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

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Synopsis

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

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) has a long history of use in traditional Ayurvedic medicine, primarily as a “rasayana” or rejuvenating tonic. Within this context, it is often used to support general mental well-being, reduce stress, and promote calmness. Irritability as a specific symptom is not always directly referenced in traditional Ayurvedic texts, but ashwagandha’s adaptogenic and calming properties are frequently cited for their benefits in managing emotional imbalances, stress, and nervousness—states that often include or overlap with irritability. Classic Ayurvedic literature describes ashwagandha as a herb that balances "Vata" and "Kapha" doshas, which are sometimes associated with mood disturbances and mental agitation.

Modern research provides some preliminary evidence that ashwagandha may help lower stress and anxiety, which could indirectly help with irritability. Small clinical trials have shown reductions in perceived stress and improvements in well-being in individuals taking ashwagandha extracts. However, these studies rarely focus specifically on irritability as an isolated symptom, and the evidence remains indirect. At this time, the primary justification for ashwagandha's use in treating or supporting irritability comes from its traditional use for calming the mind and supporting emotional resilience, rather than from robust scientific validation targeting irritability itself.

More about ashwagandha
More about Irritability

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