Evidence supporting the use of: Ashwagandha
For the health condition: Appetite (deficient)

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Synopsis

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

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) has been traditionally used in Ayurveda and other traditional medicine systems as a general tonic, including for individuals experiencing weakness, fatigue, and poor appetite. In Ayurvedic texts, ashwagandha is considered a "rasayana" herb, believed to rejuvenate the body and strengthen overall vitality, which can include improving appetite in those who are debilitated or under stress. The traditional use is often in the context of convalescence or in individuals with wasting conditions, where ashwagandha is combined with other herbs and nourishing foods to support recovery and increase desire for food.

However, direct scientific evidence supporting ashwagandha’s efficacy specifically for appetite stimulation is limited. Most contemporary research focuses on its adaptogenic, anti-stress, and neuroprotective properties, as well as its effects on anxiety, inflammation, and physical performance. A few animal studies suggest possible effects on weight gain and metabolism, but these do not robustly translate to appetite improvement in humans. Thus, while ashwagandha is traditionally used for deficient appetite, particularly in the context of overall weakness or stress, there is little modern clinical research to substantiate this specific benefit. The evidence rating of 2 reflects that its use is primarily traditional with only minimal scientific exploration for this indication.

More about ashwagandha
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Other ingredients used for Appetite (deficient)

5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)
Acid protease
Allspice
apricot
ashwagandha
bamboo
barberry
basil
beet
Myrobalan
betel
black cumin
black pepper
radish
bovine liver
rice
bасора
Cannabis sativa oil
carrot
cassia bark
chamomile
chen pi
cinnamon
citrus oil
clove
dandelion
dog rose
fennel
fenugreek
fu ling
garlic bulb
gentian root
ginger
ginseng
gooseberry
onion
HCL
horseradish
Indian gum arabic tree
iron
quassia
jujube
L-tryptophan
lemon
licorice root
liquid liver fractions
lovage
mango
Marshmallow
Milk
Mint
orange
oregano
oregon grape
papain
parsley
perilla
phytocannabinoids
pineapple
platycodon root
plum fruit
pollen
prebiotic blend (proprietary)
protein
pumpkin
rhizome
rosemary
slippery elm bark
spearmint leaf
Triphala
vitamin B
Watercress
Zinc
chickweed
catnip
oryza
tangerine
cardamom
atractylodes
papaya
shen-chu
capsicum
Indian bael
Neem tree
nut grass
alpinia galangal
Clerodendrum indicum
Hedychium spicatum
inula racemosa
anise
Caesalpinia crista
Fumaria parviflora
Swertia
blessed thistle
boxthorne
bile salt
prickly ash
lemongrass
Myrrh
root tuber
flowering quince
cistanche
dioscorea
dodder
sweet flag
hyacinth bean
Trichosanthes
zanthoxylum
caraway
aster root
Yerba mate
peach
goji berry
hypothalamus
paw paw
herbal blend (proprietary)
Sichuan pepper
Algae
cayenne pepper
Alcohol
avens
apple cider vinegar
Agastache
ambergris
Ardisia
Angelica
Agrimony
Amomum
Aletris
Agarwood
Asam gelugor
Angostura
arrowroot
Areca
Agrimonia pilosa
Asteraceae
Algal protein
Allium tuberosum
Amor seco
Arani
atractylone
animal protein
buttermilk
butter
bai ji
Baliospermum
blackthorn
Blepharis
balsam
bishop\'s weed
bayleaf
belleric myrobalan
Butea monosperma
black galingale
beef
Beef liver
Berberis (unspecified)
bitter grass
bael
butternut
boldo
black gram
Baccharoides anthelmintica
bur-reed
black salt
Bombax
Buddha\'s hand
Borassus aethiopum
bitter principals
bacteria
baobab
Bupleurum
Bergenia
Boerhavia diffusa
borneol
bird\'s nest
cumin
centaury
coconut
Casearia esculenta
Cinnamomum
carqueja
chervil
capsinoids
Codonopsis
coriander
chive
cactus
Cynomorium
cape aloe
Centaurium erythraea
capillary artemisia
Cyathula
citron
Citrus
capsaicin
cannabinol
cowherb
carvone
Cymbopogon martini
coca
capers
colombo
chicken
Centipeda
common madia
cubeb
chirata
Cornus
Chaenomeles lagenaria
Carlina
calamus
chestnut
cinnamaldehyde
costus
cola nut
Celosia
Clerodendrum indicum
culvers Root
Dendrobium
deer root
dodeca-2E, 4E-dienoic acid isobutylamide
durian
dill
dopamine
date
Dichrostachys glomerata
Evodia
English horsemint
egg
endive
Embelia
fig
fruit
fumitory
false calumba
Guava
gentian
Gentianella alborosea
Gentianella amarella
Gentianopsis barbata
Glechoma hederacea
garden cress
Gardenia jasminoides
Gentiana calycosa
Galangal
Gentiana manshurica
Hygrophila
honey
Hemidesmus
Homalomena
honeydew
Helicteres isora
Horsemint
Huang hua
Irvingia gabonensis
Ilex
long pepper
Indian kinotree
Jurubeba
Javanese Long Pepper
Kachnar
Kokilaksha
kola nut
kuding tea
Lycium
loquat
Large-leaf gentian
Lebbek
longan
lodhtree
lotus
Lycopodium
Leptadenia
little ironweed
Mentha haplocalyx
mandarin
Mountain Pepper
Marjoram
Monoterpenes
mace
malt
Milk Protein
Momordica
Meadow sage
Microtea debilis
Macaranga indica
Natsudaidai
Nigella seed
Nymphaea nouchali
Nutmeg
Ophiopogon
Orchis latifolia
Osha
Onosma bracteatum
orchid
Osmanthus
Oxystelma
Oryza sativa
Oleoylethanolamide
Parsnip
Palmyra
polymorpha
Pepper Bark Tree
Prunus
probiotics
Pepper
Peucedanum
Pyrrosia
Piper retrofractum
pointed gourd
Portulaca
Piper nigrum
Polygonatum
Pimpinella
Persimmon
Pinolenic acid
Pistachio
quince
Quisqualis
rue
radicchio
Rubiaceae
rose
Rhus coriaria
Rumex acetosa
Spilanthes
Speedwell
Sete sangrias
Sweet Annie
Southern Tsangshu
Safed musli
Shen Qu
Solanum anguivi
Slippery Elm
Savory
Stellaria dichotoma
Sida cordifolia
Scabrous Gentian
Sumac
Sassafras
Sword Bean
Sweet Orange alcohol
Tea
Thymus
Taraxacin
Tarragon
Tiger Nut
Tulbaghia
Tagetes
Tamarind
Taraxacum
Taraxol
Vervain
Vinegar
Vidanga
Wheat
Water Pepper
Wulinshen
Wormseed
Winter Savory
Yuzu
Yellow Dock
Yohimbine
Zucchini
Zedoary
Zingerone

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