Have you had trouble sleeping? If you have, you’ve probably looked for something that could ease you to sleep more quickly or ensure that you stay asleep all night. Could an Indian Ayurvedic herb called ashwagandha help you sleep better?
Will Ashwagandha Help You Sleep?
Q. I have read about ashwagandha for sleeping problems. I have never heard of this stuff. What is it and how do you find it?
A. Ashwagandha comes from the Ayurvedic medical tradition of India. Consequently, many Americans are less familiar with this herb than plants such as valerian or passionflower that are frequently used to enhance sleep.
Nevertheless, you might wish to pay attention to ashwagandha. Dr. Tieraona Low Dog is one of the country’s leading experts on botanical and integrative medicine. During an interview on our syndicated public radio show, she mentioned that this ancient Indian plant (Withania somnifera) could help people who were wired but tired. (At her website, you’ll also find several more plants she recommends for better sleep.)
We could not find any randomized clinical trials of ashwagandha for sleeping problems. Researchers in India are conducting such a study, but the results have not yet been published (Medicine, June 2018).
Which Product Might Help?
Ayurvedic practitioners have prescribed this herb for stress, insomnia and joint inflammation for thousands of years. A double-blind study found that it helps correct subclinical thyroid hormone imbalance (Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, March 2018). In another placebo-controlled study, people taking ashwagandha had lower levels of stress hormones than those on placebo (Medicine, Sep. 2019).
You can find ashwagandha in health food stores and some pharmacies. ConsumerLab.com has reviewed a number of products and found that only about half passed their rigorous tests. Nature’s Way Ashwagandha and Sundown Naturals Stress Support had the greatest potency.
You can learn more about ashwagandha for insomnia, arthritis and anxiety in our eGuide to Favorite Home Remedies. In addition, our eGuide to Getting a Good Night’s Sleep has other suggestions for nondrug approaches to help you sleep better.
