I agree 100% with Willowley (great information!), but want to throw this in for consideration.

You said >>> Why is gas a common side effect for ashwaghanda?<<< HUH?  Methinks you somehow 'cross-confused' something.  That article says nothing about "gas" being a "common side effect" - it says when "taken in excess" it can cause intestinal issues.  That's a standard disclaimer on any/every herb.  Anything taken 'in excess' causes adverse reactions.

First, from the article (which does contain some "iffy" information), we have this:

>>>Stomach Discomfort: When consumed in excess, Ashwagandha root can cause stomach discomfort in the form of frequent bowel movements that are loose (similar to diarrhea), bloating, and flatulence or gas. The discomfort caused by this herb can result in nausea and vomiting, which in turn can lead to a loss of appetite.<<<  This is true of anything and everything we might ever eat when "consumed in excess".  This does not mean it's a common side-effect of Ashwagandha.

We must first define "excess"?  Well Ayurvedic MDs/healers commonly suggest 1-3T (or even more) daily of the root powder.  Even some the most conservative sites recommended 60 drops of a tincture (2 droppersful) 3x daily.

Dozens of people on this forum (and those I've assisted before having the forum) have taken 1-5 Tablespoons daily.  I've never heard of anyone (nor myself) experiencing any of the above symptoms from Ashwagandha - that's because 5T is not "in excess".

However you have experienced extreme gas from a miniscule amount of dried-up garlic powder (unless it had something to do with the other herbs in the IF#1)...which is not a common side-effect of garlic, and now you've experienced gas from 1 dropperful (I'm assuming) of Ashwagandha tincture.  Neither amount could even be considered "normal", let alone "excess".

This indicates (to me) something I've dealt with in people several times before: a highly reactive state...and the reactions actually have nothing to do with the herb or food (or the dosage size) being correct or incorrect (or "wrong" for the person), the reactions are due to severe intestinal and liver compromise ( - mostly liver, and worsened by adrenal issues).  The absolute best therapy for this is daily coffee enemas.  So explain to me again (if you will) exactly what you experienced when you did the CE's and exactly how strong the solution was, how much you retained and for how long (the two posts I've been able to find, if I'm recalling them correctly, seemed to conflict with each other a bit).

Yes, CE's do induce the liver to cleanse and purge itself of very stale/toxic bile, but because (when done effectively), the CE induces peristalsis, it ensures that very little of this bile is ever re-assimilated.  Please check out this information: The Secret to the Coffee Enema

From the link above:

The introduction of a quart of coffee solution into the colon will dilute portal blood and subsequently, the bile. Theophylline and theobromine, major constituents of coffee, dilate blood vessels and counter inflammation of the gut. The palmitates of coffee enhance glutathione S-transferase which is responsible for the removal of many toxic radicals from serum. Finally, the fluid of the enema itself stimulates the visceral nervous system promoting peristalsis and the transit of diluted toxic bile from the duodenum out the rectum. Because the stimulating enema is retained for 15 minutes, and because all the blood in the body passes through the liver nearly every three minutes, these enemas represent a form of dialysis of blood across the gut wall....As a medication, the coffee enema is in a class by itself. While other agents classed as choleretics do increase bile flow from the liver, they do little to enhance detoxifying enzyme systems, and they do not ensure the passage of bile from the intestines out the rectum. Bile is normally reabsorbed up to 9 or 10 times before working its way out the intestines in feces. The enzyme enhancing ability of the coffee enema is unique among choleretics. Because it does not allow reabsorption of toxic bile by the liver across the gut wall, it is an entirely effective means of detoxifying the blood stream through existing enzyme systems in the liver and small bowel. Because clinical practice has shown coffee enemas to be well tolerated by patients when used as frequently as every four hours, the coffee enema may be classed as the only non-reabsorbed, effective, repeatable choleretic in the medical literature.

I (and many others) have seen gallstones and/or liver flukes in the toilet after only one CE (regular or back-to-back).  That means liver/gallbladder ---> toilet in around 30-60 minutes.  That proves the peristaltic action described above.  Of course, more may come out after the CE has been expelled.

