Ashwagandha

Please note the following referenced scientific research is for informational use only. The results reported below may not necessarily occur in all our customers. The information should not replace advice from your health care practitioner. This information should not be read to recommend or endorse any specific product.

The name ashwagandha comes from Indian Sanskrit meaning ‘horse like smell’, not only referring to the smell of the herb but also its strengthening and aphrodisiac qualities. In Ayurvedic medicine, ashwagandha is classified as ‘rasayana’ (rejuvenation) and is used to encourage overall health and wellbeing.

Stress

  • Ashwagandha safely and effectively improves an individual's resistance towards stress and thereby improves self-assessed quality of life (Chandrasekhar et al. 2012).  

  • Ashwagandha is shown to reduce the negative effects of chronic stress (Bhattacharya & Muruganandam 2003). 

  • Current findings suggest that ashwagandha's stress-relieving effects may occur via its moderating effect on the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (Lopresti et al. 2019).

Sleep

  • Ashwagandha’s chemical component, the alkaloids are considered to be sedative and used as a treatment for insomnia. (Kumar & Kalonia 2007). 

  • Ashwagandha root extract is a natural compound with sleep-inducing potential, well tolerated and has shown to improve sleep quality and sleep onset latency (Langade et al. 2019).

References

  • Braun, L., and Cohen,Marc. 2015. Herbs & Natural Supplements An Evidence-based guide Volume 2. 4th ed. Australia: Elsevier.

  • Chandrasekhar, K., Kapoor, J., Anishetty, S. 2012. “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, 34. 3: 255-62. https://doi.org/10.4103/0253-7176.106022 

  • Langade, D., Kanchi, S., Salve, J., Debnath, K., Ambegaokar, D. 2019. “Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Root Extract in Insomnia and Anxiety: A double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Study.” Cureus, 11. 9: 5797. 10.7759/cureus.5797   

  • Bhattacharya SK., Muruganandam AV. 2003. “Adaptogenic activity of Withania somnifera: an experimental study using a rat model for chronic stress.” Pharmacol Biochemistry and Behaviour, 75. 3: 547-555. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091305703001102?via%3Dihub 

  • Lopresti, AL., Smith, SJ., Malvi, H., Kodgule, R. 2019. “ AN investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.” Medicine (Baltimore), 98. 37: 17186. https://insights.ovid.com/crossref?an=00005792-201909130-00067 

  • Kumar, A., Kalonia, H. 2007. “ Protective effect of Withania somnifera Dunal on the behavioral and biochemical alterations in sleep-disturbed mice (Grid over water suspended method).” Indian Journal of experimental biology, 45. 6: 524-8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17585686