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

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Synopsis

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

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) has a long history of use in Ayurvedic medicine as a remedy for stress, anxiety, and worry. In recent years, scientific research has begun to explore and in part validate these traditional claims. Several randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have found that ashwagandha supplementation is associated with significant reductions in self-reported levels of anxiety and perceived stress compared to placebo. For example, a 2012 study published in the "Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine" found that participants taking high-concentration ashwagandha root extract had significantly lower scores on stress-assessment scales than those taking placebo. Other meta-analyses and systematic reviews have echoed these findings, suggesting that ashwagandha may influence the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, leading to reduced cortisol levels and improved resilience to stressors.

However, while the available evidence is promising, it is not yet robust. Sample sizes in most studies have been relatively small, and there is variation in dosages, formulations, and study lengths. More large-scale, high-quality trials are needed to confirm efficacy and further clarify safety. Overall, while traditional use is strong, current scientific evidence is best described as moderate, justifying a cautious but optimistic outlook on ashwagandha’s role in supporting worry and anxiety.

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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