Ashwagandha supports sleep quality, says recent study

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A recent double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study¹ found that supplementation with ashwagandha supports sleep quality in subjects. In the study, 40 healthy subjects and 40 subjects with insomnia were assigned to either take ashwagandha (KSM-66 Ashwagandha extract from Ixoreal Biomed Inc., based in Los Angeles, CA) or placebo for eight weeks. Assessments were conducted on sleep parameters (Sleep Onset Latency, Total Sleep Time, Wake After Sleep Onset, Total time in bed, and Sleep Efficiency), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Hamilton Anxiety scale-A questionnaire, mental alertness on rising assessment, and sleep quality questionnaire.

Results showed that supplementation with ashwagandha significantly improved sleep parameters in subjects, and that the improvements in subjects with insomnia were greater, compared to healthy subjects. Specifically, ashwagandha improved measures of sleep onset latency, sleep efficiency, total sleep time, and waking after sleep onset.

“Sleep is critical to be healthy, to recover from exercise and to function optimally both physically and cognitively. Ashwagandha root has been referenced for centuries for its sleep benefits,” said Kartikeya Baldwa, CEO of Ixoreal Biomed Inc, in a press release. “This study is the first clinical study to evaluate the effect of Ashwagandha root extract on sleep quality in both healthy adults and insomnia patients and demonstrate significant positive effects on sleep quality in the participants.”

Reference

1. Langade D et al. “Clinical evaluation of the pharmacological impact of ashwagandha root extract on sleep in healthy volunteers and insomnia patients: A double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Published online ahead of print on August 17, 2020