Evidence supporting the use of: Ashwagandha
For the health condition: Cancer (natural therapy 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 and traditional systems of healing, where it is used as a general tonic and adaptogen to promote vitality, strength, and resilience. In the context of cancer, traditional use has focused on supporting the body during illness, boosting stamina, and sometimes alleviating the side effects of disease or its treatments, rather than as a direct cure or treatment of cancer itself. There are historic references to its use for improving general health, immune function, and for its purported rejuvenating properties.

In modern times, some preclinical studies (laboratory and animal research) suggest that ashwagandha extracts and its withanolide compounds may have anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects on cancer cells, and may help mitigate some side effects of chemotherapy such as fatigue and immunosuppression. However, these findings have not yet translated into robust human clinical trials demonstrating efficacy as a cancer therapy. The current evidence in humans is very limited, primarily focused on supportive care rather than direct anti-cancer effects. Thus, while traditional use provides a basis for its supportive role in cancer care, scientific validation is currently insufficient for recommending ashwagandha as a primary or adjunctive cancer treatment. It should not replace conventional cancer therapies.

More about ashwagandha
More about Cancer (natural therapy for)

Other ingredients used for Cancer (natural therapy for)

7-hydroxymatairesinol (HMR)
Acai berry
Ajoene
Aloe vera
amino acids
green chiretta
anthocyanins
apricot
arabinogalactan
ashwagandha
astaxanthin
astragalus
barberry
basil
beet
berberine
berry flavor
beta and delta tocopherols
beta caryophyllene
beta-pinene
beta-glucan
beta-sitosterol
bisabolol
black cohosh
black cumin
black garlic
sesame
black walnut
blackberry
blueberry
Indian frankincense
branched-chain amino acids
broccoli
bromelain
bupleurum falcatum
burdock
Cannabis sativa oil
capsaicinoids
carrot
cat's claw
catechins
caterpillar mushroom
chaga mushroom
chamomile
champignon
Chinese salvia root
chlorella
chrysin
cinnamon
citrus oil
citrus pectin
clove
coconut milk
cordyceps
cowage seed
cryptoxanthin
turmeric
curcumin
cuspidatum root
d-glucarate
dandelion
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
diallyl disulfide (DADS)
diallyl trisulfide (DATS)
DIM (diindolylmethane)
DPA (docosapentaenoic acid)
eleuthero
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
fisetin
fish oil
flavonols
flaxseed
gamma tocopherol
garlic bulb
genistein
genistin
ginger
ginkgo biloba
ginseng
gooseberry
gotu kola
Greek mountain tea
onion
green tea
hemp oil
hesperetin
hesperidin
hibiscus
HMR lignan
Indian tinospora
indole-3-carbinol
knotweed
jujube
kale
kelp
Lactoferrin
Lentinula edodes mycelia
lignans
lion's mane
liquid liver fractions
luteolin
lychee
lycopene
maitake mushroom
mangosteen
Marine lipid
Matcha
medium chain triglycerides (MCT)
Melatonin
mixed carotenoids
Moringa
mustard seed
Naringin
Nettle
oleanolic acid
olive
omega-3 fatty acids
oyster mushroom
papain
parsley
pectin
perilla
phellodendron amurense
phenolic compounds
phytocannabinoids
phytosterols
plantain
plum fruit
pomegranate
pomelo
protein
butyric acid
pumpkin
quercetin
reishi mushroom
resveratrol
rhizome
rosemary
rutin
scrophularia root
secoisolariciresinol diglucoside
selenium
shiitake mushroom
black ginger
soybean
