Ashwagandha: Benefits, Dosing, Where To Buy, And More!

Last Updated:

Key Information

Ashwagandha is an ancient Ayurvedic herb

Ashwagandha has been used for thousands of years in India for its rejuvenating and healing properties.

Ashwagandha has multiple nootropic benefits

Ashwagandha can improve memory, attention, reaction time, and mental performance by modulating neurotransmitters and antioxidants.

Ashwagandha can reduce anxiety and depression

Ashwagandha can lower cortisol, the stress hormone, and increase serotonin, the happiness hormone, resulting in a calmer and happier mood.

Ashwagandha can boost testosterone and libido

Ashwagandha can increase testosterone levels, which can enhance sexual desire, arousal, and fertility in both men and women.

Affiliate Disclosure: Holistic Nootropics may earn affiliate commissions if you purchase through the links on this page. Here's how it works.

Hey there! Welcome to my review of Ashwagandha.

As someone interested in all-natural cognitive enhancement, learning more about ashwagandha was a no-brainer for me.

It’s one of the most popular nootropics on the market today and seems to be constantly in the news with new research regularly coming out touting its benefits.

I wanted to understand more about this ancient herbal cognitive enhancer so I spent many hours combing the literature and testing products and discovered this potent shrub delivers an almost endless list of benefits including stress reduction, libido boosts, mood enhancements and many more!

The following article highlights everything you need to know about Ashwagandha including all the studied benefits, how it works in the brain, the different types, dosing recommendations, and where to buy it.

So if you’re ready to learn more about this natural nootropic, let’s jump into it!

Biohack Your Brainpower

Stay ahead with our newsletter: cutting-edge biohacking tips and the latest in nootropics, all in one place.

Where To Buy Ashwagandha

Potent Stress-Relieving Adaptogenic Herb

Ashwagandha by Nootropics Depot

Ashwagandha by Nootropics Depot
Check PriceGet 5% off entire order w/ code HOLISTICNOOTROPICS
Make It Yourself, Save $$Get 5% off entire order w/ code HOLISTICNOOTROPICS
Check PriceGet 5% off entire order w/ code HOLISTICNOOTROPICS
Make It Yourself, Save $$Get 5% off entire order w/ code HOLISTICNOOTROPICS
  • Improved cognitive function

  • Increased energy levels

  • Enhanced stress resistance

  • Modulates neurotransmitter activity


Ashwagandha- Overview

Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera) is an adaptogenic herb that has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for:

It has recently come into popularity as a nootropic supplement for the same reasons, and extensive research has confirmed its effectiveness.

It is prized as a master rejuvenator that confers several mental and physical benefits on its user.

Roughly translating to “smell of horse” in Sanskrit due to its strong odor, Ashwagandha is also known as “Indian ginseng,” “winter cherry,” and “poison gooseberry.”

Ashwagandha – An Overview

what is ashwagandha,how to take ashwagandha,what is ashwagandha good for,when to take ashwagandha,what does ashwagandha do,what is ashwagandha used for,where to buy ashwagandha,how much ashwagandha should i take,how to use ashwagandha powder,
Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb that some cultures have used for millennia to treat illness and enhance performance.

Ashwagandha is a member of the nightshade family and grows wild in India, China, and Nepal.

Ashwagandha’s earliest known uses go back at least 3,000 years, and it is revered one of the most powerful herbs in traditional Ayurvedic medicine.

It’s considered an “adaptogen,” a type of herb that helps the body adapt to stressors and stabilize your body’s physiological and psychological processes under difficult circumstances.

ashwagandha,ashwagandha benefits,ashwagandha root,ashwagandha side effects,ashwagandha dosage,ashwagandha amazon,ashwagandha essential oil,ashwagandha uses,benefits of ashwagandha,ashwagandha extract,ashwagandha powder,
Ashwagandha is a powerful herbal medicine according to Ayurvedic traditions.

Ashwagandha is also famous for its aphrodisiac properties for men.

It has been linked to increased testosterone levels, which positively affects libido, sexual desire, and fertility.

Higher testosterone also means increased muscle growth and quicker recovery after exercise.

While these aren’t strictly nootropic effects per se, you may find them interesting side-effects for other aspects of your life.

In our opinion, any remedy that has been used by an indigenous culture for millennia is probably pretty effective at what it does.

After all, people from back then didn’t have a lot of time to mess around with medicine that didn’t work.

