Moderate evidenceOverview
At a glance
Withania somnifera is a traditionally used botanical with human research most relevant to stress and sleep.
Key takeaway
Ashwagandha is not one standardized intervention: plant part, extraction, standardization, dose, duration and population can change how the evidence should be interpreted.
Common uses studied
StressSleepAnxiety
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Identity
What is this herb?
Family
Solanaceae
Species
Withania somnifera
Common names
AshwagandhaWithaniaWinter cherryIndian ginseng
Plant parts used
RootLeafRoot and leaf
Geographic context
Parts of South Asia, Africa and the Middle East
Identification notes
Ashwagandha is not botanically related to true ginseng.
Background
Traditional context
Traditions
Ayurvedic medicineUnani medicine
Traditional use should be distinguished from modern clinical evidence.
Preparations
Forms & preparations
Forms
Whole-root powderRoot extractRoot-and-leaf extract
What changes between forms
- Root and leaf have different chemical compositions.
- Extracts can differ substantially in concentration and chemical profile.
- Standardized extracts should not automatically be treated as interchangeable.
Clinical trials have used multiple preparations, doses and standardization approaches.
Research
Research Explorer
Each question summarizes what human research has examined, how it was studied, and the main limitations — not a treatment recommendation.
Does ashwagandha improve perceived stress?
Population
Adults in randomized clinical trials, frequently people experiencing elevated or self-reported stress.
Intervention
Various ashwagandha preparations, including root extracts, root-and-leaf extracts and other preparations.
Comparator
Placebo or control
Outcomes studied
Perceived stressCortisolAnxiety-related measures
Evidence assessment
Promising human evidence with substantial heterogeneity.
Limitations
- Different preparations
- Different doses
- Different durations
- Different outcome measures
Can ashwagandha improve sleep?
Population
Adults, including people with insomnia or self-reported sleep problems.
Intervention
Different ashwagandha extracts.
Comparator
Placebo or control
Outcomes studied
Sleep qualitySleep efficiencyTotal sleep timeSleep latencyWaking after sleep onset
Evidence assessment
Promising but limited evidence.
Limitations
- Small evidence base
- Preparation variability
- Limited long-term data
Can ashwagandha reduce anxiety symptoms?
Population
Adults studied in randomized clinical trials.
Intervention
Various ashwagandha preparations.
Comparator
Placebo or control
Outcomes studied
Anxiety-related symptom measures
Evidence assessment
Promising but uncertain.
Limitations
- Heterogeneous preparations
- Small trials
- Uncertain generalizability
Does ashwagandha affect male reproductive outcomes or testosterone?
Evidence assessment
Limited and preliminary.
Limitations
- Limited evidence base
- Short study durations
- Preparation variability
Does ashwagandha improve cognition, memory or focus?
Evidence assessment
Insufficient for a firm conclusion.
Limitations
- Limited evidence base
- Different cognitive outcomes
- Preparation variability
Latest evidence
Recently published research
Looking for recent publications…
These publications are automatically discovered from Europe PMC. They have not necessarily been independently reviewed by HerbParlor and are not automatically incorporated into the evidence assessment.
Evidence
Evidence
Promising, but outcome- and preparation-dependent.
Evidence tier
Moderate
Confidence
Moderate for the existence of a human evidence signal; lower for identifying universally effective preparations and doses.
Last evidence review
2026-09-15
Where the evidence is strongest
StressSome sleep outcomesSome anxiety-related outcomes
How to interpret this
Human evidence is most promising for stress and some sleep outcomes, but substantial preparation and study heterogeneity prevents treating all ashwagandha products as equivalent.
Automatic evidence update
Since the last editorial review
Checking for publications published since the last editorial evidence review…
This automatic update detects newly published literature; it does not replace HerbParlor's editorial evidence assessment. Review status is an automatic triage signal. Curated HerbParlor evidence is unchanged until editorial review.
Boundaries
What the evidence does NOT establish
Areas with limited evidence
- Cognition
- Athletic performance
- Diabetes
- Menopause
- Female infertility
Evidence gaps
- Long-term safety
- Long-term efficacy
- Optimal preparation
- Optimal dose
- Optimal duration
- Direct comparisons between preparations
Safety
Safety & interactions
General considerations
- Short-term use appears reasonably tolerated in clinical studies.
- Long-term safety remains insufficiently established.
Contraindications
- Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
- Certain thyroid or endocrine conditions
- Certain autoimmune conditions
- Upcoming surgery
- Hormone-sensitive prostate cancer
Pregnancy & nursing
Medication interactions to be aware of
Diabetes medicationsBlood-pressure medicationsImmunosuppressantsSedativesAnticonvulsantsThyroid hormone medications
Condition considerations
- Thyroid disorders
- Autoimmune conditions
- Liver concerns
Reported adverse effects
- Stomach upset
- Loose stools
- Nausea
- Drowsiness
- Rare liver injury reports
Duration
Talk to a healthcare professional if any apply
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Medication use
- Thyroid/endocrine disease
- Autoimmune disease
- Liver disease
- Upcoming surgery
Products
What changes between products?
Form differences
- Root and leaf have different chemical compositions.
- Extracts can differ substantially in concentration and chemical profile.
- Standardized extracts should not automatically be treated as interchangeable.
Form considerations
- Powder and concentrated extract should not be compared solely by milligram amount.
Plant part considerations
- Root and root-and-leaf products are not automatically equivalent.
Extract considerations
- Identify the extract and extraction approach where disclosed.
Standardization considerations
- Record stated withanolide standardization where available.
- Do not infer clinical equivalence from standardization alone.
Evaluation
How to evaluate a supplement
What to check
- Botanical identity
- Plant part
- Preparation
- Extract amount
- Standardization
- Additional ingredients
- Testing information
Serving considerations
- Compare the actual preparation and serving with the research intervention.
Testing considerations
- Look for identity and contaminant testing.
- Look for batch or lot traceability.
Label transparency
- The product should disclose enough information to identify what was actually used.
Categories
Related categories
Explore the HerbParlor categories this herb is grouped under.
Ingredients
Related ingredients
Sources
Authoritative sources referenced
- Ashwagandha — Fact Sheet for Health Professionals
NIH Office of Dietary Supplements · 2025 · accessed 2026-09-15
- Ashwagandha
NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) · 2024 · accessed 2026-09-15
- Ashwagandha — Danish Veterinary and Food Administration
Danish Veterinary and Food Administration · 2026 · accessed 2026-09-15
- PubMed PMID 34559859 — systematic review/meta-analysis on ashwagandha and sleep
PubMed · 2021 · accessed 2026-09-15
- PubMed PMID 39348746 — systematic review/meta-analysis on ashwagandha, stress and anxiety
PubMed · 2024 · accessed 2026-09-15
- PubMed PMID 41644067 — systematic review / dose-response meta-analysis
PubMed · 2026 · accessed 2026-09-15
Sections reviewed
overviewbotanicaltraditionalContextpreparationsresearchevidencesafetyproductEvaluationrelationships
Reframed evidence from a single global tier to outcome- and preparation-specific assessments; added current safety and regulatory context; added preparation-aware product evaluation.
Regulatory sources are included for context only. Regulatory status is not evidence for or against efficacy, and is not a treatment or safety recommendation.
This profile is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Traditional context and research summaries are distinguished from claims, and nothing here is a treatment recommendation. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any herb, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, take medication, or have a medical condition.