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

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

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

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) has a long history of use in Ayurvedic medicine for a variety of ailments, including mood disorders. In recent years, scientific interest has grown regarding its potential role in supporting mental health, particularly depression. Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and preclinical studies suggest ashwagandha may help reduce symptoms of depression, likely due to its adaptogenic effects and ability to modulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is frequently dysregulated in depression.

Clinical evidence is still emerging, but a few small-scale RCTs have reported that ashwagandha supplementation (typically 300-600 mg/day of root extract) significantly improved depression scores compared to placebo, often in populations with comorbid anxiety or stress. Mechanistically, ashwagandha appears to lower cortisol levels and may influence neurotransmitter systems relevant to mood regulation. Animal studies further support its antidepressant-like effects, showing modulation of serotonin and GABAergic activity.

However, limitations exist: most human trials have been small, short-term, and sometimes included participants with mild symptoms or coexisting anxiety/stress disorders rather than clinical depression alone. While the evidence is promising, more large-scale, high-quality RCTs are needed to definitively establish efficacy and safety for depression. At present, ashwagandha can be considered a potentially helpful adjunct for mood support, but should not replace standard care for moderate or severe depression.

More about ashwagandha
More about Depression

Other ingredients used for Depression

5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)
Acetyl L-carnitine
algal oil
alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
amino acids
anchovies
anthocyanins
ashwagandha
Waterhyssop
basil
bergamot
beta caryophyllene
Bifidobacterium longum
black tea
Indian frankincense
bасора
caffeine
Cannabis sativa oil
chamomile
Chinese salvia root
choline
citicoline
clove
coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
cordyceps
creatine monohydrate
turmeric
curcumin
damiana
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone)
DPA (docosapentaenoic acid)
eleuthero
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
fish oil
fish protein
flavonols
folate
gardenia
ginger
ginkgo biloba
ginseng
gotu kola
Greek mountain tea
green tea
hemp oil
Indian tinospora
inositol
jujube
krill oil
l-5-methyltetrahydrofolate glucosamine salt (5-MTHF)
L-carnosine
L-glycine
L-methionine
L-phenylalanine
L-theanine
L-tryptophan
l-tyrosine
lactium casein decapeptide
lavender
lion's mane
lithium orotate
liquid liver fractions
luteolin
maca
magnesium
magnolia
Marine lipid
Matcha
Melatonin
Moringa
Muira puama
N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
Acetyl-L-Tyrosine
omega-3 fatty acids
phenolic compounds
phosphatidylserine
phospholipids
phytocannabinoids
polygala root
pomegranate
prebiotic blend (proprietary)
pregnenolone
protein
butyric acid
quercetin
reishi mushroom
resveratrol
Rhodiola
rose oil
rosemary
saffron
sage
SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine disulfate p-toluensulfate)
sceletium
selenium
specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs)
Sphaeranthus indicus
spirulina
Tongkat ali
Almond fruit
Valerian root
velvet bean
vitamin B
vitamin B12
vitamin B6
vitamin C
vitamin D
vitamin D3
Whey protein
Zinc
suma
gastrodia
Mugwort
alpinia galangal
commiphora
blackboard tree
Caesalpinia crista
peony
lingzhi
lemongrass
kanna
cistanche
dodder
Morinda
royal jelly
polyphenols
trace minerals
St. John's Wort
Yerba mate
cocoa
thyroid substance
star of Bethlehem
5-methyltetrahydrofolate glucosamine
7,8-Dihydroxyflavone
arginine creatine
Ardisia
Angelica
apigenin
Albizia
Agmatine
Agarwood
Alpha lactalbumin
Asteraceae
Algal protein
aniracetam
Amor seco
betony
Baikal Skullcap
Broussonetia
beta-hydroxybutyrate
biopterin
Butea monosperma
Beef liver
Bacopin
brahmi
Bacopa
bee products
bacoside
baicalin
Black Hellebore
biogenic amine
Camellia sinensis
coconut
caryophyllene
Monkey flower
crocin
Clary sage
catalpol
Codonopsis
Curcuminoid
Citrus
Chinese raisintree
curcumen
Cymbopogon martini
Centella asiatica
chocolate
creatine
Curcuma
cowslip
cannabidiol
Convolvulus prostratus
Convolvulus pluricaulis
cola nut
Canscora
cannabichromene
docosahexaenoic Acid
D-phenylalanine
DHEA
devil\'s club
dopamine
egg
Eicosatetraenoic acid
eicosapentaenoic acid
estrogen
folinic acid
folic acid
flavonoids
fragrant rosewood
fish
fatty acids
fungus
frankincense
guanidinoacetic acid
Ginsenosides
Griffonia simplicifolia
Gypenoside
Glutamate
Glycine
gastrodin
Honokiol
Hypericin
Hellebore
Hypericum
hyperforin
Helicteres isora
hericium mushroom
hemp
isoliquiritigenin
long pepper
icariin
Indian fagonia
inositol phosphate
jasmine
Jatamansi
Kokilaksha
lemon balm
Lebbek
ligustilides
limonene
Lavandin
Lycopodium
Large-leaved linden
little ironweed
lactalbumin
lactoglobulin
linalool
lipids
Methylcobalamin
Marine protein
Milk Protein
Methylxanthine
Mimosa
Meadow sage
Marine fat
magnolol
Mulungu
Mesembrine
Nardostachys
Nigella seed
Nymphaea caerulea
Nymphaea nouchali
Nutmeg
Oroxylum indicum
Onosma bracteatum
Oxindole alkaloids
Osthole
Phosphocreatine
pyrroloquinoline quinone
Phenylethylamine (PEA)
Pulsatilla
Patchouli oil
Pentacyclic triterpenoids
polyunsaturated fat
Piper nigrum
Polygonatum
paeoniflorin
Physalis angulata
poly-thyronine
Phytoestrogens
Polygala
Petiveria
Purple Monkeyflower
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)
rue
rosavins
Rosabin
rosmarinic acid
Rubiaceae
rose
Sichuan Lovage
Schizochytrium Oil
Sete sangrias
Spikenard
Scleranthus annus
Salvia
Sensitive Plant
Sulbutiamine
Salmon Oil
Salidroside
Safed musli
Shankhpushpi
Sandalwood
Stereospermum
Shilajit
Safranal
Sarcosine
Sweet Orange alcohol
Terpenoids
Tea
Thymoquinone
Tumerone
Trichilia catigua
Tetrahydropalmatine
Uncaria
Uridine
Vetiver
Vervain
Withanolides
Wogonin
Wulinshen
Walnut
Xanthophyll
Xylaria nigripes
Yuzu
Yerba buena
Yohimbine
Ylang ylang
Zucchini
Zingiberene

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