Ashwagandha
At The Naked Pharmacy, we ensure that all of our supplements are made with effective strength bioactives, so they are clinically proven to work.
We aim for each supplement to be scientifically supported by multiple randomised placebo-controlled studies. All clinical trial studies we use to support our supplements are undertaken on human patients, using the same dosage and formulation of the product. The scientific studies are published in peer reviewed journals.
What can Ashwagandha do for you?
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a popular herb that has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. It is native to India and has been researched for its unique abilities to help our bodies manage stress, support emotional well-being and promote athletic performance.
Ashwagandha has adaptogenic properties, which means that it supports our nervous system to better cope with stress and nervousness. This is achieved by helping to reduce our body’s natural cortisol levels (the stress hormone). It has aphrodisiac qualities that can have a positive impact on our overall sexual wellness: improving libido, arousal and overall sexual satisfaction.
Research shows that ashwagandha supports the nervous system by acting on the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The hypothalamus and pituitary gland are located at the base of our brain, and the adrenal glands are located on top of our kidneys. These three glands communicate with each other to regulate hormones in our bodies. When our bodies sense a threat or stressor, the hypothalamus starts a cascade of steps to initiate a stress response which leads to the adrenal gland producing more cortisol.
The primary bioactive found in Ashwagandha is Withanolide glycosides which are responsible for the physiological benefits in our body. In Ashwadisiac for Women, you’ll find the standardised strength of 35% Withanolide glycosides, making it the strongest Ashwagandha on the market as most other supplements only contain 5%. This enables us to use a lower, safe and effective dose of Ashwagandha in our supplements.
Our Ashwagandha has been clinically tested to ensure high bioavailability and safety to guarantee results.
If you’d like more information on the available evidence which details and supports the efficacy of Ashwagandha, follow the links below.
The Studies
The scientific studies to support our claims are published in the following peer review journals:
Ashutosh Ajgaonkar, Mukta Jain, Khokan Debnath. 2022
In this prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled study, 80 women between 18 and 50 years of age without any hormonal disturbances with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) were included. It was concluded in the study above that regular administration of Ashwagandha twice daily for eight weeks improves the female sexual health in otherwise healthy women who do not have any hormonal disturbances. Ashwagandha is a known adaptogen, that maintains general well-being and improves vitality.
Alexander Muacevic and John R Adler. 2019
In this eight-week, prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, the stress-relieving effect of Ashwagandha root extract was investigated in 60 stressed healthy adults. Serum cortisol levels were reduced with both Ashwagandha supplementation when compared to the placebo group participants. The participants receiving Ashwagandha had significant improvement in sleep quality.
Swati Dongre, Deepak Langade, Sauvik Bhattacharyya, 2015
Aim: To determine the efficacy and safety of a high concentration, full-spectrum ashwagandha root extract is improving sexual function in healthy women. Measured by the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFH) questionnaire and Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS).
A prospective, double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial with 50 women was conducted. One group was given Ashwagandha (n=25) at high concentration full-spectrum root twice daily for 8 weeks and the other group who were given a placebo (n=25) at the same dosage. The results concluded Ashwagandha root extract resulted in a 122.6% improvement in FSFI scores with baseline difficulties with desire, arousal, orgasm, satisfaction and pain have significant improvement.
This study investigated the effects of standardised WS (Withania Somnifera) root and leaf extract in 98 chronically stressed humans in a clinical trial. Participants were randomly assigned to WSE (125 mg four times daily, 125 mg twice daily, or 250 mg twice daily) or placebo groups. Stress levels were assessed at Days 0, 30, and 60 using a modified Hamilton anxiety (mHAM-A) scale and biochemical and clinical variables were measured at Days 0 and 60.
The WSE 125 mg four times daily group decreased significantly more than placebo for mean mHAM-A score, serum cortisol, serum C-reactive protein, pulse rate and blood pressure. Therefore, this study provides evidence that the consumption of WS root and leaf extract significantly reduces experiential and biochemical indicators of stress without adverse effects.
A review looking at 42 papers on the use of ashwagandha leaf and root extracts. Ashwagandha leaf studies shows numerous bioactive compounds as present in its root. It can become a lead for neurodegenerative, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory purposes.
Glossary of Terms
There are a few key terms to be aware of when reviewing these studies:
Randomised clinical trial: A clinical trial in which the participants are assigned randomly (by chance alone) to different treatments.
Double-blind study: A study in which neither the participants nor the experimenters know who is receiving a particular treatment. This procedure is utilized to prevent bias in research results. Double-blind studies are particularly useful for preventing bias due to demand characteristics or the placebo effect.
Placebo: An inactive treatment used in a clinical trial, sometimes referred to as a “sugar pill.” A placebo-controlled trial compares a new treatment with a placebo, in order to give greater confidence that the result is only due to the test/active ingredient.
P-value: The probability of obtaining the observed results of a test. The lower the p-value is, the more confident we can be of a true result. For example, a p-value of 0.001 confirms a result as 99.9% accurate.