Sphaeranthus indicus
spirulina
sulforaphane glucosinolate
tocotrienols
Trans-pterostilbene
tributyrin
Triphala
Turkey tail mushroom
Urolithin A
vitamin A
vitamin B
vitamin C
vitamin D
vitamin D3
seaweed
Wasabi
wheat grass
Whey protein
Mulberry
Zinc
sarsaparilla
red clover
Yellow root
suma
jiaogulan
typhonium
xanthium (cockleburs)
gastrodia
atractylodes
papaya
shen-chu
Mugwort
Neem tree
nut grass
alpinia galangal
Clerodendrum indicum
commiphora
smilax
Tinospora cordifolia
Caesalpinia crista
Rubia cordifolia
bee pollen
lingzhi
buckthorn
pau d'arco
Morus
lemongrass
Myrrh
root tuber
ferulic acid
siler root
cistanche
dioscorea
dodder
ganoderma
hyacinth bean
Morinda
Trichosanthes
zanthoxylum
royal jelly
polyphenols
purslane
coix
Polyporus
aster root
noni
biota seed
nopal
goji berry
paw paw
millet seed
herbal blend (proprietary)
Algae
indigo leaves
cocoa
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)
cayenne pepper
soy isoflavones
ashitaba
soursop
15,16-Dihydrotanshinone I
3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoic acid
7,4-Dimethoxyflavone
arugula
Agarikon Mushroom
Akebia
antler
alpha-humulene
amethoflavone
amygdalin
ankaflavin
Angelica
apigenin
Aronia melanocarpa
Allicin
Antrodia camphorata
Achyranthes
Auricularia
anamu
Abrus
Albizia
artesunate
AHCC
Ajuga
andrographolide
avocado
amentoflavone
Acetogenin
Acacetin
Allophycocyanin
alpha-lipoic acid
astragaloside
Armillaria mellea
anthocyanidins
Andrographis
Adzuki bean
ampelopsin
Agrimonia pilosa
Asteraceae
Allyl sulfide
Acemannan
Allyl isothiocyanate
Alkylglycerols
Alliin
arabinoxylan
Allium tuberosum
Alantolactone
anti-aromatase
arctiin
Arjunolic acid
Artepillin C
astragalin
atractylone
bee propolis
black seed
Baikal Skullcap
bai ji
Baphicacanthus cusia
Bidens pilosa
Broussonetia
bergenin
beta-hydroxybutyrate
betulinic acid
Brassica
Boswellic Acid
Butea monosperma
black galingale
Beef liver
Barleria
Berberis (unspecified)
bitter grass
bok choy
baicalein
beta-lapachone
bee hive
bael
bloodroot
biochanin
butternut
Basidiomycota
betanin
Bauhinia
Boswellia
Baccharoides anthelmintica
banyan
butein
bioflavonoids
barbasco
bee products
black nightshade
Bombax
Borassus aethiopum
bacteria
benzyl isothiocyanate
baicalin
bignay
Boerhavia diffusa
caffeic Acid
cumin
Chinese silkvine
curry leaf
caryophyllene
Cinnamomum
Chinese mountain ant
cyanobacteria
Calotropis gigantea
condurango
calycosin
chlorophyllin
cod liver oil
coriolus mushroom
cactus
carvacrol
Cynomorium
capillary artemisia
cyanidin
chlorogenic acid
Chinese fleeceflower
Curcuminoid
capsaicin
Chinese pond turtle
cancerina
cereal grass
Chinese raisintree
cowherb
cruciferous
casticin
curcumen
Centella asiatica
cinnamic acid
Curcuma
carnosol
chalcone
C-phycocyanin
chaparral
cabbage
chirata
Crinum latifolium
cherimoya
Cephalotaxus sinensis
chebulinic acid
cinnamaldehyde
corilagin
coumaric acid
crocetin
cynaropicrin
cytokines
costus
Celastrus
Celosia
carnosic acid
cannabichromene
cannabigerol
Dunaliella salina
docosahexaenoic Acid
diallyl sulfide
delphinidin
decursin
daidzein
diosgenin
didymin
diterpenes
dithiolthiones
diosmetin
epicatechin
ellagic acid
eurycomanone
Eupolyphaga sinensis
Eclipta
elk antler
emblicanin
evodiamine
eicosapentaenoic acid
Euphorbia
Embelia
ellagitannin
emodin
enokitake
fig
fruit
fucoidan
fiber
Flueggea suffruticosa
fucosterol
flavonoids
Fomes fomentarius
fo-ti
formononetin
fatty acids
fungus
flavanones
farnesol
fucoxanthin
flavans
flavonones
flavanols
Flammulina velutipes
flavones
flavonolignan
gallic acid
geraniol