That said, there is ALSO a pretty substantial volume of scientific studies that indicate Ashwagandha works as a nootropic enhancer and an overall health supplement.

KSM-66 Vs Sensoril

It’s important to note that there are several different kinds of Ashwagandha on the market.

The 2 most well-studied forms being KSM-66 and Sensoril as many clinical studies done on Ashwagandha use one of these 2 forms.

They’re also the most popular forms of Ashwagandha for use as nootropics.

These extracts are super-potent versions of the traditional Withania Somnifera plant, but with different attributes and effects.

They both contain the highest number of withanolides which are chemical compounds known for their antioxidant and remedying properties and are only found in the Withania Somnifera plant.1Niha Dhar, et al. A Decade of Molecular Understanding of Withanolide Biosynthesis and In vitro Studies in Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal: Prospects and Perspectives for Pathway Engineering Front. Plant Sci., 27 November 2015

KSM-66

KSM-66 is very popular in the nootropic community because of its highly concentrated Ashwagandha delivery system.

It is a full-spectrum Ashwagandha extract patented by the nutraceutical company Ixoreal Biomed.

Ixoreal’s extraction process includes pre-treating the ashwagandha roots with milk as is done by traditional Ayurveda healers and texts which leads to retention of both hydrophilic components and lipophilic components of the raw root.

Pretreating the roots in this way reinforces the full-spectrum Ashwagandha benefits you get from KSM-66.

In clinical studies KSM-66 demonstrated the following benefits:

  • Lowered Anxiety

KSM-66 typically contains a 5% concentration of withanolides, while priding itself on excluding high levels of Withaferin A, which has been shown to be toxic in high doses.2Shruti B. Patel, et al. Safety assessment of Withania somnifera extract standardized for Withaferin A: Acute and sub-acute toxicity study J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2016

Sensoril

Sensoril is another patented form of Ashwagandha made up of both the roots and leaves from the Withania Somnifera plant.

It contains over 10% Withanolide glycosides, which is more than KSM-66 and may be due to the more comprehensive use of the plant.

That being said, Sensoril’s formulation brings out the more sedating, relaxing adaptogenic qualities of Ashwagandha, which can also translate to cognitive enhancement.

Clinical studies on Sensoril have shown the following benefits:

  • Enhanced cognitive and psychomotor abilities

It’s important to remember that each form of Ashwagandha will effect everyone differently.

Experiment with both KSM-66 and Sensoril to see which one works best for you.

What Does Ashwagandha Do?

Ashwagandha has been linked to numerous nootropic and health benefits. Here’s a rundown of what we currently know from clinical studies.

Ashwagandha for Anxiety

what is ashwagandha,ashwagandha reviews,how to take ashwagandha,ashwagandha testosterone,ashwagandha thyroid,ashwagandha reddit,ashwagandha for anxiety,ashwagandha tea,ashwagandha pills,ashwagandha root powder,best ashwagandha,ashwagandha plant,side effects of ashwagandha,ashwagandha anxiety,ashwagandha walmart,ksm 66 ashwagandha,ashwagandha for sleep,ashwagandha interactions
There is clinical evidence that this adaptogenic herb can noticeably lower anxiety and stress levels in some people

Ashwagandha can decrease anxiety in adults, especially those suffering from anxiety disorders.

Numerous double-blind studies have concluded with similar results: supplementing ashwagandha can decrease subjects’ anxiety at a significantly greater rate than control groups.

Some evidence suggests that this herbal nootropic may work as well or better than traditional pharmaceuticals in treating these disorders.

Most of the subjects treated with ashwagandha in these studies started to experience these positive effects after about two weeks, with the full benefits occurring after about two months of daily dosing.

Researchers believe that Ashwagandha’s anxiolytic effects derive from its adaptogenic qualities. It keeps hormonal fluctuations in check and prevents overstimulation, which helps decrease anxiety.3Cooley K, et al. Naturopathic care for anxiety: a randomized controlled trial ISRCTN78958974 PLoS One. 20094Andrade C, et al. A double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of the anxiolytic efficacy ff an ethanolic extract of Withania somnifera Indian J Psychiatry. 2000

Ashwagandha for Stress

This nootropic may also be useful for stress-resistance. Ashwagandha can lower cortisol, which is the major hormone involved in our fight-or-flight response.

Under difficult and stressful conditions, cortisol levels tend to rise, which can help focus and motivation.

However, if they get too high, it can have negative effects, causing anxiety, depression, and high blood pressure.

