Ashwagandha Root Extract Improved Sleep Parameters in Insomnia

by | Dec 16, 2019 | 2019, Ashwagandha, Botanicals, Sleep

Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. Ashwagandha root extract improves sleep quality and sleep onset latency in patients with insomnia.

ashwagandha - botanicalsThe etiology of insomnia is complex and involves a host of potential factors, including biochemical imbalance, environmental disturbance, substance abuse, and/or the presence of a psychiatric or medical condition 1,2. Insomnia is also associated with specific chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes 3. Although the prognosis of insomnia is variable on a case-by-case basis, the use of certain nutraceutical agents has proven to be generally helpful in mitigating symptoms. Among the most commonly used traditional herbs is ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), a multi-purpose, adaptogenic herb with anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective benefits 4-6. Various parts of the ashwagandha plant have been used to treat different conditions, however, the majority of research investigations have focused on examining the properties associated with ashwagandha’s roots. Research studies have linked ashwagandha root extract with lower stress and anxiety 7, enhanced muscular endurance 8, and improved cognitive function in healthy adults 9, while animal models suggest key anti-diabetic and immunomodulatory effects in association with ashwagandha intake 10,11.  In a 2019 trial 12 conducted by Laganade and colleagues in India, the safety and efficacy of ashwagandha root extract was examined in a group of patients suffering from insomnia.

A total of 60 patients (mean age = 39.41 years) diagnosed with insomnia (based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, DSM-IV) were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Subjects were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive either 300 mg of high concentration, full-spectrum ashwagandha root extract or an identical starch-based placebo twice daily for 10 weeks. At baseline, Week 5, and at 10-week follow-up, sleep actigraphy was used to record sleep onset latency (SOL), total sleep time (TST), sleep efficiency (SE), and waking after the onset of sleep (WASO). Total time in bed was assessed using individual sleep logs, and sleep quality and mental alertness on rising were rated on a Likert scale. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAM-A) were also administered.

After 10 weeks of treatment, the ashwagandha group exhibited significant overall improvement in sleep. Individuals treated with ashwagandha showed statistically significant improvements, compared to controls, in relation to SOL (29.00 +/- 7.15 vs. 33.95 +/- 7.66 min, respectively, p = 0.019) and mean SE (83.49 +/- 2.84 vs. 79.69 +/- 3.59, p < 0.0001). PSQI scores (9.15 +/- 1.83 vs. 11.84 +/- 1.46, p < 0.0001) and HAM-A scores (18.49 +/- 3.48 vs. 21.53 +/- 3.22, p = 0.002) were also significantly improved for the ashwagandha group vs. placebo at the end of 10 weeks.

General results support the efficacy of ashwagandha root extract as a safe and well-tolerated herbal product with sleep-inducing and mood-enhancing effects. However, caution is needed if taken with diabetes medications, sleep and blood pressure medications, immunosuppressants, and thyroid medications.  If on these types of medications, consult with your medical physician before use.

General results support the efficacy of ashwagandha root extract as a safe and well-tolerated herbal product with sleep-inducing and mood-enhancing effects. Treatment with ashwagandha was seen to improve various sleep parameters, including those based on sleep actigraphy and those related to emotional functioning, in subjects suffering from insomnia. Limitations of the current study involve a relatively small sample size and the fact that participants with pre-existing anxiety or other mood disorders were not included. Further research is warranted to examine the longer-term effects of ashwagandha in patients with insomnia and anxiety.

Source: Langade D, Kanchi S, Salve J, et al. Efficacy and safety of ashwagandha (withania somnifera) root extract in insomnia and anxiety: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Cureus. 2019; 11(9): e5797. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.5797.

© Copyright 2019 Langade et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License CC-BY 3.0.

Posted December 16, 2019.

Click here to read the full text study.

Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program. Her specialized area of research involves the complementary use of neuroimaging and neuropsychology-based methodologies to examine how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and meditation, can influence brain plasticity and enhance overall connectivity.

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