Evidence supporting the use of: Ashwagandha
For the health condition: Sleep (restless and disturbed)

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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 for promoting relaxation and improving sleep quality. In recent years, scientific research has begun to validate some of these traditional uses. Several randomized controlled trials have investigated ashwagandha’s effects on sleep. A notable study published in 2019 in the journal Cureus found that adults with insomnia who took ashwagandha root extract (300 mg twice daily) for 10 weeks experienced significant improvements in sleep onset latency, sleep efficiency, and total sleep time compared to placebo. Another double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in 2020 in Sleep Medicine also reported that ashwagandha extract (600 mg/day) improved sleep quality and reduced sleep onset latency in adults with insomnia.

The proposed mechanisms involve ashwagandha’s ability to modulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and reduce cortisol levels, which may help counteract stress-induced sleep disturbances. Additionally, certain active components in ashwagandha, such as withanolides and triethylene glycol, are believed to have sedative and anxiolytic properties that contribute to its sleep-promoting effects.

Overall, while evidence is still limited and more large-scale studies are needed, current research suggests that ashwagandha may be beneficial for improving sleep in individuals experiencing restless or disturbed sleep, supporting its use beyond traditional claims.

More about ashwagandha
More about Sleep (restless and disturbed)

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