Evidence supporting the use of: Ashwagandha
For the health condition: Endurance (lack of)

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Synopsis

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

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) has a long history of use in traditional Ayurvedic medicine as an adaptogen and general tonic for improving stamina and vitality. In recent years, scientific studies have investigated its effects on physical performance and endurance. Several randomized, placebo-controlled trials suggest ashwagandha supplementation may enhance cardiorespiratory endurance and improve physical performance in both athletic and sedentary populations.

For example, a 2012 study published in the Ayurveda journal found significant improvements in VO2 max and time to exhaustion in healthy adults taking ashwagandha root extract compared to placebo. A 2015 study in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition demonstrated increased cardiorespiratory endurance and improved quality of life metrics among athletes supplemented with ashwagandha. Proposed mechanisms include the herb’s ability to reduce exercise-induced stress, improve oxygen utilization, and support muscle recovery.

Despite these promising findings, sample sizes are generally small and durations are relatively short. More rigorous, larger-scale studies are needed to fully establish its efficacy and safety for enhancing endurance. Nonetheless, current evidence suggests that ashwagandha may provide a modest benefit for physical endurance, making its use for this purpose scientifically substantiated, though not yet unequivocally proven.

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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