Study on ashwagandha for sleep disorders and anxiety

Deepak Langade et al.

September 2019

Ayurveda medicine / treatment

Sleep therapy

The aim of this study, published in 2019, was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ashwagandha root extract in the treatment of insomnia and anxiety.

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, which was conducted at Prakruti Hospital in India, involved 60 patients who were divided into a test and a placebo group.

The test group received capsules containing ashwagandha root extract twice daily for 10 weeks, while the placebo group received identical capsules containing starch.

Various sleep parameters were measured, including sleep onset latency, total sleep time, sleep efficiency and waking after falling asleep, using sleep actigraphy and other rating scales.

The results showed significant improvements in sleep onset time, sleep efficiency, sleep quality and anxiety scores in the ashwagandha group compared to the placebo group.

The study concludes that ashwagandha root extract could be a beneficial treatment for insomnia and anxiety.

The most important information on the study at a glance

Indications: Sleep disorders, anxiety
Institution: Pharmacology, D.Y. Patil University School of Medicine, Navi Mumbai, India
Title: Study on ashwagandha for sleep disorders and anxiety
Brief description: A study shows that ashwagandha improves sleep onset time, sleep quality and sleep efficiency and reduces anxiety.
Original title: Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Root Extract in Insomnia and Anxiety: A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Study
Link to the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31728244/