding of health.
Patients benefit most when providers integrate all available tools — from conventional medicine to plant-based therapies — with a focus on comfort, healing, and a careful balance of risks and benefits.