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Ashwagandha
CautionAshwagandha (Schlafbeere) · (Withania somnifera)
Nightshade family (Solanaceae)
Description
Withania somnifera is a low-growing, evergreen shrub native to India, parts of Africa and the Middle East. The part mainly used is the root, used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. Compounds from the withanolide group are considered the likely active constituents. In modern use, standardized root extracts are promoted mainly for stress and sleep. The evidence is mixed: there are signals for stress and sleep, while evidence for other uses remains unclear.
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There are case reports of liver injury, some severe (cholestatic pattern, onset usually 2–12 weeks after starting; mostly reversible, isolated fatal cases described).
- TinctureRootInternal
Standardized root extracts are used for stress-related complaints; meta-analyses show a measurable effect on perceived stress. The strength of evidence is limited by small samples and short durations.
- TinctureRootInternalClinical trial
A meta-analysis of randomized trials found a small but significant effect on sleep, more pronounced in diagnosed insomnia and use for at least 8 weeks.
- RawRootInternalTraditional use
Traditionally, the root has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries as a tonic. This use rests on traditional knowledge rather than robust clinical evidence.