People have used ashwagandha for thousands of years to relieve stress, increase energy levels, and improve concentration
Reduce stress
Ashwagandha is perhaps best known for its ability to reduce stress. It’s classified as an adaptogen, a substance that helps the body cope with stress.
Ashwagandha appears to help control mediators of stress, including heat shock proteins (Hsp70), cortisol, and stress-activated c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK-1) (4Trusted Source).
It also reduces the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, a system in your body that regulates the stress response (4Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source).
Several studies have shown that ashwagandha supplements may help relieve stress and anxiety.
Reduce blood sugar
A review of 24 studies, including 5 clinical studies in people with diabetes, found that treatment with ashwagandha significantly reduced blood sugar, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), insulin, blood lipids, and oxidative stress markers (16Trusted Source).
It’s believed that certain compounds within ashwagandha, including one called withaferin A (WA), have powerful antidiabetic activity and may help stimulate your cells to take in glucose from your bloodstream (17Trusted Source).
May also help athletic performance, reduce symptoms of some mental health conditions, help boost testosterone and increase fertility in men, reduce inflammation, improve brain function, including memory, help improve sleep
