Ashwagandha for stress and anxiety: a meta-analysis of randomised trials
The question: What does the pooled evidence say about ashwagandha and anxiety?
- Study type
- Systematic review and meta-analysis
- Population
- Adults in randomised controlled trials of ashwagandha
- Intervention
- Ashwagandha supplementation at varying doses
- Compared with
- Placebo
- Duration
- Trials of several weeks
- Published
- Phytotherapy Research, 2022
What was measured
Pooled changes in anxiety and stress scores.
What was found
Pooled analysis found reductions in anxiety and stress scores with ashwagandha compared with placebo.
Limitations
The included trials were mostly small and short, with different extracts and doses. Reviewers noted that results were sensitive to individual trials.
What it means
The direction of evidence is consistent, but the certainty is moderate at best. Larger, longer and independent trials are still needed.
Source
Akhgarjand C, Asoudeh F, Bagheri A, et al. Does Ashwagandha supplementation have a beneficial effect on the management of anxiety and stress? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Phytother Res. 2022;36(11):4115-4124.
Read the original (DOI 10.1002/ptr.7598) · Source verified 8 October 2026
Study summaries describe published research for education. They are not claims about any product and are not medical advice.