Evidence supporting the use of: Ashwagandha
For the health condition: Headache (general)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) has a long history of use in traditional Ayurvedic medicine, where it is considered a “rasayana” or rejuvenating herb. In Ayurveda, ashwagandha is sometimes used to manage headache and stress-related symptoms, often attributed to its adaptogenic and calming properties. Traditional texts suggest that its use may help alleviate headaches caused by tension, anxiety, or nervous exhaustion by promoting relaxation and reducing stress. However, direct references to headache are limited, and it is rarely the primary herb chosen specifically for headache in classical Ayurvedic formulations.

From a scientific perspective, there is little direct evidence supporting ashwagandha’s efficacy in treating headaches. Most modern research on ashwagandha focuses on its effects on stress, anxiety, and sleep, which are sometimes associated with headache symptoms. There are no significant clinical trials or mechanistic studies directly investigating its role in headache relief. Therefore, the use of ashwagandha for headaches is supported primarily by traditional use, with a low level of evidence (rated 1) and lacking robust scientific validation at this time. Individuals experiencing frequent or severe headaches should consult a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

More about ashwagandha
More about Headache (general)

Other ingredients used for Headache (general)

1,3,7-Trimethylpurine-2,6-dione
Abrus
Achyranthes
Aconite
Aerva lanata
Agarwood
Agastache
Agrimonia pilosa
Agrimony
Ajuga
Albizia
alpha-pinene
alpha-terpineol
alpinia galangal
Alstonia scholaris
amber
ambergris
American Liverleaf
Amor seco
Anemone
Angelica
anise
apple
apple cider vinegar
Arani
Ardisia
Arisaema
asafoetida
Asam gelugor
Asarum heterotropoides
ashwagandha
aster root
atractylone
avens
Baccharoides anthelmintica
bael
balloon flower
balsam
bamboo
banyan
Barleria
basil
Bassia scoparia
bayleaf
Bergenia
betel
betony
birch
bitter grass
black cumin
Black Hellebore
black nightshade
black root
black salt
black seed
black tea
Black willow
blackboard tree
blackthorn
Blepharis
blue flag
Bombax
Borassus aethiopum
borassus palm
borneol
Boswellia
bottle gourd
Broussonetia
Bryonia
Buddha\'s hand
burdock
Butea monosperma
cactus
Caesalpinia crista
calamus
Camellia sinensis
camphor oil
Campylandra fimbriata
cannabidiol
Cannabis sativa oil
capsicum
cardamom
carry me seed
Carthamus
cayenne pepper
Celosia
Centipeda
Chaenomeles lagenaria
chamomile
chinatree
Chinese silkvine
chrysanthemum
Cinnamomum
cinquefoil
citron
Clary sage
Clerodendrum indicum
Clerodendrum indicum
Clerodendrum phlomidis
Clerodendrum trichotomum
coca
cola nut
colocynth
commiphora
coriander
corktree
Corydalis
costus
cucumber
Cymbopogon martini
Cynodon dactylon
Dichrostachys glomerata
divi-divi
dragonhead
elephant\'s head
Embelia
English horsemint
Erodium cicutarium
Erythropalum scandens
eugenol
European Elder
Evodia
fang-feng
fennel
fern
fernbush
ferula assafoetida
feverfew
Ficus religiosa
Ficus simplicissima
flowering quince
Flueggea suffruticosa
Fumaria parviflora
Galangal
ganoderma
garden cress
Gardenia jasminoides
Gelsemium
geranium
giant blazingstar
ginger
ginseng
Glechoma hederacea
Gnaphalium
Golden Willow
goldthread
gooseberry
gotu kola
Greek mountain tea
green chiretta
green tea
Guaranine
Guava
guayusa
Heartsease
Hedychium spicatum
Hellebore
Hempnettle
henna
Herb Robert
Homalomena
Horsemint
Indian bael
Indian coraltree
Indian fagonia
Indian frankincense
Indian nightshade
indigo leaves
iridoids
Javanese Long Pepper
joe-pye
jujube
Kokilaksha
kola nut
kudzu
Kukicha
labrador tea
Large-leaved linden
Lavandin
lavender
Ledebouriella
lemon
lemon balm
Lesser speargrass
lichen
licorice root
ligustilides
Lilium polyphyllum
linalool
linden
Lindera
Litsea
little ironweed
Lophira lanceolata
Loranthus
lotus
lovage
luffa
Lycopodium
Lysimachia
Macaranga indica
mace
magnesium
mallow
Malva sylvestris
Marjoram
Matapalo Tree
Meadow sage
Meadowsweet
Mentha haplocalyx
Menthol oil
Mesua
Methylxanthine
Mezoneuron benthamianum
Microtea debilis
Milkweed
Mint
Momordica
Morinda
Moringa
Morus
Mountain Pepper
Mountain pride
Mustard
mustard seed
Myrrh
Nardostachys
Natsudaidai
Nymphaea nouchali
onion
Onosma bracteatum
orchid
Oroxylum indicum
Osha
Osmanthus
paeoniflorin
pagoda tree
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)
Patchouli oil
Patrinia
paw paw
peony
Peppermint
Petasines
Phellodendron
phellodendron amurense
Pimpinella
Piper chaba
Piper nigrum
Piper retrofractum
Plectranthus amboinicus
Pluchea
Polygonum
poppy
Portulaca
Premna
prepared aconite tuber
Prickly Pear Cactus
Prunus
Pulsatilla
punarnava
purple butterbur root
quail egg
riboflavin (vitamin B2)
robusta coffee
root tuber
rose
rose oil
Rubia cordifolia
Rubia yunnanensis
Rubiaceae
Rubus
rue
sage
Sagebrush
Salicin
Salvia
Sandalwood
Sassafras
Scabrous Gentian
schizonepeta
Scoparia dulcis
scrophularia root
Self-Heal
Semecarpus anacardium
Sensitive Plant
Sida cordifolia
silk tree
Snakeroot
Solanum indicum
Sophora
soursop
Southernwood
Spanish Needle
spearmint leaf
Speedwell
Spikenard
Stachytarpheta cayennensis
Stephania root
Stereospermum
Storax
Sumac
Sweet Bay
Sweet Orange alcohol
sweetgums
Sword Bean
Szechuan lovage
Tamarind
Terminalia
Tetrahydropalmatine
Tinospora cordifolia
Triphala
Tulbaghia
turmeric
Verbena
Vervain
Vetiver
Viburnum
Violet
Water Pepper
Waterhyssop
Watermelon
Wax Gourd
white willow
Willow
Willow Bracket
Winter Begonia
Winter Savory
Wintergreen
Wood betony
Wulinshen
Xanthine
Xanthophyll
Yellow-Fruit Nightshade
Yerba buena
Yerba mate
Yuzu
zhejiang fritillary
Zingerone
Zucchini

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