Ashwagandha

Also known as Indian ginseng or winter cherry, this herbal medicine is commonly used within traditional Ayurvedic medicine. It is an adaptogen, meaning it can improve your body’s ability to cope with and adapt to stress, stabilising mood and promoting vitality. It is sometimes referred to as a “royal herb”, due to its ability to act on multiple systems of the body, including the immune, neurological and reproductive system.

The main actives in ashwagandha are a group of compounds called withanolides, which hold the ability to alleviate stress within the body and protect cells from oxidative damage. The benefits of ashwagandha have been well-researched, with findings including a reduction in stress, anxiety and depression. In fact, multiple recent systematic reviews, published in 2021, 2014, and 2022 have agreed after reviewing a variety of studies that overall, ashwaghandha is effective in reducing and managing stress and anxiety levels.

Because of its stress-alleviating properties, consumption of ashwagandha has been clinically researched to improve sleep quality and reduce symptoms commonly associated with sleep disorders such as insomnia. These include sleep onset latency (the time it takes to fall asleep), sleep efficiency, and sleep quality. Consumption of ashwagandha can also help to reduce levels of cortisol, also known as the stress hormone, which can interfere with sleep quality and duration if not controlled.