Ashwagandha’s reputation for being a panacea may have originated from its purported influence on the stress response and related conditions.[1] Ashwagandha is best known for its anxiolytic (antianxiety) and stress-relieving effects, including reductions in cortisol.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][4][5][9][6] In addition, a growing body of evidence supports the efficacy of ashwagandha for improving total sleep time and sleep quality in people with and without insomnia.[10]
Ashwagandha has shown promise in research as a cardiorespiratory and musculoskeletal performance enhancement for both athletes and non-athletes.[11][12][13][14][15][16][17] Similarly, ashwagandha may also improve immune health, women’s health, men’s health, and sexual health. Unfortunately, because of inconsistencies in the research, it has been difficult to draw any direct conclusions.[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25]