Evidence supporting the use of: Ashwagandha
For the health condition: Weight Loss

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an adaptogenic herb traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine for stress, anxiety, and general vitality. Its use specifically for weight loss is primarily based on recent scientific interest rather than longstanding traditional use for obesity or weight management. Multiple small-scale clinical studies have explored ashwagandha’s effect on weight and body composition, often in the context of stress reduction. Since chronic stress can contribute to weight gain through hormonal pathways (notably increased cortisol), ashwagandha’s well-documented ability to reduce stress and lower cortisol levels is hypothesized to indirectly support weight management efforts. A few randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have reported modest reductions in body weight, body fat percentage, or body mass index (BMI) in overweight or stressed adults supplementing with ashwagandha compared to placebo. For example, a 2016 study found that adults experiencing chronic stress who took ashwagandha extract experienced significant reductions in perceived stress and serum cortisol, as well as slight decreases in body weight and BMI. Another study in 2017 observed similar findings in overweight individuals. However, the overall evidence remains limited by small sample sizes, short study durations, and a lack of direct investigation into ashwagandha as a primary weight loss agent. The existing studies suggest some potential, but larger and more rigorous research is needed for definitive conclusions. Thus, ashwagandha’s use for weight loss is supported by preliminary scientific evidence, primarily via stress and cortisol reduction mechanisms, rather than direct fat-burning or appetite-suppressing effects.

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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