--- title: "Ashwagandha: Benefits, Uses & Side Effects | Herbadex" description: "Ashwagandha root extracts have limited evidence for stress and sleep. Avoid in pregnancy, breastfeeding and liver disease; drug interactions are possible." language: en url: https://herbadex.com/en/herb/ashwagandha/ source: Herbadex (https://herbadex.com) --- [Clay, Soap & Other](https://herbadex.com/en/form/other/) # Ashwagandha Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal B Limited clinical evidence Ashwagandha root extracts have limited evidence for stress and sleep. Avoid in pregnancy, breastfeeding and liver disease; drug interactions are possible. [Sleep, Stress & Mood](https://herbadex.com/en/for/sleep-stress/) [Men’s Health](https://herbadex.com/en/for/mens-health/) Image: Herbadex Botanik Stüdyosu · Özel Üretim Pregnancy **⚠ Avoid** Breastfeeding **⚠ Avoid** Children **⚠ Avoid** Drug interactions **Interaction reported** ## At a glance Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a plant whose root has a history of use in Ayurveda. Some short-term trials of specific standardized extracts suggest modest changes in perceived stress and sleep. Reports of liver injury and possible thyroid and medication interactions call for caution. **Parts used:** roots **Key constituents:** Withanolides (steroidal lactones), Alkaloids Updated: October 24, 2026 Sources and research limitations appear below. The existence of a source does not mean every use has been clinically verified. ## What is it used for? - B Limited clinical evidence Some randomized trials found lower perceived stress scores after short-term use of specific standardized ashwagandha extracts. Meta-analyses disagree on the size and consistency of this effect, and the findings do not apply to every product. \[3\] \[6\] \[7\] - B Limited clinical evidence A 2021 meta-analysis of five randomized trials found a small but statistically significant improvement in adult sleep outcomes with certain ashwagandha extracts; long-term evidence is lacking. \[5\] \[3\] - B Limited clinical evidence Small human studies suggest that several months of ashwagandha supplementation may influence testosterone levels and measures of sperm quality in some men. Clinical relevance and generalizability remain unclear. \[2\] ## How is it used? ### Food Clinical studies administered particular root extracts orally as capsules or tablets. Extracts vary in standardization, so study doses are not interchangeable across products and no universally safe daily dose has been established. \[3\] \[4\] ### Tea Dried ashwagandha root is also sold for herbal tea, but no clinically validated effective dose, standard brewing method, or safe duration has been established. Findings for extracts cannot automatically be applied to root tea. \[4\] \[3\] ## Safety & interactions - Avoid during pregnancy and breastfeeding. There are insufficient data on passage into breast milk or safety for nursing infants. - Children should avoid ashwagandha supplements because safety data are insufficient. - Avoid if you have current or previous liver disease. Rare but sometimes serious liver injury has been reported. - Stop use and seek medical assessment if jaundice, dark urine, pronounced fatigue, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, or severe nausea and vomiting occur. - Not recommended for people with thyroid or autoimmune disorders, those awaiting surgery, or people with hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. - People taking thyroid hormones, sedatives, anti-seizure medicines, diabetes or blood-pressure medicines, or immunosuppressants should not use it without professional advice. - Most short-term studies lasted roughly 6–12 weeks; safety over many months or years is unknown. Plant parts and extraction methods differ by product. \[2\] \[4\] \[8\] \[9\] ### Drug interactions | Medicine / substance | Effect | Severity | | --- | --- | --- | | Thyroid hormones and thyroid medicines | May alter thyroid hormone levels; avoid unsupervised use, particularly in thyroid disease or during thyroid hormone therapy. [3] [2] | Moderate | | Sedatives and anti-seizure medicines | May increase drowsiness or have additive effects on the central nervous system. Obtain professional advice before combining them. [2] | Moderate | | Glucose-lowering medicines | May have additional effects on blood glucose. Medical advice and glucose monitoring may be needed. [2] [4] | Moderate | | Blood-pressure medicines | May alter the effects of blood-pressure-lowering medicines; caution and monitoring are advisable. [2] [4] | Moderate | | Immunosuppressants | Potential effects on immune activity could make concurrent use unsuitable; consult the prescribing clinician. [2] [4] | Moderate | ### Side effects - Nausea, gastrointestinal discomfort, diarrhea, or vomiting - Drowsiness, headache, and dizziness - Rash or other hypersensitivity symptoms - Rare but sometimes severe liver injury, including reported liver failure and transplantation - Changes in thyroid hormone levels and rare reports of thyrotoxicosis #### ⚕ When to see a doctor - If high fever, shortness of breath or purulent/bloody phlegm develops - If symptoms do not improve within 1–2 weeks or worsen - If severe abdominal pain, jaundice, rash or allergic reaction occurs ## Did you know? The Sanskrit name ashwagandha is linked to the words for “horse” and “smell,” a