Evidence supporting the use of: Ashwagandha
For the health condition: Addictions (general remedies for)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) has a long history in Ayurvedic medicine, where it is valued as a general adaptogen and tonic to bolster physical and mental resilience, including in the context of substance withdrawal and recovery. Traditional uses often focus on its reputed ability to reduce stress, promote calmness, and support the nervous system—effects believed to help those dealing with addiction-related symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, and sleep disturbances. Classical Ayurvedic texts and practitioners have recommended ashwagandha as part of broader holistic approaches to addiction, though not as a primary treatment, but rather as a supportive remedy.

From a scientific perspective, there is limited but growing preclinical evidence supporting ashwagandha’s potential role in addiction. Animal studies suggest that the herb’s withanolides may modulate GABAergic and serotonergic pathways, potentially reducing withdrawal symptoms and drug-seeking behaviors in models of morphine and alcohol dependence. However, high-quality human clinical trials directly assessing ashwagandha’s efficacy in treating addiction are lacking. Most available evidence remains anecdotal or theoretical, and the herb is not recognized as a primary or stand-alone treatment for addiction in any standard medical guidelines. Thus, while traditional medicine advocates its use for general support during addiction recovery, robust scientific validation is currently insufficient.

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Other health conditions supported by ashwagandha

Addictions (drugs)
Addictions (general remedies for)
Adrenal Fatigue
Afterbirth Pain
Aging (prevention)
Alcoholism
Allergies (respiratory)
Alzheimer's Disease
Amenorrhea
Anemia
Angina
Anorexia
Anxiety
Anxiety Disorders
Appetite (deficient)
Anger (excessive)
Arthritis
Asthma
Athletic and Exercise Aids
Attention Deficit Disorder
Autoimmune Disorders
Backache
Bedwetting
Body Building
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Cancer (prevention)
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Cholesterol (high)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder
Circulation (poor)
Concentration (poor)
Depression
Diabetes
Digestion (poor)
Emotional Sensitivity
Endurance (lack of)
Energy (lack of)
Epilepsy
Erectile Dysfunction
Exercise
Fatigue
Fear (excessive)
Fibromyalgia Syndrome
Goiter
Grief and Sadness
Hair (graying)
Hair (loss or thinning)
Hair Care (general)
Headache (general)
Headache (tension)
Heart (weakness)
Hot Flashes
Hypertension
Hypothyroid
Hysteria
Infertility
Inflammation
Insomnia
Irritability
Leucorrhea
Lyme Disease
Memory and Brain Function
Menopause
Menorrhagia
Menstrual Irregularity
Menstruation (scant)
Mental Illness
Migraine
Miscarriage (prevention)
Mood Swings
Muscle Tone (lack of)
Nervous Exhaustion
Nervousness
Neurosis
Nightmares
Nocturnal Emission
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Osteoporosis
Pain (general remedies for)
Parkinson's Disease
Peripheral Neuropathy
Pets (supplements for)
PMS (general)
PMS Type C
PMS Type D
Post Partum Depression
Post Partum Weakness
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Premature Ejaculation
Prolapsed Uterus
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Sex Drive (low)
Sleep (restless and disturbed)
Stress
Syphilis
Tension
Testosterone (low)
Thinking (cloudy)
TMJ
Tremors
Triglycerides (high)
Tuberculosis
Vitiligo
Weight Gain
Weight Loss
Worry
Wounds and Sores