How does Ashwagandha support mood & stress relief?

It helps balance cortisol levels

Cortisol is an essential stress hormone released in response to physical and mental stressors. Your cortisol levels usually follow a definite rhythm throughout the day, peaking around mid-morning to ensure you’ve got the energy to power through the day and then slowly dropping to a low level before bed so you can get a restful sleep [1]. 

However, chronic stress causes continuously elevated cortisol levels, which wreak havoc on your physical and mental health, and this natural rhythm can get disrupted [2], resulting in symptoms like:

• Fatigue
• Anxiety
• Low mood
• Sleep disturbances

Luckily, the magic of this medicinal herb lies in the adaptogenic properties and anxiolytic effects of Ashwagandha, which help to naturally support a healthy output of cortisol, as well as reducing symptoms of perceived stress.

Clinical studies have shown that Ashwagandha supplementation may result in a significant reduction (reaching statistical significance) in scores on the hamilton anxiety scale, as well as additional stress scales, making it one of the most effective herbal medicines for alleviating stress and anxiety! [3]

It supports neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters are essentially like chemical messengers within the body. They help regulate mood, focus, and feelings of well-being and calm [4]. 

When you’re experiencing anxiety or feeling under the weather, these neurotransmitters can be out of balance.

Evidence suggests that the powerful withanolides in Ashwagandha help balance the output of certain neurotransmitters like serotonin and GABA, which could help explain Ashwagandha’s mood-supporting benefits and powerful effects on stress reduction [5].

What does the research say about Ashwagandha?

Not only do traditional medicine paradigms like Ayurvedic medicine vouch for this ancient adaptogenic herb, but modern science supports the effects of Withania Somnifera thanks to a variety of scientific research!

Let’s take a look:

A randomized, doubleblind placebo controlled trial examined the effects of Ashwagandha in healthy adults experiencing anxiety. The participants were split into two groups - one group was treated with Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera extract) and the other group with psychotherapy. 

Surprisingly, the patients treated with Ashwagandha root extract experienced less anxiety, and they also reported significant improvement in:

• Mental health 
• Cognitive function
• Energy levels
• Social functioning
• Sleep quality
• Vitality

The patients taking Ashwagandha root extract (Withania Somnifera supplementation) reported more significant clinical benefits than those treated with standard psychotherapy [6].

Many other clinical studies have demonstrated similar findings.