What is ashwagandha and how can it reduce anxiety so you can sleep?

Ashwagandha is a potent plant extract that can be taken for stress support. It grows as a shrub mostly in Africa, the Middle East, India and China, with yellow flowers and red berries that resemble raspberries. As an adaptogenic herb, one of the benefits of ashwagandha is that it can help you deal with occasional stress. In Ayurvedic, ashwagandha is referred to as, “Indian ginseng,” and has been used for 5,000 years for relieving stress and helping calm the mind and body. (2)

Ashwagandha supplements are among a supplement class called adaptogens that work to counteract the harmful effects of stress in the body by lowering levels of the “stress hormone,” cortisol. Adaptogens have a wide variety of other benefits, including anti-inflammatory properties, all of which can add up to less stress. Ashwagandha has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years to help soothe the consequences of occasional stress like sleeplessness, irritability, and the inability to concentrate.

Researchers have studied the effectiveness of ashwagandha, with impressive results. In one study, published in the Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine (3), participants given ashwagandha reported lower levels of stress and anxiety and higher overall well-being. Participants also reported having an easier time sleeping. Another study of chronically stressed adults showed significant evidence that Ashwagandha may reduce cortisol levels without adverse side effects (4). In yet another study, 88 percent of adults given ashwagandha over a six-week period reported feeling less anxious (5). Modern science has confirmed what cultures around the world have known for centuries: Ashwagandha can help you relax and de-stress so that you can put your mind at ease before bedtime.

You may consider taking ashwagandha when you have stress and anxiety that is interfering with your ability to relax and sleep.

Ashwagandha is an herbal supplement that is safe for most people. Follow the dosage instructions found on the ZzzQuil PURE Zzzs De-Stress and Sleep bottle. If you have any concerns, consult your doctor before starting to take ashwagandha. If you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or nursing, taking ashwagandha is not advised.

ZzzQuil PURE Zzzs De-Stress and Sleep is formulated with ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) to help de-stress your mind and body so that you relax and unwind before bed.* Drug-free and non-habit-forming, it also includes melatonin, a hormone that is naturally produced in the brain, to help you fall asleep naturally.

To learn more about how melatonin impacts your sleep cycle, click here.

For more information and to find out where to buy, visit our De-Stress and Sleep Gummies or De-Stress and Sleep Tablets pages.