Ginsenosides
garcinol
Garcinone B
Garcinone D
ginkgetin
Glutamine
Glucan peptides
Gac
Guava
Gypenoside
garlic
Garcinone C
Garcinone E
Graviola
galangin
Gallesia
garden cress
Gigartina
Garcinone A
geranylgeraniol
Glucoraphanin
Galangal
Glabridin
Glucosinolates
Haematococcus pluvialis
Honokiol
Hematoporphyrin
Hypericin
Hyperoside
Hygrophila
heal-all
Hedyotis
hypsizygus marmoreus
hydroxytyrosol
Hyphomycetes
Helicteres isora
Herb Robert
hericium mushroom
hemp
Huang hua
isodon rubescens
isosilybin
isodon excisus
iridoids
Isoalantolactone
isoliquiritigenin
Indian sarsparilla
isovitexin
isoflavones
indole
isoquinoline alkaloids
Isatis
Ilex
Indian coraltree
long pepper
icariin
isothiocyanates
Indian fagonia
Jaboticaba
Job\'s tears
Java brucea
Kokilaksha
Kaempferol
Kutkins
Kefir
Kombucha
Lycium
loquat
Lebbek
Lycoris
limonoid
Lentinan
Laggera pterodonta
Limonium sinense
Lapachol
lupulone
Legume protein
limonene
luffa
Ligustrum
lodhtree
Ligustrazin
lotus
labrador tea
Leptadenia
little ironweed
lactalbumin
Loranthus
Laminaria
Ligusticum
linalool
Methylselenocysteine
Maslinic acid
mangiferin
Myrosinase
Marine protein
Monoterpenes
Myricetin
madder
Mesima
Matapalo Tree
Mistletoe
mangostin
Momordica
Mondo grass
mangostene xanthone
Mate
Methoxylated flavones
marigold
magnolol
Mushroom
Maclura tricuspidata
Millettia
Mayapple
Maytenus ilicifolia
Momordicosides
Neoandrographolides
Neoxanthin
Naringenin
Nardostachys
Naphthoquinones
Nigella seed
Nobiletin
Nomilin
Nimbidin
Oroxylum indicum
Oleuropein
Onosma bracteatum
Oldenlandia diffusa
Oxymatrine
Oxystelma
Osthole
Phycocyanin
Propolis
Puerain
Phellodendron
Piperine
Phyllanthus
Puerarin
Phenylpropanoids
Phaeophyceae
polysaccharides
pagoda tree
Plantago
polyporous mushroom
Pluchea
Prunus
Pentacyclic triterpenoids
phlorotannins
Piceid
Polydatin
proanthocyanidins
punicalin
Paris polyphylla
Pansit-pansitan
Pleurotus eryngii
Pyrrosia
Piper retrofractum
Pao Pereira
Podophyllum
Portulaca
Piper nigrum
Periwinkle
Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC)
Polygonatum
Persimmon
punicalagins
Patrinia
paeoniflorin
Physalis angulata
punicosides
Phytoestrogens
Pokeweed
polymethoxylated flavones
Polygonum
parthenolide
Petiveria
Plectranthus amboinicus
rosmarinic acid
resin
Rubiaceae
Rhabdosia rubescens
Rubia yunnanensis
Rosa roxburghii
rhubarb
Sapogenin
Sichuan Lovage
Sicklepod
Silkmoth
Sophora
Sesbania
Spanish Needle
Scoparia dulcis
Selaginella
Sete sangrias
Smartweed
Solanaceae
Sesquiterpenes
Shikonin
Soy
Sweet Annie
Schizophyllum commune
Solanum indicum
Sanguisorba
Salmon Oil
Salidroside
Silybin
Syringic acid
Solanum anguivi
Sagebrush
Salvianolic acid
Sinigrin
Shogaol
Soy Protein
Schisandrins
Semecarpus anacardium
Stereospermum
saponins
Simaruba
Sumac
Scopoletin
Sulfated polysaccharide
Shilajit
Sargassum
Sword Bean
S-allylcysteine
Sesamin
Sinensetin
Stilbenoid
Sulforaphane
Terminalia
Terpenoids
Tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids
Tea
Thymoquinone
Tumerone
Thymus
Thuja
Taxifolin
Thistle
Triterpenes
Typhonium flagelliforme
Tangeretin
Tanshinone
Theaflavin
Turmerones
Taraxasterol
Tulbaghia
Trametes
Tamarind
Thiosulfinate
Theabrownin
Tylophorine
Tremella
Uncaria
Ursolic Acid
Vestitol
Vine tea
Vitexicarpin
Vitexin
Varuna
Viniferin
Violet
Vicenin
Verbascoside
Viscum coloratum
Withanolides
White Tea
Wogonin
Wulinshen
Walnut
Winter Begonia
Winter Savory
Xanthohumol
Xanthophyll
Xanthorrhizol
Xylaria nigripes
Xanthone
Xanthoparmelia
Yacon
Yumberry
Yew
Zingiberene
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