Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is a nontoxic herb gaining attention in the U.S. for its ability to modulate stress and anxiety. The herb is an important part of centuries-old Ayurveda, the traditional system of medicine in India, and is used to treat a range of conditions, such as rheumatism and insomnia[1].
“[Its] physiologic effects… are interrelated,” says Andrea Fossati, M.D., an integrative healthcare specialist in Vermont. “For example, less stress equals lower cortisol levels, which equals better blood sugar control.”
Still, many clinical trials have tested the herbal substance on a relatively small number of participants. Further and more expansive studies are needed to establish ashwagandha’s claimed benefits, especially over the long term.
What Is Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha is part of a class of plants called adaptogens known for their health benefits when ingested as teas, powders, tinctures and supplements, or in their raw forms.
Also known as Indian ginseng, winter cherry or by its scientific name Withania somnifera, ashwagandha is a herbal shrub whose roots and berries are used for their medicinal properties.
Risks and Side Effects of Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is a safe and nontoxic plant, but there are a few factors to consider before adding it to your diet.
Do you take other medications? It’s a good idea to let your doctor(s) know if you want to add something new to your health routine, including ashwagandha. If you’re already taking other medications, ashwagandha may enhance or weaken their effects.
Are there other conditions to consider? Ashwagandha may be unsafe if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, immunocompromised, soon undergoing surgery or have a thyroid condition. It’s also worth noting that some people who are allergic to nightshades or have certain grass allergies don’t tolerate ashwagandha well. If any of these situations apply to you, talk to your doctor or an integrative health specialist to determine whether it’s safe for you to take ashwagandha.
What dosage should I take? Experts say that bodies may not absorb all of a 300-milligram dose of ashwagandha, for example. Larger doses may even trigger unwanted side effects, such as vomiting and diarrhea. Instead, take smaller doses more frequently to benefit most from its balancing effects.
Where did this ashwagandha come from? Always check the source of your herbs, especially if you’re buying supplement capsules. Start by asking staff members at natural foods or supplements stores for recommendations. If they say any brand will work, do your own research on each company’s certifications, testing practices and product standards. You especially want to check for the presence of any heavy metals, including arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury, in their products[19]. Exposure to these metals can result in damage to the liver, kidneys, central nervous system, immune system and reproductive system[20].
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How to Take Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha roots and berries can be consumed for their medical properties, but typically, you find ashwagandha in supplement capsules or in tablet, gummy, powder, tincture and tea form. SOURCE
9 Health Benefits of Ashwagandha
Potential benefits of ashwagandha include better athletic performance and sleep. Some research suggests this herb may help people with conditions like anxiety and infertility, but stronger studies are needed.
Ashwagandha is one of the most important herbs in Ayurveda, which is a traditional form of alternative medicine based on Indian principles of natural healing.
People have used ashwagandha for thousands of years to relieve stress, increase energy levels, and improve concentration (1).
“Ashwagandha” is Sanskrit for “smell of the horse,” which refers to both the herb’s scent and its potential ability to increase strength (2).
Its botanical name is Withania somnifera, and it’s also known by several other names, including “Indian ginseng” and “winter cherry.”
The ashwagandha plant is a small shrub with yellow flowers that’s native to India and Southeast Asia. Extracts or powder from the plant’s root or leaves are used to treat a variety of conditions, including anxiety and fertility issues (3).
Here are 9 potential benefits of ashwagandha, based on research.
1. May help reduce stress and anxiety
Ashwagandha is perhaps best known for its ability to reduce stress. It’s classified as an adaptogen, a substance that helps the body cope with stress.
Ashwagandha appears to help control mediators of stress, including heat shock proteins (Hsp70), cortisol, and stress-activated c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK-1) (4).
It also reduces the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, a system in your body that regulates the stress response (4, 5).
Several studies have shown that ashwagandha supplements may help relieve stress and anxiety.
In a small study with 58 participants, those who took 250 or 600 mg of ashwagandha extract for 8 weeks had significantly reduced perceived stress and levels of the stress hormone cortisol compared with those who took a placebo.
What’s more, the participants who took the ashwagandha supplements experienced significant improvements in sleep quality compared with the placebo group (4).
Another study in 60 people found that those who took 240 mg of ashwagandha extract per day for 60 days had significant reductions in anxiety compared with those who received a placebo treatment (5).
Thus, early research suggests ashwagandha may be a helpful supplement for stress and anxiety.
However, a recent review of studies concluded that there’s not enough evidence to form a consensus on the most appropriate dosage and form of ashwagandha for treating stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders such as anxiety (6).
2. May benefit athletic performance
Research has shown that ashwagandha may have beneficial effects on athletic performance and may be a worthwhile supplement for athletes.