In fact, chronic stress actually rewires the brain, causing structural changes in your neural pathways.

These changes are actually very counter-productive, and your brain was not designed to operate that way.

Unfortunately, many people in our modern world are bombarded with stressful stimuli daily, resulting in uncomfortably high cortisol levels and negatively restructuring their neural pathways.

A study of chronically stressed adults found that those who supplemented with Ashwagandha over a two month period showed significantly lower cortisol levels in their blood than the placebo group.

This is encouraging evidence of this herb’s nootropic benefits. When your body responds to stress more resiliently, you will be more focused and less susceptible to “frayed nerves.”5Chandrasekhar K, Kapoor J, Anishetty S. A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults Indian J Psychol Med. 2012

Ashwagandha also has potent mood-lifting properties, which may help fight clinical depression.

In some animal studies, Ashwagandha performed as well as benzodiazepine as an anti-depressant.6Morgan A. Pratte, et al. 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

There is also evidence that Ashwagandha can help with disorders related to social isolation/agoraphobia.

This herb’s anti-depressant properties are still a new avenue of research, and more studies need to be done to draw any concrete conclusions.

Still, the early evidence is promising.

If you find anecdotal evidence compelling, there are many reports of Ashwagandha successfully treating depression and lifting mood.

Some claim that it has even helped with treatment-resistant depression, where other medications have failed.

In addition to helping with mood and anxiety disorders, ashwagandha has been shown to increase cognitive ability even in healthy patients who do not have any acute mental illness.

In a recent Indian study, the healthy young males who supplemented ashwagandha for two weeks performed noticeably better on cognitive and physical reaction tests than the control group.

This nootropic effect on cognition is probably related to ashwagandha’s anti-anxiety and mood-lifting qualities mentioned above.

Most likely, this adaptogenic nootropic allows you to better slip into a state of relaxed focus unhindered by overstimulation and negative emotions.

Ashwagandha is also associated with increased plasticity in the hippocampal region, which could create and store information in the brain.7Usharani Pingali, et al. Effect of standardized aqueous extract of Withania somnifera on tests of cognitive and psychomotor performance in healthy human participants Pharmacognosy Res. 2014

Does Ashwagandha Increase Testosterone?

sensoril ashwagandha,ksm-66 ashwagandha,ashwagandha supplement,ashwagandha cortisol,ashwagandha herb,organic india ashwagandha,ashwagandha ksm-66,do i take ashwagandha in the morning or night,what is ashwagandha good for,ashwagandha root benefits,ashwagandha wiki,ashwagandha negative side effects,himalaya ashwagandha
This herb has been used for centuries to boost libido and improve sexual health.

It’s important to note that ashwagandha is a potent mental rejuvenator and has numerous physical benefits.

Ashwagandha’s most famous attribute is probably it’s the effect on testosterone in men.

One study saw an increase of 14%-22% in serum testosterone levels after 90 days of taking ashwagandha for the men who participated, far more than the control group.

The researchers also noted higher sperm counts in the treated men.

However, men aren’t the only ones having fun with ashwagandha; women who take it report higher arousal levels than the baseline, enjoying sex more than the control group.8Ambiye, V. R., Langade, D., Dongre, S., Aptikar, P., Kulkarni, M., & Dongre, A.. Clinical Evaluation of the Spermatogenic Activity of the Root Extract of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in Oligospermic Males: A Pilot Study Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 20139Dongre, S., Langade, D., & Bhattacharyya, S. Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Root Extract in Improving Sexual Function in Women: A Pilot Study BioMed research international, 2015

Testosterone is a crucial hormone that regulates many important functions outside of sexuality.

Higher testosterone levels can increase muscle mass, burn fat, and speed recovery time for people engaged in resistance training or cardio.

Keeping testosterone levels up is also important for motivation and mood, especially in men.

Ashwagandha has significant anti-oxidant properties as well, clearing out the harmful byproducts oxidative stress.

Ashwagandha can even lower blood pressure slightly, although that may not be a benefit depending on your situation.10Kuboyama T, Tohda C, Komatsu K. Neuritic regeneration and synaptic reconstruction induced by withanolide A Br J Pharmacol. 200511Chandrasekhar K, Kapoor J, Anishetty S. A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults Indian J Psychol Med. 2012

How Ashwagandha Works In The Brain

ashwagandha sleep,is ashwagandha safe,organic ashwagandha,when to take ashwagandha,ashwagandha benefits for men,ashwagandha examine,ashwagandha health benefits,best ashwagandha brand
Ashwagandha works through multiple biological pathways to achieve its holistic effects on the body and mind.

