Ashwagandha

A nightshade plant classified as an adaptogen; a traditional Indian medicinal plant; the root is used in phytotherapy, including for the relief of sleep disorders. Distribution: Spain, Greece, Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Asia. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study demonstrated a significant improvement in sleep quality in patients with sleep disorders (Langade D et al. 2020).

Indications include mental health conditions. Randomized, controlled studies have shown a significant reduction in depression, stress, and anxiety.

It is the most widely used plant worldwide for the above indications, more so than St. John’s wort, not least due to its frequent use in Ayurvedic medicine (Rasayana), particularly in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, and increasingly in Western regions as well. 

ESCOP Monograph: Stress, Restlessness, and Exhaustion.

HMPC: No positive monograph due to non-compliance with EU guidelines.

In Germany, it is marketed not as a drug but as a dietary supplement. It should be noted that the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) does not recommend the use of ashwagandha root due to potential endocrine-related side effects, its traditional use as an abortifacient, and the lack of toxicological and safety-related data.

Contraindicated

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, vertigo, drowsiness, eczema, effects on endocrine functions.

1. Alsanie SA et al. (2026) Effects of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) on mental health in adults: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Complement Ther Med; 97: 103325. DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2026.103325
2. Langade D et al. (2020) Clinical evaluation of the pharmacological impact of ashwagandha root extract on sleep in healthy volunteers and insomnia patients: A double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study. J Ethnopharmacol, 264:113276. DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113276.
3. https://www.escop.com/ashwagandha-root-sleep-quality-insomnia/
4. Brendler T et al. (2026) “Ashwagandha: Is It Safe? Part 1: A Regulatory Review.” Phytotherapy Research 40, no. 8: 4845–4857. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.70151.
5. https://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/343/ashwagandha-schlafbeeren-praeparate-mit-moeglichen-gesundheitsrisiken.pdf
6. https://www.verbraucherzentrale.de/sites/default/files/2026-04/bericht-mc-ashwagandha_2026.pdf