Herb Profile
Ashwagandha
No summary available yet.
Last reviewed: •18 human studies cited
B ModerateUse extra caution — Generally tolerated short term in studied standardized root extract trials, but long term safety is not established. Details
- Evidence
- Strong Human Evidence
- Typical onset
- Varies by prep
- Safety rating
- High caution
- Best for
- Stress Response, Sleep, Neurobiology, Inflammation
- Avoid / review if
- Avoid Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Without Clinician Supervision, Avoid/Caution Advanced Liver Disease Or Cirrhosis, Caution Thyroid Disorders/Thyroid Medication
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Ashwagandha
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Where to go next — guides & comparisons
Continue reading
- If you want help sleeping → Sleep guides
- If you want help with anxiety or stress → Anxiety & stress guides
- If you want to browse more herbs → All herbs
Safety & Cautions
Generally tolerated short term in studied standardized root extract trials, but long term safety is not established. Rare clinically apparent liver injury has been reported.
28%
High caution — review carefully
Detailed safety fields
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and contraindications
- - Avoid Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Without Clinician Supervision
- - Avoid/Caution Advanced Liver Disease Or Cirrhosis
- - Caution Thyroid Disorders/Thyroid Medication
- - Hormone Sensitive Prostate Cancer
- - Sedatives
- - Antidiabetes Meds
- - Antihypertensives
- - Immunosuppressants
- - And Multi Ingredient Products.
Safety classifications
- - Interaction-Aware: Medication or interaction context is explicitly noted.
- - Liver-Sensitive: Liver-related caution language appears in the profile.
- - Hormonal Activity Context: Hormone-adjacent wording is present and should be interpreted carefully.
- - Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Caution: Pregnancy or breastfeeding caution language is present.
Full safety note
- - Generally tolerated short term in studied standardized root extract trials, but long term safety is not established. Rare clinically apparent liver injury has been reported. Common mild effects can include GI upset, loose stools, nausea, and drowsiness.
Safety labels
- - Interaction-Aware
- - Liver-Sensitive
- - Hormonal Activity Context
- - Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Caution
Evidence-based safety
Caution when combined
These pairings share a flagged risk mechanism. They are additive-effect cautions derived from contraindication data, not confirmed clinical interactions. Consult a clinician before combining.
Moderate Caution
259 flagged pairingsBlood-sugar lowering · Blood-pressure effects · Sedation / CNS depression
Moderate Caution
259 flagged pairingsBlood-sugar lowering · Blood-pressure effects · Sedation / CNS depression
Browse the grouped cautions below. The list scrolls inside this card when long.
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Evidence Summary
Evidence lens
Most useful for practical interpretation when safety context also fits.
Human clinical evidence: Present in source signals
Mechanistic / preclinical: Mechanism mapped — Inflammatory Signaling Modulation · Neurotransmitter Modulation · Immune Signaling Modulation
Research maturity: More interpretable — Long Term Human Evidence May Be Limited.
Safety boundary: Safety note available — Generally tolerated short term in studied standardized root extract trials, but long term safety is not established.
This profile cites 18 human studies.
How evidence grades work
Each grade reflects the strength and consistency of published human evidence — not marketing claims. Grades are based on study count, design quality, effect size, consistency, and recency.
Strong
Multiple RCTs, consistent direction, adequate effect size
Moderate
Some RCTs or consistent observational data in humans
Preliminary / Mixed
Animal or in-vitro only, or conflicting human data
Traditional / Theoretical
Traditional use only; no controlled human trials
Clinical Study Summaries (8)Cited studies informing this profile. RCTs and reviews shown first.
| Study | Type | Sample | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
Effect of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract on sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis Cheah; Norhayati; Yaacob; Rahman (2021) | Meta-analysis | — | Source → |
Back to the Roots: Safety and Tolerability of Standardised Ashwagandha Root Extract Coope et al. (2026) | — | — | Source → |
Does Ashwagandha supplementation have a beneficial effect on the management of anxiety and stress? Akhgarjand et al. (2022) | — | — | Source → |
Ashwagandha-induced liver injury: A case series from Iceland and the US DILIN Björnsson et al. (2020) | — | — | Source → |
Evaluating the Safety of Ashwagandha as a Food Additive Li et al. (2025) | — | — | Source → |
Effects of Withania somnifera Extract in Chronically Stressed Adults Pandit et al. (2024) | — | — | Source → |
Show 2 more studies
Dosing & Timing
Dose guidance
125–500 mg/day root+leaf aqueous extract for 8 weeks in one stress RCT; 300 mg/day sustained release root extract for 90 days in one stress/cognition/sleep RCT; sleep meta analysis signal stronger at ≥600 mg/day for ≥8 weeks; 300–600 mg/day is most interpretable for stress in one dose response meta analysis. | Standardized root extract; sustained release root extract; aqueous root+leaf extract. Keep root only safety evidence separate from root+leaf efficacy rows. | Raw powder, root extract, leaf extract, root+leaf extract, sustained release extract, and branded extracts are not interchangeable.
How Ashwagandha Works
Simplified mechanism pathway based on preclinical and pharmacological evidence. Does not confirm clinical efficacy.
Mechanism Pathway — How Ashwagandha Works
Mechanisms & Biological Pathways
Proposed mechanisms from in vitro and animal research; these do not confirm clinical outcomes in humans.
Condition guides
Compare & Sourcing
Compare side-by-side tradeoffs or verify active marker guidelines.
Review available sources for Ashwagandha
Independent database mapping — evaluated separately from safety and efficacy scores.
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Safety first · Harm reduction
This information is educational and not medical advice. Start low, avoid risky combinations, and consult a licensed clinician before making health decisions—especially if you use medications, have diagnosed conditions, or are pregnant/breastfeeding.
Learn how we evaluate confidence, safety, and intensity on the methodology page.
Editorial Review
Checked against primary sources, cited evidence, and contraindication language before publication. Evidence claims, safety language, and affiliate modules are reviewed independently. Not personal medical advice.
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Botanical profile context
How to interpret Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha dosage ranges, effects, drug interactions, and harm-reduction safety guide for stress response. Strong Human Evidence research evidence. Use this herb profile as a starting point for evidence review, not as a recommendation to start a new supplement. Botanical products can vary by plant part, extract ratio, standardization, dose, and contaminant testing, so two labels with the same common name may not behave the same way.
When reviewing Ashwagandha, compare the traditional-use context against the human evidence, mechanism notes, and safety cautions. Pay special attention to pregnancy, breastfeeding, liver or kidney disease, blood-pressure effects, sedation, stimulation, anticoagulant use, antidepressants, and any prescription medication overlap.
For product decisions, prefer transparent labels, named extracts, clear serving sizes, and third-party quality testing. Avoid treating a long list of possible mechanisms as proof that an herb will solve a specific condition.