One analysis of research included 12 studies in men and women who took ashwagandha doses between 120 mg and 1,250 mg per day. The results suggest the herb may enhance physical performance, including strength and oxygen use during exercise (7).
An analysis of five studies found that taking ashwagandha significantly enhanced maximum oxygen consumption (VO2 max) in healthy adults and athletes (8).
VO2 max is the maximum amount of oxygen a person can use during intense activity. It’s a measurement of heart and lung fitness.
Having optimal VO2 max is important for athletes and nonathletes alike. Low VO2 max is associated with increased mortality risk, while higher VO2 max is associated with a lower risk of heart disease (8).
Additionally, ashwagandha may help increase muscle strength.
In one study, male participants who took 600 mg of ashwagandha per day and participated in resistance training for 8 weeks had significantly greater gains in muscle strength and size compared with a placebo group (9).
SUMMARYAshwagandha may help improve measures of physical performance in athletes and healthy adults, including VO2 max and strength.
3. May reduce symptoms of some mental health conditions
Some evidence suggests that ashwagandha may help reduce symptoms of other mental health conditions, including depression, in certain populations.
In one study, researchers looked at the effects of ashwagandha in 66 people with schizophrenia who were experiencing depression and anxiety.
They found that participants who took 1,000 mg of ashwagandha extract daily for 12 weeks had greater reductions in depression and anxiety than those who took a placebo (10).
What’s more, findings from another study suggest that taking ashwagandha may help improve total symptoms and perceived stress in people with schizophrenia (11).
Limited research from 2013 also suggests that ashwagandha may help improve cognitive impairment in people with bipolar disorder. However, more research is needed (12).
Additionally, a study from 2012 found that stressed adults who took 600 mg of ashwagandha extract per day for 60 days reported a 77% reduction in symptoms of depression, while the placebo group reported a 5% reduction (13).
However, only one of the participants in this study had a history of depression, so the relevance of the results is unclear.
Although some findings suggest that ashwagandha may have some antidepressant effects in certain people, you should not try to use it as a substitute for antidepressant medication.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of depression, talk with a healthcare professional so you can get any help or treatment you may need.
SUMMARYThe limited research available suggests that ashwagandha may help reduce symptoms of depression and benefit people with some mental health conditions. However, more research is needed.
4. May help boost testosterone and increase fertility in men
Ashwagandha supplements have been shown in some studies to benefit male fertility and increase testosterone levels.
In one study, 43 overweight men ages 40–70 who had mild fatigue took tablets containing ashwagandha extract or a placebo daily for 8 weeks.
The ashwagandha treatment was associated with an 18% greater increase in DHEA-S, a sex hormone involved in testosterone production. Participants who took the herb also had a 14.7% greater increase in testosterone than those who took the placebo (14).
Additionally, a review of four studies found that ashwagandha treatment significantly increased sperm concentration, semen volume, and sperm motility in men with low sperm count.
It also increased sperm concentration and motility in men with normal sperm count (15).
However, the researchers concluded that there’s currently not enough data to confirm the potential benefits of ashwagandha for male fertility and that more high quality studies are needed (15).
SUMMARYAshwagandha may help increase testosterone levels and may have some potential benefits for male fertility. However, more research is needed.
5. May reduce blood sugar levels
Limited evidence suggests that ashwagandha may have some benefits for people with diabetes or high blood sugar levels.
A review of 24 studies, including 5 clinical studies in people with diabetes, found that treatment with ashwagandha significantly reduced blood sugar, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), insulin, blood lipids, and oxidative stress markers (16).
It’s believed that certain compounds within ashwagandha, including one called withaferin A (WA), have powerful antidiabetic activity and may help stimulate your cells to take in glucose from your bloodstream (17).
However, research is limited at this time, and more well-designed studies are needed.
SUMMARYLimited evidence suggests that ashwagandha may reduce blood sugar levels through its effects on insulin secretion and cells’ ability to absorb glucose from the bloodstream.
6. May reduce inflammation
Ashwagandha contains compounds, including WA, that may help reduce inflammation in the body (18).
Researchers have found that WA targets inflammatory pathways in the body, including signal molecules called nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2).
Animal studies have shown that WA may also help reduce levels of inflammatory proteins such as interleukin-10 (IL-10) (18).
There’s some evidence that ashwagandha may help reduce inflammatory markers in humans too.
In one study from 2008, adults experiencing stress took ashwagandha extract for 60 days. As a result, they had significant reductions in C-reactive protein — an inflammatory marker — compared with those who consumed a placebo (19).
In another study, researchers gave people with COVID-19 an Ayurvedic drug containing 0.5 grams of ashwagandha and other herbs twice per day for 7 days. This reduced participants’ levels of inflammatory markers CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α compared with a placebo (20).
