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

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Synopsis

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

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) has limited but growing scientific evidence supporting its potential role in osteoporosis management. Preclinical studies, mainly in animal models, suggest that ashwagandha extracts may have positive effects on bone health. For example, some rodent studies have shown that ashwagandha can increase bone mineral density and improve bone microarchitecture in models of osteoporosis induced by ovariectomy (a standard method to mimic postmenopausal osteoporosis). The proposed mechanisms involve its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and adaptogenic properties, as well as its potential to modulate hormones and reduce cortisol levels, which may indirectly support bone formation and reduce bone resorption.

However, human clinical data are sparse. There are no robust, large-scale clinical trials directly assessing ashwagandha’s effects on osteoporosis in humans. Most of the evidence is preclinical or comes from in vitro studies indicating that withanolides (active compounds in ashwagandha) may stimulate osteoblast (bone-forming cell) activity and inhibit osteoclast (bone-resorbing cell) activity. Additionally, some traditional Ayurvedic medicine formulations use ashwagandha to promote vitality, which may incidentally support bone health, but osteoporosis-specific claims are not well documented in traditional texts.

In summary, while early data are promising and provide a rationale for further research, the current scientific evidence supporting ashwagandha’s use for osteoporosis is preliminary, meriting a low-to-moderate rating (2/5) at this time.

More about ashwagandha
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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