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

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

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

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) has a long history of use in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for a variety of conditions, including as an adaptogen to manage stress and support the nervous system. In the context of alcoholism, traditional texts and Ayurvedic practitioners have recommended ashwagandha for its calming effects and potential to help with withdrawal symptoms, anxiety, and insomnia associated with alcohol cessation. The rationale is that ashwagandha may support the body's resilience to stress and help restore balance during recovery from substance abuse.

Scientific evidence specifically supporting ashwagandha for the treatment or management of alcoholism is limited. Most modern research on ashwagandha has focused on its anxiolytic (anti-anxiety), anti-stress, and neuroprotective properties. A few animal studies suggest that ashwagandha extract may reduce withdrawal symptoms and alcohol intake in dependent rodents, likely due to its modulation of neurotransmitter systems, antioxidant effects, and ability to reduce oxidative stress in the brain. However, well-designed human clinical trials directly investigating its effectiveness for alcohol dependence or withdrawal are lacking.

In summary, the use of ashwagandha for alcoholism is primarily justified by traditional use, with some preliminary preclinical data offering a possible scientific rationale. However, high-quality clinical evidence is needed before it can be recommended as a standard adjunct for alcohol use disorder.

More about ashwagandha
More about Alcoholism

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