This physiological action is not something that happens to some and not to others; it happens every time a CE is properly administered.  The concept that a CE "dumps toxic bile that reassimilates" and that causes one to feel badly afterward due to toxic bile, is a falsehood (more below from Dr. Gerson).  However, the issue can be (especially in those with liver compromise), that it takes 2-3 (or more) properly prepared & administered CE's to get the liver opened up and get things flowingly properly (hence subsequent symptoms after 1 or 2 CE's can be due to the liver being so congested that 1-2 CE's didn't 'break through' the clog completely enough.  Hence, because the compromised/clogged liver couldn't release all of the bile when the ducts were dilated, more continues out after the CE's is released (which would allow some of the toxic bile to be reassimilated)  This is but one of the reasons that Dr. Gerson had every patient doing 4-5 CE's daily, as everyone with cancer has liver compromise.  For most, after several days of daily CE's, the only reaction is one of more energy and feeling much better (and less "reactions" of all kinds).  And because of the peristaltic action, many times they are very good for relieving gas :)

Thanks for (inadvertantly) triggering my "reaction" to explain more about the actions of CE's.  That is something I've needed to get into print for quite awhile :)

Blessings,

Uny

THE COFFEE ENEMA
Purpose
The purpose of the coffee enema is to cleanse the blood and clear the liver of toxins.
These toxins occur from the normal metabolisms of food as well as the carcinogenic
toxins from our polluted environment, drugs, food and water pollutants such as
pesticides, preservatives, hormones, excreted prescription drugs and fluoride.
Mechanism
This cleansing is accomplished by increasing the liver's capacity to detoxify toxins in the
blood and binding them to the bile. In the process, the liver cleanses itself as it releases
the toxic bile into the small, then large, intestine for evacuation.
The entire blood supply circulates through the liver every three minutes. By retaining the
coffee 12 to 15 minutes, the blood will circulate four to five times for cleansing, much
like a dialysis treatment.
The water content of the coffee stimulates intestinal peristalsis and helps to empty the
large intestine with the accumulated toxic bile.
Note, coffee enemas are not primarily for colon cleansing.
Physiology
Glutathione is the primary antioxidant that is prevalent in every cell in the human body.
Glutathione is primarily synthesized in the liver where it is abundantly present.
Glutathione participates in leukotrinene synthesis for WBC mobilization and is a cofactor
for the enzyme glutathione peroxidase (cellular antioxidant)
The palmitic acid in caffeine increases the activity of glutathione S-transferase (GST) by
600% in the liver and a 700% increase in detoxification in the small intestine.
GST(glutathione S-transferase) makes excess free radicals water soluble for easy
elimination from the cells and the body and blocks and detoxifies carcinogens.
GST, binds bilirubin and its glucuronides so that they can be eliminated from the
hepatocytes (liver cells).
The liver thus uses glutathione to neutralize poisons, e.g., alcohol, caffeine, medications,
nicotine, and remove them from the blood. (The amino acid, Cysteine is the limiting
factor as N-acetyl-Cysteine (NAC), in glutathione synthesis, ensuring an adequate supply
of glutathione helps cleanse the blood of toxins and substances.)
80-90% of the blood that leaves the stomach and intestines passes through the liver. The
blood carries important nutrients to the liver where they are metabolized into substances
vital to life.
Page 2
In the same way, exogenous toxic substances reach the liver where they are either
activated or transformed into less toxic derivatives. Glutathione plays a crucial role in the
liver’s biotransformation system. Biotransformation in Phase One denatures (inactivates)
the toxin and Phase Two makes the toxin water soluble to bind with the bile and be
excreted through the feces.
See " THE GERSON THERAPY", by Gerson and Walker pg 163 (highly recommended
reading) for the ; SUMMARY OF PHISIOLOGICAL BENEFITS OF COFFEE
ENEMAS
Dr Max Gerson, MD, used several coffee enemas a day to remove his patients from
morphine and relieve their severe pain.
COFFEE ENEMAS IN SUMMARY:
1.
Cleanse the blood of toxins
2.
Cleanse the liver to improve its many metabolic functions
3.
Boost the immune system
4.
Relieves severe pain and some headaches
Accumulated toxins have been associated with general nervous tension, confusion,
depression, allergy related symptoms and severe pain.