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

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Synopsis

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

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an herb commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine to support overall health and adapt to stress. Its use for menopause is supported by a combination of traditional practices and emerging scientific evidence. Traditionally, ashwagandha has been used to manage symptoms related to hormonal imbalances, such as anxiety, fatigue, and sleep disturbances—many of which overlap with menopause symptoms.

In terms of scientific validation, clinical evidence is still limited but growing. A few small randomized controlled trials suggest that ashwagandha may alleviate certain menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, mood swings, sleep problems, and anxiety. For example, a 2021 double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research found that menopausal women taking ashwagandha root extract experienced significant improvements in menopause-related symptoms and quality of life compared to placebo. The herb’s adaptogenic properties are thought to modulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, thereby reducing stress and promoting hormonal balance.

Despite these promising findings, the body of evidence is still small, with most studies involving limited sample sizes and variable formulations. As such, while ashwagandha may offer benefit for menopause support, particularly in reducing stress and improving sleep, more robust, large-scale studies are needed to fully establish its efficacy and safety for menopausal symptom management.

More about ashwagandha
More about Menopause

Other ingredients used for Menopause

7-hydroxymatairesinol (HMR)
Alfalfa
Aloe vera
ashwagandha
asparagus
astragalus
black cohosh
black currant
Indian frankincense
bupleurum falcatum
burdock
calcium
chaste tree
cordyceps
damiana
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone)
DIM (diindolylmethane)
dog rose
dong quai root
eleuthero
evening primrose oil
fenugreek
fish oil
flaxseed
genistein
genistin
hibiscus
HMR lignan
hops
knotweed
jujube
kudzu
licorice root
lignans
maca
Marine lipid
Melatonin
Moringa
Motherwort
Nettle
okra
omega-3 fatty acids
ophiopogon root
pollen
pomegranate
rehmannia glutinosa
reishi mushroom
rose oil
saffron
sage
soybean
Valerian root
vitamin B6
vitamin D
vitamin D3
vitamin E
seaweed
Wild yam
red clover
atractylodes
smilax
Rubia cordifolia
bee pollen
lingzhi
root tuber
dioscorea
royal jelly
equol (proprietary)
anemarrhena asphodeloides
barrenwort
goji berry
amaranth
soy isoflavones
27-deoxyactein
8-Prenylnaringenin
Akebia
antler
Achyranthes
Alchemilla
Agrimonia pilosa
Agnuside
Ashoka
Anemarrhena
atractylone
black seed
banyan
bioflavonoids
black root
Chinese silkvine
cohosh
Clary sage
Cnidium
Cynomorium
Crinum latifolium
DHEA
danshen
daidzein
durian
dong quai
Euryale seed
elk antler
evening primrose oil
estrogen
fo-ti
Ficus religiosa
Glycetein
horny goat weed
Hypericum
isoflavones
Lycium
lemon balm
Lady's Mantle
linden
lotus
Loranthus
Labisia pumila
macamides
Montanoa tomentosa
Meadow sage
Miroestrol
macaenes
Ophiopogon
Puerain
Pulsatilla
Prickly Pear Cactus
Phytoestrogens
Polygonum
rue
Rubus
rockweed
Rehmannia
rose
Rooibos
Rosa laevigata
rhubarb
Soy
Soy Protein
Stone Root
Vervain
Viburnum
Vitex Agnus-Castus
Withanolides
Yellow-Fruit Nightshade

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