Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha Root Extract and Stress Reduction in Adults

“A double-blind, placebo-controlled study on ashwagandha root extract demonstrated significant improvements in stress and anxiety scores in chronically stressed adults. The extract significantly reduced scores on multiple validated stress-assessment scales (p<0.0001), with participants reporting improved energy, concentration, and overall quality of life. The authors concluded that ashwagandha safely and effectively improves resistance to stress.”

Withania somnifera for Anxiety and Sleep Quality — A Double-Blind Randomised Study

“A double-blind, randomised, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study of ashwagandha root extract in 80 participants found significant improvements in sleep onset latency and sleep efficiency (p<0.0001), total sleep time (p<0.002), and anxiety scores (p<0.05) over 8 weeks. Improvements were more pronounced in participants with insomnia than in healthy volunteers. The authors concluded that ashwagandha root extract improves sleep quality and can assist in managing insomnia.”

A Prospective, Randomised Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Ashwagandha Root Extract and Cortisol Reduction

“In a 60-day randomised, double-blind trial, participants receiving 300 mg ashwagandha root extract twice daily showed a statistically significant reduction in serum cortisol levels compared to placebo (p=0.0006). All stress-assessment scale scores were significantly reduced at day 60 (p<0.0001) in the ashwagandha group. The study confirmed ashwagandha's adaptogenic mechanism, demonstrating measurable cortisol lowering alongside subjective stress reduction.”

Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha Root Extract in Insomnia and Anxiety

“A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled 10-week trial of ashwagandha root extract demonstrated significant improvement in sleep efficiency (from 75.63% to 83.48%) compared to placebo (75.14% to 79.68%), along with reductions in sleep onset latency. Anxiety scores improved significantly across all measured parameters, and the supplement was well-tolerated with no adverse effects. The authors concluded ashwagandha meaningfully improves sleep quality and reduces anxiety in a clinical population.”

Examining the Effect of Withania somnifera Supplementation on Muscle Strength and Recovery: A Randomised Controlled Trial

“An 8-week randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 300 mg ashwagandha extract twice daily in 57 young men undergoing resistance training found significantly greater increases in bench press (+46.0 kg vs +26.4 kg; p=0.001) and leg extension (+14.5 kg vs +9.8 kg; p=0.04) compared to placebo. The ashwagandha group also showed a greater testosterone increase (96.2 ng/dL vs 18.0 ng/dL; p=0.004) and significantly lower serum creatine kinase, indicating enhanced recovery. Body fat reduction was also greater in the ashwagandha group (3.5% vs 1.5%; p=0.03).”

A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study on Hormonal and Vitality Effects of Ashwagandha in Ageing Males

“A 16-week crossover study of ashwagandha in 57 overweight men aged 40–70 found an 18% greater increase in DHEA-S (p=0.005) and a 14.7% greater increase in testosterone (p=0.010) in the ashwagandha group compared to placebo. Both anabolic hormones are key markers of masculine vitality that decline with ageing. The authors concluded that ashwagandha supplementation supports hormonal health in ageing, overweight men.”