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Ash7.5
Ashwagandha Research
Likely helpsModerate safety
61 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Likely helps
Ashwagandha appears to help in 10 of 10 studies with measurable effects — the evidence leans clearly favourable.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 2012–2026 with a typical study size of 60 participants.
Based on 61 studies · 7 meta-analyses · 29 RCTs · 4,882 total participants
4Hypothyroidism signs and symptomsSystematic ReviewCited 3×n=186 · medium study2023
Some herbal remedies, including Nigella sativa L., ashwagandha, and Mentha x Piperita L., can improve the signs and symptoms of primary hypothyroidism, but using a more extensive and advanced methodology will provide us with more complete results.
Javidi N et al. · Current drug discovery technologies (2023)
Likely real
In one study, Nigella sativa L. caused a significant decrease in weight (P=0.004) and body mass index (BMI) (P=0.002).
TSH levels were reported to be decreased and T3 increased in the treatment group (P =0.03) (P=0.008), respectively.
In another study on Nigella sativa L., results did not show a significant difference between the two groups (p=0.02).
5Cognitive function and nootropic effectsSystematic ReviewCited 31×2023
Together, the results from the compiled studies highlight the nootropic effects and the inconsistencies regarding PDNs that require further research.Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2021.2021137.
Lorca C et al. · Critical reviews in food science and nutrition (2023)
Bacopa monnieri improves language, learning and memory.
Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) modulates anxiety and social-related cognitions.
Caffeine enhances attention and executive functions.
8Anxiety and insomnia reductionMeta-AnalysisCited 9×2024
While W. somnifera extracts yielded promising results, further research with larger sample sizes is needed to confirm its effects on anxiety and insomnia.
Fatima K et al. · Human psychopharmacology (2024)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
Pooled results from five RCTs (n = 254) demonstrated that W. somnifera significantly reduced HAM-A scores (MD = -5.96; [95% CI -10.34, -1.59]; P = 0.008; I2 = 98%), as well as sleep parameters such as SOL, TST, PSQI, and SE, but not WASO and TIB.
While W. somnifera extracts yielded promising results, further research with larger sample sizes is needed to confirm its effects on anxiety and insomnia.
10Testosterone concentrationsSystematic ReviewCited 28×n=32 · small study2021
Overall, 9 out of 32 studies demonstrated statistically significant increases in testosterone concentrations.
Smith SJ et al. · Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) (2021)
Overall, 9 out of 32 studies demonstrated statistically significant increases in testosterone concentrations.
Conclusions are moderated by the paucity of research for many herbs, the variation in dosages and extracts used, small sample sizes, and the heterogeneity of study characteristics.
Also, further research is required before definitive conclusions on efficacy and safety can be made.
11Treatment recommendations for nutraceuticals and phytoceuticals in psychiatric disordersMeta-AnalysisCited 117×2022
Based on the current data and clinician input, a range of nutraceuticals and phytoceuticals were given either a supportive recommendation or a provisional recommendation across a range of various psychiatric disorders.
Sarris J et al. · The world journal of biological psychiatry : the official journal of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (2022)
Based on the current data and clinician input, a range of nutraceuticals and phytoceuticals were given either a supportive recommendation or a provisional recommendation across a range of various psychiatric disorders.
However several had only a weak endorsement for potential use; for a few it was not possible to reach a clear recommendation direction, largely due to mixed study findings; while some other agents showed no obvious therapeutic benefit and were clearly not recommended for use.
It is the intention of these guidelines to inform psychiatric/medical, and health professional practice globally.
13Anxiety symptoms (HAMA scores)Meta-AnalysisCited 48×n=29 · very small study2022
Medicinal herbs may be promising for the treatment of anxiety.
Zhang W et al. · Pharmacological research (2022)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Kava was found to be an effective anxiolytic (MD: -2.46, 95% CrI: -4.47 to -0.32) but possibly ineffective in patients with generalized anxiety disorder (MD: -0.17, 95% CrI: -2.55 to -1.97).
Ginkgo biloba (MD: -4.63, 95% CrI: -9.01 to -0.23) and Withania somnifera (MD: -4.90, 95% CrI: -9.70 to -0.17) were efficacious, as measured by HAMA scores but the trials were limited by their small sample sizes.
Conversely, although Passionflower (MD: -4.20, 95% CrI: -8.82 to 0.16) and Saffron (MD: -2.71, 95% CrI: -6.06 to 0.57) did not reduce HAMA scores significantly in the summary network, both were worthy of further study because of support from separate networks.
15Systematic ReviewCited 64×n=69 · small study2020
Further, there was no in vitro and in vivo inhibition seen for CYP3A4 and CYP2D6, the two major hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes.
Tandon N et al. · Journal of ethnopharmacology (2020)
Properly designed, randomized-controlled, large-size, prospective trials with standardized preparations are needed to ascertain efficacy of Aswagandha root in previously studied and other new indications.
It also appears to be well tolerated, with good adherence and minimal side effects.
Ng QX et al. · Phytotherapy research : PTR (2020)
Overall, there is some early clinical evidence, in the form of randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trials, to support the cognitive benefits of W. somnifera supplementation.
However, a rather heterogeneous study population was sampled, including older adults with mild cognitive impairment and adults with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar disorder.
In most instances, W. somnifera extract improved performance on cognitive tasks, executive function, attention, and reaction time.
Aside from this, future focus should involve the incorporation of more biomarker analysis, in particular pharmacogenomics, to determine genetic factors moderating response to herbal medicines.
Sarris J · Phytotherapy research : PTR (2018)
Other encouraging herbal medicines with preliminary evidence include Curcuma longa (turmeric) in depression, Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) in affective disorders, and Ginkgo biloba (ginkgo) as an adjunctive treatment in Schizophrenia.
Although depression and anxiety are commonly researched, many other mental disorders still require further prospective investigation.
Although the previous review suggested increasing the adjunctive study of select herbal medicines with pharmaceuticals, this was still only found to sparingly occur in research designs.
19Cognitive function improvementSystematic ReviewCited 13×2020
However, further research is required to validate their effect as well as determine recommended doses.
Gkotzamanis V et al. · Psychiatrike = Psychiatriki (2020)
In total, eight studies investigated interventions on people with Mild Cognitive Impairment or Subjective Cognitive Impairment and all of them reported significant cognitive benefits in some cognitive domains.
On the contrary, the remaining two studies included individuals with diagnosed dementia reported minimal to hardly any benefits.
Conclusively, the interventions of the studies reviewed seem promising for individuals at risk of dementia, but not for those who are already diagnosed with dementia.
Such investigations will provide evidence for the efficacy and safety of ashwagandha treatment, thus making the herbal preparations more accessible to a wider audience.
Winther K · Nutrients (2026)
Currently, neither the European Medicines Agency nor the FDA considers ashwagandha as a drug or general health supplement.
Therefore, ashwagandha products are marketed in the West as dietary supplements so that users may be exposed to unscrupulous vendors.
In this narrative/literature review, scientific findings from basic research and human clinical trials on herbal remedies, spanning the period from 1994 to date, were critically evaluated for the purpose of highlighting knowledge gaps to provide context for new research.