Ashwagandha confers its nootropic benefits through a few different brain mechanisms, primarily by enhancing GABA receptor activation and increasing the levels of the anti-oxidant glycowithanolides.

Ashwagandha on the GABA System

Like many other calming/sedating supplements, ashwagandha works on the gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) pathway.

This system is responsible for regulating excitatory response in the brain, reducing neuronal activity in the nervous system.

When your brain gets overstimulated, GABA receptors kick in, balancing out the action.

If your GABA response is out of wack, you may experience higher anxiety and stress levels, and it may disrupt your sleep.

Ashwagandha is suspected of helping this issue by strengthening the connection between GABA receptors to react to stimuli effectively.

That means when there is too much activity in the brain, it can counterbalance it effectively.12Candelario M, et al. Direct evidence for GABAergic activity of Withania somnifera on mammalian ionotropic GABAA and GABAρ receptors J Ethnopharmacol. 2015

Does Ashwagandha Effect Serotonin?

It appears that ashwagandha may work on the serotonin system. However, there is no firm evidence on how much it may modulate this neurotransmitter.

There is evidence that it may improve 5-HT2 receptors’ sensitivity, which is responsible for serotonin transmission. This could partially explain ashwagandha’s effect on mood and depression.13A K Tripathi, et al. Alterations in the sensitivity of 5(th) receptor subtypes following chronic asvagandha treatment in rats Anc Sci Life. 1998

At this point, it is unknown if this adaptogen can actually raise serotonin levels directly.

Ashwagandha’s Antioxidant Activity

The other main way that ashwagandha affects the brain is through the antioxidant glycowithanolide.

Antioxidants are powerful protectors of the brain that scavenge dead cells that have been damaged by oxidation.

It’s critical to remove these “free radicals” before they destroy other cells in their vicinity and triggering a chain reaction that can seriously affect brain function.

Ashwagandha has also been shown to reduce stress-induced gastric ulcers.

Ashwagandha Protects Neurons

One interesting nootropic effect of long term ashwagandha supplementation is that it regrow myelin in neurons.

Myelin is an important substance that sheathes the axon on a nerve cell, allowing it to send signals quickly and efficiently.

It’s an important part of a healthy nervous system, responsible for much of the “white matter” in the brain.

However, chronic stress can cause the brain to lose myelin, causing an overall brain function to decrease.

The withanoside compounds in ashwagandha have been linked to restoring myelin levels in rats after a period of supplementation.

Researchers suspect the same effects could be true for humans as well.14Tohda C. Overcoming several neurodegenerative diseases by traditional medicines: the development of therapeutic medicines and unraveling pathophysiological mechanisms Yakugaku Zasshi. 2008

How Much Ashwagandha Should I Take?

Most clinical studies have focused on doses around the 300-600mg per day range. This is widely considered the most effective therapeutic range.

Some people supplement with as high as 1,000mg/day. As with any nootropic supplement, it’s always wise to start with a low dose and gradually work up as needed.

Generally, most people split the dose in half and take one in the morning and half the afternoon.

Some users notice some benefits on the first dose (although this could just be placebo effects). Generally, it takes about two weeks of daily supplementation for the major effects to start taking hold.

It usually takes about six weeks for ashwagandha to start working at 100% effectiveness in your body.

What is the Best Form Of Ashwagandha?

As this herb has become more popular, it is important to distinguish between the wide variety of brands on the market.

The two patented brands to look for are KSM-66 and Sensoril. These are both proprietary extracts with higher levels of ashwagandha’s active compounds, namely the withanolides.

They are a bit more expensive but generally believed to work better. Sensoril can be more sedating than KSM-66 for some people, so keep that in mind.

Ashwagandha Potential Side Effects

The main side-effect of ashwagandha is drowsiness in some users. This may or may not be a negative quality for you.

Some people even prefer to take it before bed so that it can act as a sleep aid.

Anecdotally, some users complain that this nootropic’s anxiolytic properties actually steer them into apathy and lack of motivation.

This may be the result of lowering cortisol too much. As always, it’s important to pay attention to your body’s feedback.

