Ashwagandha is a herb (Withania somnifera) in the nightshade family, which also includes tomatoes and chilli peppers.
It has been used in traditional Indian medicine (Ayurveda) for thousands of years to make preparations for treating various ailments, from infectious diseases, like tuberculosis, to pain and inflammation, baldness and hiccups. In classic Ayurvedic texts, it’s also described as a ‘mental strength promoter’ (or ‘Balya’).
While lots of research has been done on ashwagandha, studies for specific conditions can be sparser. Perhaps the most recent assessment of its use for stress and anxiety comes from a 2022 review of studies by the Cochrane Collaboration, which is internationally recognised for its high-standard medical reviews.
Although the Cochrane researchers were only able to find 12 studies on the subject, which together tested the herb on just 1,002 participants, their findings did suggest that ashwagandha can lower stress and anxiety.
The researchers rated the ‘certainty’ of the evidence as ‘low’ and called for more detailed studies, though
The benefits of ashwagandha are thought to be related to natural steroids called withanolides, but this group includes hundreds of compounds, with tens having been isolated from ashwagandha so far.
As with any herbal remedy, the combination of compounds and the exact concoction you get depends on how and where the plant is grown, and how it’s prepared. This means that not all supplements based on the same plant are equal.
Remember, too, that herbal doesn’t mean risk-free. For some people, ashwagandha causes drowsiness and more serious side effects aren’t unknown. It’s best to treat it like a drug and not ‘just’ a herb.
This article is an answer to the question (asked by Edna Franco, via email) 'Will taking Ashwagandha actually help me with my anxiety?'
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