Evidence supporting the use of: Ashwagandha
For the health condition: Testosterone (low)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Ashwagandha and Testosterone: Scientific Evidence

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an adaptogenic herb widely used in Ayurvedic medicine, traditionally for vitality, stress reduction, and male reproductive health. In recent years, scientific studies have explored its potential impact on testosterone levels, particularly in men experiencing stress or infertility.

Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have investigated ashwagandha’s effect on testosterone. For example, a 2019 RCT published in the American Journal of Men's Health found that overweight men aged 40-70 who took ashwagandha root extract for 8 weeks experienced a statistically significant increase in testosterone compared to placebo. Another RCT in 2015 in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine showed that infertile men who supplemented with ashwagandha had higher testosterone and improved semen quality versus those receiving placebo.

The proposed mechanisms include ashwagandha’s ability to reduce cortisol (a stress hormone that can suppress testosterone) and its antioxidant effects, which may support healthy testicular function. However, while results are promising, the number of high-quality studies is still limited, and sample sizes are generally small.

In summary, there is emerging scientific evidence—though not yet overwhelming—that ashwagandha can support testosterone levels, especially in populations under stress or with fertility challenges. More large-scale, long-term studies are needed to confirm its efficacy and safety for this use.

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Other health conditions supported by ashwagandha

Addictions (drugs)
Addictions (general remedies for)
Afterbirth Pain
Aging (prevention)
Alcoholism
Allergies (respiratory)
Alzheimer's Disease
Amenorrhea
Anemia
Anger (excessive)
Angina
Anorexia
Anxiety
Anxiety Disorders
Appetite (deficient)
Arthritis
Asthma
Athletic and Exercise Aids
Attention Deficit Disorder
Autoimmune Disorders
Backache
Bedwetting
Body Building
Cancer (prevention)
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
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
Miscarriage (prevention)
Mood Swings
Muscle Tone (lack of)
Nervous Exhaustion
Nervousness
Neurosis
Nightmares
Nocturnal Emission
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
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
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
Adrenal Fatigue
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Cholesterol (high)
Circulation (poor)
Concentration (poor)
Depression
Diabetes
Digestion (poor)
Migraine
Osteoporosis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Wounds and Sores
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder