Ashwagandha
Withania somniferaAshwagandha is a relative of eggplant, tomato and jimsonweed; its fruit is a small red cherry inside a thin husk.
What is Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a plant of the Solanaceae family. Traditions that use it: Asia and Siberia. Part used: root.
What is Ashwagandha used for?
Traditional use: In Ayurveda it is a rasayana (rejuvenating tonic) for strength and stamina; the root powder is boiled in milk. Scientific evidence: limited. A few small, short controlled trials reported lower stress and anxiety scores.
Is Ashwagandha safe?
Safety label: caution. Liver injury has been reported. It can raise thyroid hormones. Not for use in pregnancy because of miscarriage risk. Some European countries have restricted its supplements over safety concerns.
Traditional use
In Ayurveda it is a rasayana (rejuvenating tonic) for strength and stamina; the root powder is boiled in milk. Its Sanskrit name means “smell of a horse”.
In recent years it has become one of the world’s best-selling supplements for stress and sleep.
In nature
Mix-up risk
Good products are made from the root; cheap products with added leaf differ in content.
Preparation
Root powder is boiled in milk or water; standardised extract capsules are common.
What science says
A few small, short controlled trials reported lower stress and anxiety scores. The NCCIH notes the studies are small and short and that long-term safety is unknown.
Safety
Liver injury has been reported. It can raise thyroid hormones. Not for use in pregnancy because of miscarriage risk. Some European countries have restricted its supplements over safety concerns.
Drug interactions
| Medicine or substance | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Thyroid medicines | May raise thyroid hormones. |
| Sedatives and sleeping pills | May increase drowsiness. |
| Immunosuppressants | May interact by stimulating immunity. |
| Diabetes and blood pressure medicines | Can lower blood sugar and blood pressure. |
This list is not complete. If you take regular medication, ask your pharmacist or doctor before trying Ashwagandha.
Similar plants
Sources
- NCCIHUS National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: use and safety summary
- ResearchAshwagandha ile ilişkili karaciğer hasarı: Hindistan’dan vaka serisi ve literatür derlemesi
- Botanical recordKew Plants of the World Online: Withania somnifera
- Titles of research sources are summarised in Turkish on the Turkish page; links open the original English publications.
Written by Edanaz Tınmazlar · Last reviewed: · Türkçe