Ashwagandha for stress and anxiety Original paper

In this randomized controlled trial, supplementing with ashwagandha improved levels of stress and anxiety in people with mild to moderate stress and anxiety.

The effect of supplementing with ashwagandha on anxiety and perceived stress in people with mild to moderate stress and anxiety.

The primary outcome was perceived stress, assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The secondary outcomes were anxiety and quality of life (assessed using questionnaires); salivary cortisol; urinary levels of serotonin and dopamine; and serum levels of glutathione and malondialdehyde.

50 participants (ages 21 to 54; 78% men, 22% women) from India who were without apparent health conditions but had mild to moderate stress and anxiety.

In this 60-day randomized controlled trial, the participants were assigned to take a daily dose of either placebo or 500 mg of ashwagandha (standardized to contain 2.5% withanolides, i.e., plant compounds thought to be mainly responsible for ashwagandha’s potential benefits) plus 5 mg of piperine.

Stress and anxiety levels were assessed at baseline, day 30, and day 60 (the end of the study). At baseline and at the end of the study, quality of life was assessed, fasted blood samples were collected, random urine samples were taken and analyzed within 24 hours, and saliva samples were taken in the morning (at 8 a.m.) and the late afternoon (4 p.m.).

Compared to baseline and the placebo group, stress and anxiety levels decreased and quality of life improved in the ashwagandha group.

Regarding biomarkers, compared to baseline and the placebo group, the morning cortisol level decreased and the urinary serotonin level increased in the ashwagandha group.

The reductions in both stress and anxiety with ashwagandha appear to have been clinically important, meaning the effects should be large enough to produce a noticeable improvement in symptoms.^[1][2]

The participants had mild to moderate stress and anxiety, but were not specifically diagnosed with a mental health condition. As a result, the results may not be generalizable to people with clinical conditions such as generalized anxiety disorder.