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

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 in traditional Ayurvedic medicine as a remedy for nervousness and stress. Modern scientific research has begun to support its use for these conditions. Several randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials have investigated ashwagandha’s effects on stress, anxiety, and nervousness. Notably, studies published in journals such as the Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine (2012) and Phytomedicine (2019) found that standardized ashwagandha root extract significantly reduced anxiety scores and perceived stress in adults compared to placebo. The proposed mechanisms include modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and reduction of cortisol, a key stress hormone.

Additionally, ashwagandha is classified as an adaptogen—an agent believed to help the body resist physical and mental stressors. While the majority of studies have been small and of relatively short duration, systematic reviews and meta-analyses suggest a moderate effect in reducing nervousness or anxiety-related symptoms in otherwise healthy adults and those with diagnosed anxiety disorders. Side effects in these studies are generally mild and infrequent. However, larger and longer-term studies are needed to confirm efficacy and safety across diverse populations.

In summary, both traditional use and emerging scientific evidence support ashwagandha’s role in reducing nervousness, with the current strength of evidence rated as moderate (3 out of 5).

More about ashwagandha
More about Nervousness

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