New Fact Sheet on Ashwagandha

Here’s an overview of our new fact sheet on the herb ashwagandha. Visit our website to view the full fact sheet and the rest of our Herbs at a Glance series.  

Background 

• Ashwagandha is a shrub found in parts of India, Africa, and the Middle East. It has long been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. 
• Ashwagandha supplements are promoted for a variety of conditions, including stress and anxiety, sleep, male infertility, and athletic performance. 

How Much Do We Know? 

• Many studies in people have looked at ashwagandha for various health conditions. However, the studies involved only small numbers of people, and they used a variety of different ashwagandha preparations. 

What Have We Learned? 

• Some ashwagandha preparations may be helpful for insomnia and stress. It’s unclear whether they have an effect on anxiety. 
• Limited evidence suggests that taking ashwagandha may increase testosterone levels and sperm quality. 
• Ashwagandha has been promoted for COVID-19, but there is not enough high-quality evidence suggesting that it is useful. 

What Do We Know About Safety? 

• Ashwagandha may be safe when taken for short periods (up to 3 months). Its long-term safety is uncertain. 
• If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or about to have surgery, don’t take ashwagandha. 
• Ashwagandha may interact with some medications.