Evidence supporting the use of: Ashwagandha
For the health condition: Anorexia

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Synopsis

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

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) has a long history of use in traditional Ayurvedic medicine as a general tonic for promoting vitality, strength, and overall well-being. In the context of anorexia (loss of appetite), traditional practitioners have utilized ashwagandha as an "appetizer" (deepana) and restorative (rasayana). Classical Ayurvedic texts describe ashwagandha as a herb that can help improve weakness, emaciation, and low body weight—symptoms often seen in people with anorexia or poor appetite, whether due to physical or psychological causes. The rationale is based on its reputed ability to enhance digestion, stimulate appetite, and support the body's resilience to stress, which may indirectly help those with appetite loss.

However, scientific evidence specifically supporting ashwagandha for anorexia or loss of appetite is limited. Most modern research focuses on its adaptogenic, anti-stress, and anxiolytic properties, with only a few animal studies suggesting possible appetite-stimulating effects. There are no robust clinical trials directly evaluating its efficacy in treating anorexia nervosa or appetite loss in humans. Thus, while its use is well-established in traditional medicine, current scientific validation for this specific indication is weak. As such, it is rated as "traditional" with an evidence score of 2.

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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