Evidence supporting the use of: Ashwagandha
For the body system: Sympathetic Nervous System

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an adaptogenic herb traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine to manage stress and promote well-being. Recent scientific studies suggest that ashwagandha may modulate the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) primarily through its effects on stress and anxiety. The SNS is responsible for the "fight or flight" response, and chronic overactivation is linked to anxiety, elevated cortisol, and other stress-related conditions.

Several clinical trials have shown that ashwagandha supplementation can reduce self-reported stress and lower serum cortisol levels, a key marker of SNS activation. For example, a 2012 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (Chandrasekhar et al.) found that high-concentration ashwagandha root extract reduced stress and serum cortisol in adults with chronic stress. Another meta-analysis (Pratte et al., 2014) concluded that ashwagandha appears effective in reducing anxiety and stress, although more high-quality studies are needed.

While the exact mechanisms are not fully understood, proposed actions include modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and reduction of cortisol production, leading to decreased SNS activity. However, direct evidence of ashwagandha specifically and robustly supporting the SNS is limited, so the overall scientific evidence is moderate. Most findings relate to its broader stress-adaptation and anxiolytic effects, which indirectly benefit SNS regulation.

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