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.

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Other ingredients used for Anxiety

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

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