reference to the root’s traditional description. Despite the name “Indian ginseng,” it is not true ginseng. \[3\] \[1\] ## Frequently asked questions Does ashwagandha really reduce stress? Some short-term trials reported lower stress scores, but a 2025 meta-analysis found no statistically significant improvement in perceived stress. Evidence is limited and results vary by extract. Can ashwagandha improve sleep? Studies of certain root and root-leaf extracts have reported small improvements in sleep quality and time to fall asleep. The same effect has not been established for every product. How many milligrams of ashwagandha should I take? Trials used different preparations and doses; some root extract studies investigated 300–600 mg per day. That is study information, not a personal dosage recommendation, and no universally safe dose is established. Can ashwagandha damage the liver? Yes. Rare liver injury, including severe cases, has been reported. Avoid it if you have liver disease; stop use and seek medical advice if jaundice or dark urine occurs. Is ashwagandha safe with thyroid medication? It may affect thyroid hormones and interact with thyroid medicines. People with thyroid disease should not use it without medical assessment. Can ashwagandha be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding? No. Health authorities advise avoiding it in both periods, and breastfeeding-specific safety data are lacking. Does ashwagandha increase testosterone? A few small trials found changes in testosterone and sperm quality measures, but evidence is limited and unsupervised use for hormonal effects is not advised. ## Sources Source type is not an efficacy rating. A monograph may document traditional use or safety. Claim numbers link to the relevant source; the access date does not indicate professional approval. 1. [Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:821709-1) Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — Plants of the World Online · 2026 · Reference book Source accessed: October 24, 2026 2. [Ashwagandha: Usefulness and Safety](https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/ashwagandha) NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health · 2023 · Official agency information Source accessed: October 24, 2026 3. [Ashwagandha: Is it helpful for stress, anxiety, or sleep? — Fact Sheet for Health Professionals](https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Ashwagandha-HealthProfessional/) NIH Office of Dietary Supplements · 2025 · Official agency information Source accessed: October 24, 2026 4. [Ashwagandha: food supplements with potential health risks (Communication 39/2024)](https://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/349/ashwagandha-food-supplements-with-potential-health-risks.pdf) German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) · 2024 · Official agency information Source accessed: October 24, 2026 5. [Effect of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract on sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34559859/) PLOS ONE · 2021 · Systematic review Source accessed: October 24, 2026 6. [Effects of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) on mental health in adults: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41644067/) Complementary Therapies in Medicine · 2026 · Systematic review Source accessed: October 24, 2026 7. [Dual impact of Ashwagandha: Significant cortisol reduction but no effects on perceived stress - A systematic review and meta-analysis](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02601060251363647) Nutrition and Health · 2025 · Systematic review Source accessed: October 24, 2026 8. [Withania — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®)](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/books/NBK501905/) NIH National Library of Medicine / NCBI Bookshelf · 2024 · Official agency information Source accessed: October 24, 2026 9. [Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) and very rare risk of liver injury](https://www.tga.gov.au/news/safety-updates/withania-somnifera-ashwagandha-and-very-rare-risk-liver-injury) Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration · 2026 · Official agency information Source accessed: October 24, 2026 ### Cite This Page Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal). Herbadex — Doğal Şifa Rehberi (2026). https://herbadex.com/en/herb/ashwagandha/ ## Related guides and comparisons - [Herbal Products and Drug Interactions](https://herbadex.com/en/guide/herb-drug-interactions/) - [Herbal Products in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding](https://herbadex.com/en/guide/herbal-products-in-pregnancy/) - [Buying and Storing Herbs Safely at Home](https://herbadex.com/en/guide/buying-and-storing-herbs-safely/) - [Understanding Evidence Levels (A, B, C and T)](https://herbadex.com/en/guide/understanding-evidence-levels/) ## On this page At a glance What is it used for? How is it used? Safety & interactions Did you know? Frequently asked questions Sources Related herbs ## Related herbs ### [St. John's Wort](https://herbadex.com/en/herb/st-johns-wort/) A Strong clinical evidence Hypericum perforatum St John's wort extract may help with mild to moderate depressive episodes, but it seriously interacts with many medicines, including the pill. 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