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

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Synopsis

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

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) has a long-standing history in traditional Ayurvedic medicine, where it is classified as a "rasayana" or rejuvenative tonic. In classical Ayurvedic texts, ashwagandha has been used to address a spectrum of nervous system disorders, including conditions historically described as "hysteria," which encompassed symptoms such as anxiety, restlessness, and emotional instability. The root has been recommended as a calming agent to restore balance and vitality in individuals experiencing psychological disturbances or excessive nervousness.

The rationale behind its use is rooted in ashwagandha's reputed adaptogenic and anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) properties. Traditional practitioners believed it could strengthen the nervous system and calm the mind, making it suitable for symptoms classically associated with hysteria. However, the term "hysteria" is now considered outdated in modern medical practice and is no longer used as a diagnostic category.

There is some emerging scientific evidence supporting ashwagandha's role in reducing stress and anxiety, but direct clinical trials for "hysteria" per se are lacking, as the condition is no longer recognized in contemporary psychiatry. Thus, while its use for symptoms that might have been labeled as hysteria in the past has some traditional and limited scientific support (for anxiety and stress), the justification for ashwagandha specifically for "hysteria" is primarily traditional. The evidence rating is moderate, as most studies focus on related but distinct conditions.

More about ashwagandha
More about Hysteria

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