In ancient Ayurvedic medicine, ashwagandha is known as the King of Herbs.
Today, it’s one of the most popular adaptogens in the wellness world — and for good reason. It’s been celebrated for its ability to ease stress, improve sleep, boost energy, support brain health, and even help the body fight cancer Ashwagandha is an herb made from the Withania somnifera (meaning “sleep-inducing”) plant, with thousands of years of use in Ayurveda. It’s in the Solanaceae or nightshade family, along with tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplant (and, in the spirit of full disclosure, the extremely toxic belladonna). It’s also known as Indian ginseng or winter cherry Ashwagandha belongs to a category of substances known as adaptogens. There are many adaptogenic herbs. Even Reishi mushroom is considered a secondary adaptogen
A 2019 study randomized 60 “stressed adults” into three groups. They received either 250 or 600 mg of ashwagandha per day for 8 weeks, or a placebo. Compared to the control group, those given the herb reported significant reductions in how stressed they felt. And those perceptions were supported by reductions in their serum levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Both ashwagandha groups also showed significant improvement in sleep quality compared to the placebo group
A more recent study showed benefit. A 2022 meta-analysis of 12 studies that included over 1,000 adults found that ashwagandha seems to lower anxiety and stress when compared to a placebo. Taking up to 12,000 mg (4 teaspoons) per day seemed to be the sweet spot to treat anxiety, while a much smaller dose of 300–600 mg per day was found to help with stress.
This is a herb that every person should take. Those with thyroid disease should consult their health care practitioner first