Harris ES, Cao S, Littlefield BA, et al. Heavy metal and pesticide content in commonly prescribed individual raw Chinese Herbal Medicines. Sci Total Environ. 2011;409(20):4297-4305. Today, Ashwagandha is still widely used in traditional medicine practices and has gained popularity in the Western world as well. It is commonly used as a natural remedy for stress and anxiety, as well as to improve cognitive function and boost energy levels. Research has also shown that Ashwagandha may have potential benefits for conditions such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. What is Ashwagandha 1000mg and How Does it Work? Ashwagandha ( Withania somnifera dunal) is considered an “adaptogen herb” in the Solanaceae/nightshade plant family. Adaptogens are defined as natural substances in herbal medicine that are considered to help the body adapt to stress and to exert a normalizing effect upon bodily processes. Additionally, ashwagandha is commonly used as an anxiolytic, or a substance that helps manage symptoms of anxiety. At least two studies have shown that ashwagandha can increase VO2 max levels, which is the maximum amount of oxygen you take in while physically exerting yourself [17] Choudhary B, Shetty A, Langade DG. Efficacy of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera [L.] Dunal) in improving cardiorespiratory endurance in healthy athletic adults. Ayu. 2015;36(1):63-68. [18] Sandhu JS, Shah B, Shenoy S, Chauhan S, Lavekar GS, Padhi MM. Effects of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) and Terminalia arjuna (Arjuna) on physical performance and cardiorespiratory endurance in healthy young adults. Int J Ayurveda Res. 2010;1(3):144-149. . These levels are used in measuring cardiorespiratory endurance—how well the heart and lungs deliver oxygen to muscles during physical activity. Thus, higher VO2 max levels can indicate a healthy heart that performs well under those circumstances. Kumar S, Bouic PJ, Rosenkranz B. Investigation of CYP2B6, 3A4 and ß-esterase interactions of Withania somnifera (L.) dunal in human liver microsomes and HepG2 cells. J Ethnopharmacol. 2021;270:113766. View abstract.

Davis, L. and Kuttan, G. Effect of Withania somnifera on DMBA induced carcinogenesis. J Ethnopharmacol. 2001;75(2-3):165-168. View abstract. Tandon N, et al. (2020). Safety and clinical effectiveness of Withania somnifera (Linn.) Dunal root in human ailments.

Word on the street...

Bonilla DA, Moreno Y, Gho C, et al. Effects of ashwagandha ( Withania somnifera) on physical performance: systematic review and bayesian meta-analysis. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2021;6(1):20. doi:10.3390/jfmk6010020 For this reason, some research has shown it to be effective in treating forms of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis. Pratte MA, Nanavati KB, Young V, Morley CP. An alternative treatment for anxiety: a systematic review of human trial results reported for the Ayurvedic herb ashwagandha (Withania somnifera). J Altern Complement Med. 2014;20(12):901-908. Agnihotri AP, Sontakke SD, Thawani VR, Saoji A, Goswami VS. Effects of Withania somnifera in patients of schizophrenia: a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled pilot trial study. Indian J Pharmacol. 2013;45(4):417-8. View abstract. Ashwagandha is a small shrub with yellow flowers that grows in India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. Its roots and berries are used to make medicine, particularly in Ayurvedic medicine, one of the oldest healing systems in the world. In Sanskrit, Ashwagandha means “smell of horse”, which refers to its earthy smell and supposed ability to give strength and vitality, like that of a horse. Today, Ashwagandha is popular as a dietary supplement because of its potential health benefits, such as reducing stress and anxiety, boosting immunity, and improving brain function.

LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury. [Internet]. Ashwagandha. Bethesda, MD: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; 2012. A 2021 review concluded that ashwaghanda may help manage depression, anxiety, insomnia, and other mental health-related and neurological issues. In Ayurvedic medicine, ashwagandha has been used for more than 2,500 years for its thyroid-modulating, neuroprotective, anti-anxiety, antidepressant and anti-inflammatory properties. Some of the many uses for ashwagandha include: Khattak, S., Saeed, Ur Rehman, Shah, H. U., Khan, T., and Ahmad, M. In vitro enzyme inhibition activities of crude ethanolic extracts derived from medicinal plants of Pakistan. Nat.Prod.Res 2005;19(6):567-571. View abstract. Gopukumar K, Thanawala S, Somepalli V, Rao TSS, Thamatam VB, Chauhan S. Efficacy and safety of ashwagandha root extract on cognitive functions in healthy, stressed adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021 Nov 30;2021:8254344. View abstract.Since withanolides are considered to be the major active component in ashwagandha, some extracts are standardized to contain a certain or minimum amount. Clinical trials have used standardized extracts containing anywhere from 1.5% to 35% withanolides, [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] but many studies do not disclose this information and the optimal amount of withanolides is not yet clear. Note that while studies may use standardized extracts or proprietary formulas, variations in extraction methods, formulation, or composition can affect physiological response. Ghosal S, Lal J, Srivastava R, and et al. Immunomodulatory and CNS effects of sitoindosides 9 and 10, two new glycowithanolides from Withania somnifera. Phytotherapy Research 1989;3(5):201-206.

The treatment was associated with an 18% greater increase in DHEA-S, a sex hormone involved in testosterone production. Participants who took the herb also had a 14.7% greater increase in testosterone than those who took the placebo.Malhotra, C. L., Mehta, V. L., Prasad, K., and Das, P. K. Studies on Withania ashwagandha, Kaul. IV. The effect of total alkaloids on the smooth muscles. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1965;9(1):9-15. View abstract. Pusec CM, Wolsky R, Llerena C, Sura P. A Case of Supplement-Induced Hepatitis. Cureus 2022;14(10):e30433. View abstract. Dongre S, Langade D, Bhattacharyya S. Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Root Extract in Improving Sexual Function in Women: A Pilot Study. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:284154. Gupta, S. K., Dua, A., and Vohra, B. P. Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) attenuates antioxidant defense in aged spinal cord and inhibits copper induced lipid peroxidation and protein oxidative modifications. Drug Metabol.Drug Interact. 2003;19(3):211-222. View abstract.