Ashwagandha in Pregnancy, Breastfeeding and Children
What NCCIH, Memorial Sloan Kettering and published studies say about ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in pregnancy, while breastfeeding and for children, and where the evidence is thin.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
Safety first. The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) says ashwagandha "should be avoided during pregnancy and should not be used while breastfeeding". [1] Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center also says pregnant women should avoid it, because it may increase the risk of miscarriage at higher doses. [2] If you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, breastfeeding, or giving anything to a child, talk with a clinician or pharmacist first. In an emergency call 911; for poisoning call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (U.S.).
What this page covers
Ashwagandha is Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, family Solanaceae, the accepted name in the GBIF plant checklist. [3] Supplements typically contain root, leaf, or root and leaf extracts. [1] Results for one part or extract do not transfer to another. This page separates what agencies advise, what studies in people found, and what animal studies found. For the general rules see pregnancy and breastfeeding with herbs.Breastfeeding
NCCIH says it should not be used while breastfeeding. [1] Proper evidence not found for how much, if any, passes into breast milk or what it does to a nursing infant. We searched PubMed for ashwagandha with breast milk, lactation and breastfeeding and found no study of that. We could not read the NIH LactMed entry this session, so we do not cite it. Ask a clinician or lactation specialist.Children and teens
NCCIH's page does not set out advice for children. [1] What exists is limited:- A 2026 randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 58 children and adolescents with mild attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder gave a root extract as gummies, 150 mg twice daily for 56 days. [8] The authors reported lower ADHD symptom scores and no serious adverse events. [8] This is one short trial; it is promising but limited and does not show long-term safety.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering says limited clinical data suggest ashwagandha "promotes growth, hemoglobin level, and red blood cell count in children". [2] The source gives no detail on who was studied.
- Proper evidence not found for long-term safety in children, or for use in infants, in the sources we read.
Children are different from small adults in how they handle medicines and supplements. Read children and teens and adaptogens for children and teenagers. A pediatrician should be told about any supplement. Keep all supplements out of children's reach; if a child swallows a supplement by accident, see poisoning: what to do first.
Quality matters more in these groups
Product contents can differ from the label. In one analysis, only 2 of 25 products were confirmed as root-derived, and the rest contained varying proportions of aerial parts. [9] See quality testing and certifications.Frequently asked questions
Is ashwagandha safe during pregnancy?
NCCIH and Memorial Sloan Kettering advise avoiding it. [1][2] One small open-label trial reported no adverse events, but it cannot settle the question. [5]
Does ashwagandha cause miscarriage?
A 2026 systematic review called the evidence for abortifacient activity inconclusive. [4] Memorial Sloan Kettering still advises avoiding it in pregnancy. [2]
Can I take ashwagandha while breastfeeding?
NCCIH says it should not be used while breastfeeding. [1] We found no study of milk transfer. Ask a clinician.
Is ashwagandha safe for kids?
Long-term evidence was not found. One 56-day trial in children with mild ADHD reported no serious adverse events. [8] Ask a pediatrician before giving any supplement.
Is ashwagandha safe when trying to conceive?
Proper evidence not found in the sources we read for conception specifically; NCCIH says only that there is "some limited evidence" that 2 to 4 months of use may increase testosterone levels and sperm quality. [1] Ask a fertility clinician.
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Pregnancy: what the sources say
| Question | What the source found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Should it be avoided? | NCCIH and Memorial Sloan Kettering both advise avoiding it. [1][2] | Agency advice |
| Does it cause miscarriage or birth defects? | A 2026 systematic review found that "evidence supporting significant teratogenic or abortifacient activity remains inconclusive". [4] | Insufficient evidence either way |
| Is there a human safety trial? | One open-label trial gave a root extract to 70 pregnant women in the second trimester for 12 weeks, with no adverse events reported. [5] | Promising but limited (small, no placebo) |
| What do animal studies show? | In rats given an aqueous root extract, "No evidence of toxicity at various stages of development and reproduction" was observed. [6] | Preclinical (animals) |
The sources disagree. A 2026 review of safety as a food additive concluded that ashwagandha "poses significant risks to specific populations, such as pregnant women, patients with thyroid disorders, and individuals with liver or kidney dysfunction". [7] The review of the miscarriage claim said historical reports of abortifacient effects had "citation distortion and lack of primary source validation". [4] Both can be true: the old claim may be poorly sourced, and safety may still be unproven. A single open-label trial of 70 women cannot rule out rare harms to a pregnancy, and the agencies still advise avoiding it. [5][1]
Some people take ashwagandha during pregnancy because a practitioner recommended it in a traditional setting. If that is you, tell your obstetric clinician exactly what the product contains. See Ayurveda in pregnancy.
References
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH, U.S.). Ashwagandha: Usefulness and Safety. Last updated March 2023. Read 2026-10-23.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Ashwagandha: Purported Benefits, Side Effects & More. About Herbs, Botanicals and Other Products. Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Secretariat. Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, accepted name, family Solanaceae. Read 2026-10-23.
- A Systematic and Ethnobotanical Review of Ashwagandha's (Withania somnifera) Teratogenic and Abortifacient Potentials. Phytotherapy Research, 2026. Read 2026-10-23.
- Efficacy and safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root extract in pregnant women: a prospective, randomized, comparative, open-label, 12-week study. Frontiers in Global Women's Health, 2026. Read 2026-10-23.
- Reproductive and developmental safety assessment of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root extract in Wistar rats. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2025. Read 2026-10-23.
- Evaluating the Safety of Ashwagandha as a Food Additive: A Focus on Reproductive, Thyroid, and Immune System Effects. Phytotherapy Research, 2026. Read 2026-10-23.
- Efficacy and safety of ashwagandha root extract in children and adolescents with mild attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Medicine and Life, 2026. Read 2026-10-23.
- A Comparison of British and US Pharmacopoeia Standards for Quality of Ashwagandha Dietary Supplements in Commerce. Phytotherapy Research, 2026. Read 2026-10-23.