Herbs
Ashwagandha अश्वगंधा
Withania somnifera
Review pending. This draft is waiting for review by a doctor and a BAMS physician.
Ashwagandha अश्वगंधा
Withania somnifera
- Part used
- Root (most studies use a standardised root extract)
- Strength of evidence
- Moderate
- Traditional use
- A Rasayana (a herb used to support strength and resilience), traditionally given for exhaustion, poor sleep and recovery after illness. Its name means “smell of a horse”, a nod to its earthy smell and the strength it was believed to give.
- What the research shows
- Several small, short randomised trials (mostly 6 to 12 weeks, often in India) found that root extract lowered stress scores and morning cortisol compared with placebo, and a 2022 meta-analysis pooled these as a moderate benefit. The trials were small, many were industry-funded, and long-term safety is not well studied. It is a promising support, not a replacement for care.
- Who should avoid it
- Anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding
- People with liver disease, or anyone who notices yellowing skin or dark urine while taking it
- People with thyroid conditions, as it may raise thyroid hormone levels
- People with autoimmune conditions, or taking sedatives, immunosuppressants, or diabetes or blood-pressure medicines, unless their doctor agrees
- Anyone due for surgery in the next two weeks
Regulation and safety notes
Sold in India as an Ayurvedic medicine under AYUSH licensing and abroad as a dietary supplement. Some countries, including Denmark, have restricted it over safety concerns. Rare cases of liver injury have been reported.
Talk to your doctor before taking any herb, especially if you take other medicines.
Sources
- 1.A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults — Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 2012Trial
- 2.An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha extract — Medicine (Baltimore), 2019Trial
- 3.Does Ashwagandha supplementation have a beneficial effect on the management of anxiety and stress? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials — Phytotherapy Research, 2022Review
- 4.Ashwagandha-induced liver injury: a case series from Iceland and the US Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network — Liver International, 2020Review
- 5.Ashwagandha: usefulness and safety — National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH), 2023Fact sheet