Ashwaghanda Reddit Reviews

[su_quote cite=”u/UnlawfulRisk” url=”https://www.reddit.com/r/ASHWAGANDHA/comments/j5g7ek/holee_shit/”]Been taking some Ash supplements for about two months now, and the effects are really marked for me. My mind seems clearer, especially when I wake up. My depersonalization has decreased in both occurrences and intensity. My social anxiety has decreased to the point where I was able to actually start a new job. And things generally just feel more…vibrant, I guess?Idk if it’s just psychological or if Ash really has beneficial effects, but either way, I couldn’t recommend this stuff more. I am very, very pleased.[/su_quote][su_quote cite=”Anonymous”url=”https://www.reddit.com/r/Supplements/comments/aktgyi/has_anyone_tried_ashwagandha_for_anxiety_and_if/”]I take sensoril ashwagandha twice a day (200-400mg in the morning and 1000mg at night) – doing this has definitely reduced my social anxiety by a good amount.[/su_quote][su_quote cite=”blindcolumn” url=”https://www.reddit.com/r/Nootropics/comments/760621/ashwagandha_works_great_for_longterm_management/”]I have very severe generalized anxiety which worsens under stress, and occasional panic attacks. The ashwagandha completely stopped the panic attacks and improved the anxiety by a lot.[/su_quote]

Ashwaghanda Amazon Reviews

[su_quote cite=”Micheal M.” url=”https://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/B06XSTTX7C/ref=acr_search_hist_5?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=five_star&reviewerType=all_reviews#reviews-filter-bar”]I Just wanna say this literally has changed my life. I have been suffering from social anxiety and night anxiety for several years. I am not the type to take medication because there seems to be way more side effects then it does good. Ive learned to control my anxiety and talk myself out of the attacks i would have. I couldnt go get my haircut without having an anxiety attack. They say its because you arent in control. Anyways, I did my research and it led me to Ashwaganda Root completely natural supplement. Let me tell you after taking it in the mornig and night about three days later nearly 90% of my anxiety has vanished……Gone. The only time i deal with anxiety is when i forget to take them in the morning.[/su_quote][su_quote cite=”melanie” url=”https://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/B06XSTTX7C/ref=acr_search_hist_5?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=five_star&reviewerType=all_reviews#reviews-filter-bar”]Ashwaganda helps my mind be more quiet. I am calmer. I have a lot of anxiety and this really helps me get though my day. Sometimes I will catch myself rehearsing arguments in my mind, when I take these, I do not do that. I am so thankful because its exhausting and terrible. I take one in the morning and one at night.[/su_quote][su_quote cite=”A. Gandolfo” url=”https://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/B06ZYHJYD5/ref=acr_dpx_hist_5?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=five_star&reviewerType=all_reviews#reviews-filter-bar”]Wow!!! I’ve been disabled since 2010 & was on a cocktail of medicine including morphine for 6.5 years. Since stopping all the drugs I’ve dealt with anxiety & insomnia. I just took 1 pill before bed last night, it was the best natural sleep I’ve had in years. I’ve also been extremely mellow with no anxiety all day. [/su_quote]

Wrapping Up

Do you have questions about, supplementing with Ashwagandha? Do you have experience supplementing with Ashwagandha? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

For a fuller discussion surrounding nootropics and holistic brain hacking, join our growing community on Facebook!!


References
Photo of author

Author

Erik Abramowitz is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP), Naturopathic Doctoral student, health coach, and father. He is the primary content creator for HolisticNootropics.com and the host of the Holistic Nootropics Podcast.

2 responses to “Ashwagandha: Benefits, Dosing, Where To Buy, And More!”

  1. Russell Hodges Avatar
    Russell Hodges

    I didn’t even know that I was taking it. My wife keeps up on our supplements. I have severe non treatable depression with anxiety levels of the chart. I was tired all the time no motivation. Again I didn’t know I was taking it or how much. Two days after taking it I felt great! And started losing weight, not trying. But the side effects were borderline dangerous. I have seizures due to a closed brain injury. I have thyroid disorder, high blood pressure and am on medication for all of them. I had pressure in my head,lower breathing,. I had to tell my self to breathe. It scared me and I stopped talking it the side effects went away after one day. The weight loss has continued. But I’m back to tired and not motivated. Summary: take time to research the interactions in ANY medication. I highly recommend this product if it is safe for you to take. Talk to your Dr.!!!!

    1. Erik Levi, FNTP Avatar

      Good advice. There is a lot of conflicting data on Ashwagandha. Anyone taking any nootropic needs to check with their doctor. Thanks for stopping by!

Leave a Comment