Just learned something the hard way! (Folks with autoimmune conditions maybe listen up?)

[Jilly_in_VA]

Yesterday I got up with what I thought were some bug bites. Not a thing. It's summer in Virginia, lots of bugs. By mid-afternoon, the small red "bites" had large white swollen areas around them and were blending into each other, not to mention itching. Hives? thinks . Break out the Benadryl! Now what could be causing it? Spousal unit argued in favor or the large number of steamed shrimp I'd eaten Friday night, but I disagreed; he's the one who's allergic to those, not me. We went onto a concert and then out to dinner. When we got back I noticed that I had broken out in more places on my legs that were not there before, and that a couple of old, healing injuries had swelling around them. That sent me on a chase through my Merck manual, a staple since my nursing school days, but I found no help there. After some hard thinking, I decided that the only new thing I had going on was that I had just this past week started taking Ashwagandha to help with anxiety and help me sleep better. (It was working, BTW.) I decided that just might be the culprit, so I didn't take any last night. I did keep up with the Benadryl and cortisone cream to the itchy and inflamed place.

Well whaddya know, I got up this morning and the "bug bites" were back to looking like small pink bumps. The other places, where redness and swelling had surrounded healing injuries, were still red, but not swollen. Now here's the kicker---I have an autoimmune condition called lichen planus which affects the skin, mucous membranes, and nails. The two patches on my legs had turned red and swelled up, and the last couple of days I'd had a few more of the little eruptions I sometimes get in my mouth. So my ever-curious spousal unit decided to go hunting around, and guess what he found!

When to Avoid Ashwagandha
If you have an autoimmune disorder - Ashwagandha has properties that may activate the immune system and exacerbate symptoms of autoimmune disorders such as joint pain. 1:51
If you have allergies or food sensitivities - People with an intolerance to nightshade plants like tomatoes, peppers, or potatoes, which are related to ashwagandha, may have trouble digesting them completely, which can cause gas, bloating and diarrhea. Anecdotal evidence suggests that it is possible for some people to experience allergic reactions, such as skin rashes, itchiness, chest pain, and difficulty breathing, from consuming ashwagandha. Nightshade allergies are rare, but those who have them should always avoid ashwagandha

Also, from WebMD:
"Auto-immune diseases" such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions: Ashwagandha might cause the immune system to become more active, and this could increase the symptoms of auto-immune diseases. If you have one of these conditions, it's best to avoid using ashwagandha."

So I guess I will not be taking that any more!!!!!!