Health Benefits of Ashwagandha, Based on Research

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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 at Health Benefits of Ashwagandha, Based on Research.

People have usedTrusted Source ashwagandha for thousands of years to relieve stress, increase energy levels, and improve concentration.

“Ashwagandha” is Sanskrit for “smell of the horse,” which refers toTrusted Source both the herb’s scent and its potential ability to increase strength.

Its botanical name is Withania somnifera, and it’s also known by several other names, including “Indian ginseng” and “winter cherry at Health Benefits of Ashwagandha, Based on Research.”

The native plants of India and Southeast Asia are tiny shrubs with golden blossoms called ashwagandha. The plant’s leaves or roots are used as extracts or powder to treat a range of ailments, such as infertility and anxietyTrusted Source.

Here are 8 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 at Health Benefits of Ashwagandha, Based on Research.

Ashwagandha may helpTrusted Source control mediators of stress, including heat shock proteins (Hsp70), cortisol, and stress-activated c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK-1).

It also reduces the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, a system in your body that regulates the stress response at Health Benefits of Ashwagandha, Based on Research.

ResearchTrusted Source suggests Ashwagandha supplements may help relieve stress and anxiety.

In a small studyTrusted Source 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.

Those who took the ashwagandha supplements also saw improvements in sleep quality compared with the placebo group at Health Benefits of Ashwagandha, Based on Research.

Another studyTrusted Source 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.

Thus, early research suggests ashwagandha may be a helpful supplement for stress and anxiety.

However, a 2021 reviewTrusted Source 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 at Health Benefits of Ashwagandha, Based on Research.

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 researchTrusted Source included 12 studies in people 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 at Health Benefits of Ashwagandha, Based on Research.

Another analysisTrusted Source that looked at five studies found that taking ashwagandha significantly enhanced maximum oxygen consumption (VO2 max) in healthy adults and athletes.

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 riskTrusted Source of heart disease.

Additionally, ashwagandha may help increase muscle strength at Health Benefits of Ashwagandha, Based on Research.

In a 2015 studyTrusted Source, 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.

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 studyTrusted Source, researchers looked at the effects of ashwagandha in 66 people with schizophrenia who were experiencing depression and anxiety at Health Benefits of Ashwagandha, Based on Research.

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.

Limited research from 2013 also suggests that ashwagandha may help improve cognitive impairment in people with bipolar disorder.

A 2021 reviewTrusted Source concluded that ashwaghanda may help manage depression, anxiety, insomnia, and other mental health-related and neurological issues.

However, more research is needed into all these uses at Health Benefits of Ashwagandha, Based on Research.

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 studyTrusted Source, 43 males aged 40–70 with overweight and mild fatigue took tablets containing ashwagandha extract or a placebo daily for 8 weeks.

The 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 at Health Benefits of Ashwagandha, Based on Research.

Additionally, a review of four studiesTrusted Source found that ashwagandha treatment significantly increased sperm concentration, semen volume, and sperm motility in males with low sperm count.

It also increased sperm concentration and motility in males with normal sperm count.

However, more studies are 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 at Health Benefits of Ashwagandha, Based on Research.

A review of 24 studiesTrusted Source, 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.

The reason may beTrusted Source that certain compounds within ashwagandha — including one called withaferin A (WA) — have powerful antidiabetic activity and may help stimulate cells to take in glucose from the bloodstream.

However, research is limited at this time, and more well-designed studies are needed at Health Benefits of Ashwagandha, Based on Research.

6. May reduce inflammation

Ashwagandha contains compounds, including WA, that may help reduce inflammation in the body.

Animal studiesTrusted Source have shown that WA may also help reduce levels of inflammatory proteins such as interleukin-10 (IL-10), and there’s some evidence ashwagandha may help reduce inflammatory markers in humans too.

In a 2021 studyTrusted Source, 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.

The treatment formulation also contained:

  • 1 gram of giloy ghanvati (Tinospora cordifolia)
  • 2 grams of swasari ras (a traditional herbo-mineral formulation)
  • 5 grams of tulsi ghanvati (Ocimum sanctum) at Health Benefits of Ashwagandha, Based on Research

However, research on ashwagandha’s potential effects on inflammation remain limited.

7. May improve brain function, including memory

Taking ashwagandha may benefit cognitive function.

One reviewTrusted Source of five clinical studies found early evidence that ashwagandha could improve cognitive functioning in certain populations, including older adults with mild cognitive impairment and people with schizophrenia at Health Benefits of Ashwagandha, Based on Research.

Cognitive functions it may benefit included:

  • executive functioning
  • attention
  • reaction time
  • performance on cognitive tasks

A studyTrusted Source 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:

  • immediate and general memory
  • attention
  • information-processing speed

The researchers noted that compounds found in ashwagandha, including WA, have antioxidant effects in the brain, which may benefit cognitive health at Health Benefits of Ashwagandha, Based on Research.

However, more research is needed before experts can draw strong conclusions.

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 studyTrusted Source 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.

Additionally, one reviewTrusted Source of five high quality studies found that ashwagandha appeared to:

  • have a small but significant positive effect on overall sleep quality
  • reduce anxiety levels at Health Benefits of Ashwagandha, Based on Research
  • help people feel more alert when they woke up

The results were more pronounced in people with insomnia and in those who took more than 600 mg daily for 8 weeks or longer.

Safety and side effects

Ashwagandha is likely safeTrusted Source for most people when used for up to 3 months, although its long-term effects are unknown at Health Benefits of Ashwagandha, Based on Research.

However, ashwagandha may not be safe if a person:

  • is pregnant, as high doses may lead to pregnancy loss
  • is breastfeeding
  • has hormone-sensitive prostate cancer
  • is taking certain medications, such as benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants, or barbiturates
  • is about to have surgery
  • has an autoimmune or thyroid disorder
  • has liver problems

Some people using ashwagandha supplements have reported the following adverse effectsTrusted Source:

  • upper gastrointestinal discomfort at Health Benefits of Ashwagandha, Based on Research
  • drowsiness
  • diarrhea
  • vomiting

Ashwagandha’s effects may not be immediate, and you may have to take it for several months before noticing its effects.

Always speak with a doctor to ensure ashwagandha or other supplements are safe for you to use at Health Benefits of Ashwagandha, Based on Research.

Dosage

Dosing recommendations for ashwagandha vary. For example, research has shown doses ranging from 250–1,250 mg per day to to be effective for different conditions. Consult a healthcare professional if you have questions regarding ashwagandha dosing.

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.

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