The treatment formulation also contained:
- 1 gram of giloy ghanvati (Tinospora cordifolia)
- 2 grams of swasari ras (a traditional herbo-mineral formulation)
- 0.5 grams of tulsi ghanvati (Ocimum sanctum)
Even though these findings are promising, research on ashwagandha’s potential effects on inflammation is limited at this time.
SUMMARYAshwagandha may help reduce inflammatory markers in the body. However, more research is needed.
7. May improve brain function, including memory
Taking ashwagandha may benefit cognitive function.
One review that included five clinical studies noted there was early evidence that ashwagandha could improve cognitive functioning in certain populations, including older adults with mild cognitive impairment and people with schizophrenia.
Cognitive functions it may benefit included (21):
- executive functioning
- attention
- reaction time
- performance on cognitive tasks
A study in 50 adults showed that taking 600 mg of ashwagandha extract per day for 8 weeks led to significant improvements in the following measures compared with taking a placebo (22):
- immediate and general memory
- attention
- information-processing speed
Researchers note that compounds found in ashwagandha, including WA, have antioxidant effects in the brain, which may benefit cognitive health (22).
However, more research is needed before experts can draw strong conclusions.
SUMMARYAshwagandha supplements may improve memory, reaction time, and the ability to perform tasks in certain populations. However, more research is needed.
8. May help improve sleep
Many people take ashwagandha to promote restful sleep, and some evidence suggests it may help with sleep issues.
For example, a study in 50 adults ages 65–80 found that taking 600 mg of ashwagandha root per day for 12 weeks significantly improved sleep quality and mental alertness upon waking compared with a placebo treatment (23).
Additionally, one review of five high quality studies found that ashwagandha had a small but significant positive effect on overall sleep quality.
Taking ashwagandha reduced people’s anxiety levels and helped them feel more alert when they woke up (24).
The researchers noted that results were more pronounced in people with insomnia and in those who took more than 600 mg daily for 8 weeks or longer (24).
SUMMARY: Recent evidence suggests that ashwagandha may be an effective natural remedy to improve sleep and may especially help people with insomnia.
9. Relatively safe and widely available
Ashwagandha is a safe supplement for most people, although its long-term effects are unknown.
A review of 69 studies found that ashwagandha root appears to be safe and effective for managing certain health conditions, including stress, anxiety, and insomnia (1).
One study in 80 healthy men and women showed that taking 600 mg of ashwagandha daily for 8 weeks was safe and did not cause any adverse health effects in participants (25).
However, certain people should not take it. For example, pregnant people should avoid it because it may cause pregnancy loss if used in high doses (26).
Also, those with hormone-sensitive prostate cancer and those taking certain medications, such as benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants, or barbiturates, should avoid taking ashwagandha (26).
Some side effects have been reported in people taking ashwagandha supplements, including upper gastrointestinal discomfort, drowsiness, and diarrhea (26).
Additionally, ashwagandha may affect the thyroid, so those with thyroid disease should check with a healthcare professional before taking it (27).
Dosing recommendations for ashwagandha vary. For example, doses ranging from 250–1,250 mg per day have been shown to be effective for different conditions. Consult a healthcare professional if you have questions regarding ashwagandha dosing.
Research findings suggest that ashwagandha’s effects aren’t immediate, so keep in mind that you may have to take it for several months before you start noticing its effects.
You can take ashwagandha in many ways, in either a single dose or multiple doses per day. And you can take it either with meals or on an empty stomach.
Several supplement manufacturers produce it and various retailers sell it, including health food stores and vitamin shops.
SUMMARYAlthough ashwagandha is safe for most people, it’s not safe for everyone. It’s important to check with a healthcare professional before taking ashwagandha.
The bottom line
Ashwagandha is an ancient medicinal herb with multiple possible health benefits.
Study findings suggest that it may help reduce anxiety and stress, support restful sleep, and even improve cognitive functioning in certain populations.
Ashwagandha is considered relatively safe for most people. However, it’s not appropriate for everyone, so it’s important to talk with a healthcare professional before adding ashwagandha to your routine. SOURCE
Overview
Ashwagandha contains chemicals that might help calm the brain, reduce swelling, lower blood pressure, and alter the immune system.
Since ashwagandha is traditionally used as an adaptogen, it is used for many conditions related to stress. Adaptogens are believed to help the body resist physical and mental stress. Some of the conditions it is used for include insomnia, aging, anxiety and many others, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses. There is also no good evidence to support using ashwagandha for COVID-19.
Don’t confuse ashwagandha with Physalis alkekengi. Both are known as winter cherry. Also, don’t confuse ashwagandha with American ginseng, Panax ginseng, or eleuthero. SOURCE