Evidence supporting the use of: Ashwagandha
For the health condition: Fear (excessive)

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Synopsis

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

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) has a long history of use in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for supporting mental well-being, including the alleviation of fear, anxiety, and related symptoms. In Ayurveda, ashwagandha is classified as a "rasayana," or rejuvenating tonic, and is often used to promote calmness, resilience to stress, and emotional balance. Traditional texts describe ashwagandha as an adaptogen, believed to help the body adapt to stress and reduce negative emotional states such as excessive fear and anxiety.

Modern scientific studies have primarily focused on ashwagandha's anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) effects, with several randomized controlled trials suggesting that ashwagandha supplementation can lower scores on anxiety and stress assessments in adults. However, while "fear" as a clinical concept overlaps with anxiety, most studies do not specifically address excessive fear as a distinct outcome. Preclinical research in animals has shown reductions in fear- and anxiety-like behaviors, possibly through modulation of cortisol and influence on GABAergic neurotransmission.

Overall, the use of ashwagandha for excessive fear is primarily justified by traditional use, with moderate support from scientific studies related to anxiety and stress. There is not enough direct clinical evidence to conclusively support its use for excessive fear specifically, but historical and emerging scientific data suggest a potential benefit in related domains.

More about ashwagandha
More about Fear (excessive)

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