The Nervous System Regulator

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a popular herb that has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. It is native to India and has been researched for its unique abilities to help our bodies manage stress, support emotional well-being and promote athletic performance. Ashwagandha has adaptogenic properties, which means that it supports our nervous system to better cope with stress and nervousness. This is achieved by helping to reduce our body’s natural cortisol levels (the stress hormone). It has aphrodisiac qualities that can have a positive impact on our overall sexual wellness: improving libido, arousal and overall sexual satisfaction. The primary bioactive found in Ashwagandha is Withanolide glycosides which are responsible for the physiological benefits in our body.

What Ashwagandha can do for you?

Ashwagandha helps your body adapt to stress, calming the mind and balancing your energy levels.

  • Enhances libidoSupports cognitive function
  • Lifts low mood
  • Reduces stress and nervousness
  • Improves overall sexual wellness

The Science

Ashwagandha is a revered adaptogenic herb in Ayurvedic medicine, traditionally used to enhance vitality, reduce stress, and improve resilience. Modern research supports its role in modulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, reducing cortisol levels and promoting a calm, balanced nervous system. It has shown promise in reducing symptoms of anxiety, improving sleep quality, and enhancing physical performance. Key bioactive compounds such as withanolides exert neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. Ashwagandha’s ability to restore physiological equilibrium makes it an ideal choice for those experiencing chronic stress, fatigue, or mental burnout.

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The Studies

"At The Naked Pharmacy, we ensure that all of our supplements are made with effective strength bioactives, so they are clinically proven to work.

We aim for each supplement to be scientifically supported by multiple randomised placebo-controlled studies. All clinical trial studies we use to support our supplements are undertaken on human patients, using the same dosage and formulation of the product. The scientific studies are published in peer review journals."

The scientific studies to support our claims are published in the following peer-review journals:

Study: Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Root Extract for Improvement of Sexual Health in Healthy Women: A Prospective, Randomised, Placebo-Controlled Study

What the study wanted to find out:

The researchers wanted to see if Ashwagandha, a natural herb known to help with stress and energy, could improve sexual function in healthy women who had low sexual desire but no hormone problems.

What they did:

They conducted an 8-week study with 80 women aged 18 to 50. The women were randomly given either Ashwagandha capsules (300 mg twice daily) or a placebo. The researchers checked their sexual function, distress related to sexual problems, and quality of life at the start, after 4 weeks, and after 8 weeks.

What they found:

Women taking Ashwagandha showed significant improvements in all areas of sexual function—including desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain—compared to those taking the placebo. They also had less sexual distress. Quality of life tended to improve more in the Ashwagandha group, but this was not statistically strong. More women on Ashwagandha reported better sexual experiences. Side effects like nausea and drowsiness were rare and similar in both groups.

What it means:

Taking Ashwagandha twice a day for eight weeks may safely improve sexual health and satisfaction in healthy women with low sexual desire.

Study: Adaptogenic and Anxiolytic Effects of Ashwagandha Root Extract in Healthy Adults: A Double-blind, Randomised, Placebo-controlled Clinical Study - PMC

What the study was about:

Stress, anxiety, and poor sleep are common problems in today’s world, affecting people’s health and well-being. Ashwagandha, a traditional herbal medicine, is often used to help reduce stress. This study tested different doses of a strong Ashwagandha root extract to see how well it works to lower stress, anxiety, and improve sleep.

What they did:

60 healthy adults who reported feeling stressed were split into three groups. One group took a low dose of Ashwagandha (125 mg twice daily), another took a higher dose (300 mg twice daily), and the third took a placebo (a dummy pill). The study lasted 8 weeks. Researchers measured stress levels, anxiety, cortisol (a stress hormone), and sleep quality before, during, and after the treatment.

What they found:

Both Ashwagandha doses significantly reduced stress levels and lowered cortisol compared to the placebo. People taking Ashwagandha also reported better sleep quality. The higher dose showed even stronger effects.

What this means:

Ashwagandha root extract can effectively reduce stress and anxiety and help improve sleep in healthy adults.

Study: Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Root Extract in Improving Sexual Function in Women: A Pilot Study - PubMed (nih.gov)

What the study was about:

Many women face issues with sexual function, like difficulty reaching orgasm or other challenges. Ashwagandha is a herb known for improving overall physical and mental health. This study tested whether a strong Ashwagandha root extract could help improve sexual function in healthy women.

What they did:

50 women were split into two groups. One group took 300 mg of the Ashwagandha extract twice daily for 8 weeks, and the other group took a placebo (a dummy pill). Researchers measured sexual function and distress using questionnaires, and also counted the number of successful sexual encounters.

What they found:

Women who took Ashwagandha showed significant improvements compared to the placebo group in overall sexual function, including arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and less distress. They also had more successful sexual encounters.

What this means:

Taking this Ashwagandha root extract may help improve sexual health and satisfaction in healthy women.

Study: Can Ashwagandha Leaf be Replaced with its Root in Therapeutics? A Review through Published Literature - (www.phcogres.com)

What this is about:

Ashwagandha is a well-known herb used in traditional Indian medicine (Ayurveda). Usually, its roots are used for health benefits, but harvesting the root means the whole plant is destroyed. So, researchers wanted to see if the leaves—which are often overlooked—might also have health benefits.

What they did:

They looked at scientific studies available up to September 2022 that talked about Ashwagandha leaves. They found many articles, but only 42 were freely available to review closely.

What they found:

Ashwagandha leaves have been used in traditional medicine in India for various health issues. Studies show the leaves contain many of the same beneficial compounds as the roots. Research suggests the leaves might help fight cancer, brain diseases, infections, and inflammation, and they can be used both by eating or applying externally.

What it means:

Ashwagandha leaves have a lot of promise as a natural treatment and could be used just as much as the roots, which is better for sustainability since it doesn’t require uprooting the whole plant.

Glossary of terms:

There are a few key terms to be aware of when reviewing these studies:

Randomised Clinical Trial

A clinical trial in which the participants are assigned randomly (by chance alone) to different treatments.

Double-blind study

A study in which neither the participants nor the experimenters know who is receiving a particular treatment. This procedure is utilised to prevent bias in research results.

Double-blind studies are particularly useful for preventing bias due to demand characteristics or the placebo effect.

P-value

The probability of obtaining the observed results of a test. The lower the p-value is, the more confident we can be of a true result. For example, a p- value of 0.001 confirms a result as 99.9% accurate.

Placebo

An inactive treatment used in a clinical trial, sometimes referred to as a “sugar pill”.

A placebo-controlled trial compares a new treatment with a placebo, in order to give greater confidence that the result is only due to the test/active ingredient.