Ashwaganda , also known as Indian ginseng and winter cherry, has been used in the traditional Ayurvedic Medicine as an adaptogen, which is defined as a compound that increases the ability of a person to resist, or adapt, and therefore be resilient in nonspecific ways to biological, physical, or chemical stressors [2,3]. https://search.app/cMGNAS5aQst8BU7g7
Stress and anxiety
A number of clinical trials suggest that ashwagandha extracts may help reduce stress and anxiety. 2021 saw publication of a systematic review of seven studies investigating ashwagandha to treat stress and anxiety [7]. There were a total of 491 adults as study participants who had either self-reported high stress and anxiety or were diagnosed with an anxiety disorder by a health professional. They were assigned to be administered ashwagandha or a placebo for 6 to 8 weeks. The overall analysis of these seven studies found that ashwagandha significantly reduced stress and anxiety levels (measured by validated anxiety rating scales), improved their difficulties with sleeplessness and fatigue, and also reduced their levels of the stress hormone cortisol as shown in blood tests that were performed. These studies also determined that doses between 500 to 600 mg/day were more effective when compared with lower dosing regimens.
Three more studies published after this 2021 review confirmed a positive association of taking ashwagandha therapeutically to reduce perceived stress. One clinical trial included 60 adults with a mean age of 34 years who took Ashwaganda capsules containing either 225 mg/day or 400 mg/day or a placebo. Even those participants taking the lower dose had a reduction of their cortisol levels though that dose was not as clearly effective for the reported stressful symptoms. Along with stress and anxiety there were reported improvements in depression, as well as experiencing less food cravings as measured by validated rating scales.
At two health centers in India, 130 healthy men and women aged 20 to 55 years with self-reported stress were randomized to take a sustained-released ashwagandha root extract or placebo for 90 days. Compared with placebo, participants taking the ashwagandha extract reported improvements in stress levels and sleep quality as measured by validated rating scales. They also had lower serum cortisol levels. In addition, participants reported improvements in psychological well-being, memory, and focus.
Another study from the University of Colorado with 60 student participants were randomized to take an ashwagandha root extract or placebo for 30 days in a double-blind trial [10,11]. The extract contained a 350mg capsule, and participants took two capsules daily. The participants who took ashwagandha extract reported an increased well-being, a sense of calm, improved energy, better mental clarity, and better sleep quality.And the participants taking ashwagandha were more likely to describe their stress as manageable.
Sleep
Results from a few clinical trials suggest that ashwagandha extracts may help with sleep. For example, at one study center in India, 150 healthy men and women age 18 to 65 years with self-reported sleep problems were randomized to take an ashwagandha root and leaf extract or placebo for 6 weeks [12]. Participants took two capsules each day. 72% of those who took ashwagandha reported improvements in sleep quality as measured by a validated rating scale. In addition, participants taking ashwagandha extract showed improvements in sleep efficiency (time in bed spent in sleep), total sleep time, and sleep latency -time taken to fall asleep. They also reported improvements in quality of life.
One study focused on people who reported insomnia. The subjects were 80 healthy adults between 18 and 50 years of age. After an 8 week period in which they were administered Ashwaganda or a placebo pill it was found that participants who were given 600mg of Ashwaganda reported improvements in sleep quality, sleep onset latency, mental alertness on rising, and they reduced their perceived anxiety symptoms compared with those taking placebo.
A metaanalysis from 2021 which included five studies with a total of 372 healthy adults, including those who suffered from insomnia took ashwagandha or a placebo for 6 to 12 weeks. The dose of the ashwagandha supplement used in these studies ranged from 250 to 600 mg/day. At the end insomnia improved, and more so with the 600 mg dose.
Ashwagandha also exhibited an antidepressant effect, comparable with the medication imipramine, as measured by two standard tests, the ‘behavioral despair’ and ‘learned helplessness’ tests. These investigations clearly support the use of Ashwagandha as a mood stabilizer in clinical anxiety and depression. (Abdel-Magied et al., 2001) https://search.app/NprEr9TKzvVNEdpW8
Ashwaganda demonstrates GABA-mimetic effects which may have neuroregenerative potential.
This may help with the side effects of neuroleptic drugs such as tardive dyskinesia. (Gunne et al., 1993) GABA agonists have been shown to improve tardive dyskinesia, and Ashwaganda due to its GABA mimetic activity may be responsible for the observation that Ashwagandha, its constituents and their metabolites may promote the growth of nerve system cells.
Immunocytochemistry studies have results that suggest Ashwagandha promotes the formation of dendrites (Kulkarni et al., 1993).
Anti-arthritic effect:
Ashwagandha is an analgesic that may lessen the nervous system pain response (Twajj et al., 1989). The anti-arthritic properties (Singh et al. 1984, 1986) of Ashwagandha have been widely accepted and documented.
Modern scientific studies seem to be confirming that many of the traditional uses of this Ayurvedic remedy can be shown to have their beneficial effects through validated mechanisms of action as well as clinical effects through placebo-controlled studies. Accumulating scientific data support the conclusion that Ashwagandha is a true regenerative tonic due to its multiple pharmacological actions like anti-stress, neuroprotective, antitumor, anti-arthritic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory etc. It has been used in a number of different disease states such as dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and others.
Clinical experience has shown that along with the above enumerated effects, brain strokes causing paralysis and neuronal deficit improve with long term treatment with Ashwagandha. It is also used as an adjunctive modality in a number of different forms of cancer. There are reports of cases of lung cancer who have seen clinically and radiologically documented improvements with Ashwagandha. (Singh N., 2010- unpublished data). Large scale clinical studies are needed to further advance our knowledge of this potentially valuable therapeutic tool in stress related disorders, neuronal disorders and cancer.
