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

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) has a long history of use in traditional Ayurvedic medicine as a "rasayana" (rejuvenator) for promoting vitality and resilience to stress. More recently, scientific studies have begun to explore its effects on anxiety and stress-related conditions. Several randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials have investigated ashwagandha root extract for its anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) properties. For example, a 2012 study published in the journal Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine found that participants with chronic stress who received 300 mg of ashwagandha extract twice daily for 60 days reported significantly reduced scores on standardized anxiety and stress scales compared to placebo. Meta-analyses and systematic reviews (e.g., Cooley et al., 2009; Pratte et al., 2014) generally conclude that ashwagandha is associated with moderate reductions in anxiety in adults, although the number of high-quality studies remains limited and sample sizes are often small. Proposed mechanisms include modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and reduction in cortisol levels. While the evidence is promising, more large-scale, rigorous clinical trials are needed to confirm efficacy and establish standardized dosing. Thus, the use of ashwagandha for anxiety is supported by both tradition and emerging scientific evidence, but the scientific evidence is currently moderate rather than definitive.

More about ashwagandha
More about Anxiety

Other ingredients used for Anxiety

5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)
7,8-Dihydroxyflavone
Aconite
Agarwood
Agastache
Agmatine
Agrimony
Albizia
Alpha lactalbumin
alpha-pinene
alpha-terpineol
amino acids
Amor seco
anamu
Anemone
aniracetam
anise
apigenin
Ardisia
ash
ashwagandha
Asteraceae
Bacopa
Bacopin
bacoside
bacteria
baicalein
baicalin
Baikal Skullcap
balsam
basil
bayleaf
bee products
benegut perilla (proprietary)
bergamot
beta caryophyllene
betony
Bifidobacteria
Bifidobacterium
Bifidobacterium adolescentis
Bifidobacterium bifidum
Bifidobacterium infantis
Bifidobacterium lactis
Bifidobacterium longum
black cumin
black seed
blackboard tree
Bombax
borneol
brahmi
Bupleurum
bupleurum falcatum
calamus
Calea zacatechichi
California poppy
Camellia sinensis
cannabidiol
cannabigerol
Cannabis sativa oil
Canscora
capillary artemisia
Capitate Valerian
cardamom
caryophyllene
catnip
catuaba
Centella asiatica
Centella triterpenes
chamomile
Chinese raisintree
Chinese salvia root
chrysanthemum
Cinnamomum
citron
Clary sage
Clerodendrum indicum
Clostridium butyricum
clove
cocoa
Convolvulus pluricaulis
Convolvulus prostratus
cordyceps
cowslip
Curcuma
curcumin
Cymbopogon martini
damiana
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
dodeca-2E, 4E-dienoic acid isobutylamide
dragonhead
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
Erythrina
essential oil blend
eugenol
fatty acids
fennel
Ficus religiosa
fragrant rosewood
fungus
ganoderma
gardenia
Gardenia jasminoides
gastrodia
gastrodin
Gelsemium
geranium
ginkgo biloba
ginseng
Ginsenosides
Glycine
gotu kola
Greek mountain tea
green tea
Griffonia simplicifolia
guayusa
heal-all
hemp
hemp oil
Herb Robert
herbal blend (proprietary)
hericium mushroom
honeybush
Honokiol
hops
hyperforin
Hypericum
Hyperoside
Ilex
Indian fagonia
Indian tinospora
indigo leaves
inositol
iridoids
isoliquiritigenin
jasmine
Jatamansi
jujube
jujubosides
kanna
kava
kavalactones
Kefir
kudzu
L-glycine
L-theanine
L-tryptophan
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
lactium casein decapeptide
Lactobacillus brevis
Lactobacillus fermentum
Lactobacillus gasseri
Lactobacillus helveticus
Lactobacillus johnsonii
Lactobacillus paracasei
Lactobacillus plantarum
Lactobacillus reuteri
Lactobacillus rhamnosus
Lactobacillus salivarius
Lactococcus rhamnosus
Lactucarium
Lactucopicrin
Large-leaved linden
Lavandin
lavender
lemon balm
lemongrass
ligustilides
limonene
linalool
linden
lingzhi
lion's mane
lithium orotate
Litsea
longan
lotus
lupulinum
Lycopodium
maca
magnesium
magnolia
magnolol
Marjoram
Matcha
Melatonin
Mentha haplocalyx
Menthol oil
Mesembrine
Mimosa
Mimulus
Mint
Monkey flower
Monoterpenes
Motherwort
Mugwort
Muira puama
Mulungu
Myrcene
N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
Nardostachys
Nigella seed
Nutmeg
Nymphaea caerulea
Nymphaea nouchali
omega-3 fatty acids
oolong tea
oriental arborvitae
Oroxylum indicum
Osmanthus
Oxindole alkaloids
paeoniflorin
passionflower
Passionfruit
Patchouli oil
peony
Petiveria
Phellodendron
phellodendron amurense
Phenylpropanoids
phosphatidylserine
phytocannabinoids
Plectranthus amboinicus
Polygala
polygala root
poppy
prebiotic blend (proprietary)
pregnenolone
prepared aconite tuber
probiotics
Puerain
Pulsatilla
Purple Monkeyflower
pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P-5-P)
Rauvolfia
reishi mushroom
relora® (proprietary)
rhizome
Rhodiola
Rooibos
rosavins
rose
rose oil
rosemary
rosmarinic acid
rue
saffron
Safranal
sage
Salidroside
Salvia
SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine disulfate p-toluensulfate)
Sandalwood
sceletium
Schisandrins
Schizandrol A
Scleranthus annus
Scoparia dulcis
Self-Heal
Sensitive Plant
Sesquiterpenes
Sete sangrias
Shankhpushpi
shen-chu
silk tree
skullcap
Sophora
soursop
Southern Tsangshu
Southernwood
spearmint leaf
Speedwell
Sphaeranthus indicus
Spikenard
squawvine
St. John's Wort
Stachytarpheta cayennensis
star of Bethlehem
Storax
Sumbul
sweet flag
Sweet Orange alcohol
Tagara
Tea
Terpenoids
Tetrahydropalmatine
thyme
Tinospora cordifolia
Traveler's Joy
Trichilia catigua
Uncaria
Valerenic acid
Valerian root
velvet bean
Verbena
Vervain
Vetiver
Viburnum
Violet
vitamin B
vitamin B12
vitamin B6
vitamin C
Vitex Agnus-Castus
Vitexin
Waterhyssop
White Tea
Withanolides
Wogonin
Wood betony
Xylaria nigripes
Yerba buena
Ylang ylang
Yohimbine
Yuzu
Zinc

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