With many people experiencing disturbed sleep patterns, including insomnia, since the covid-19 restrictions, findings of a new study on Ayurvedic herb ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) may offer some hope of a return to a good night’s sleep. According to a recent double-blind randomised trial, the use of ashwagandha extract significantly improved sleep time, total sleep quality and mental awareness upon rising when compared to placebo. The benefits were seen in both healthy patients and those suffering from insomnia. Conducted over eight weeks, the placebo controlled trial of 80 participants (n=40 healthy; n= 40 insomnia) were treated with 300mg ashwagandha root extract or placebo. Utilising the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the study found that over the seven components - subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleeping medications and daytime dysfunction over the last month – participants receiving ashwagandha had a statistically significant improvement compared to placebo. “Insomnia is affecting the global population of different age groups, specifically the elderly populations. Recent studies and surveys suggested that insomnia is on the rise in the younger and working populations as well,” the authors said. “Over the centuries, ashwagandha has been established as a multipurpose valuable herb that could be used as a general rejuvenator and in specific ailments. Ashwagandha is long known as an excellent sleep inducer, but the clinical evidence is limited and in the Ayurvedic medicine system, ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal.) is known for its low or non-toxic effect.” According to the study, the methanolic extract ashwagandha root displayed antagonistic activity for the binding of effective gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor antagonists. It is the gradual inhibition of such neuronal activity, GABA, that induces sleep and it has been reported that complete inhibition was attained with 1 mg of the ashwagandha root extract. While a number of non-pharmaceutical approaches to improving sleep are available, for example, aromatherapy, yoga, acupuncture and massage, the authors claim these may not be available to elderly patients or those with mild physical problems. “Moreover, the scientific evidence is limited for such therapies. Also, prolonged and extensive physical efforts are required which may not be suitable for all. The results of this study showed that the use of ashwagandha root extract was considerably effective in both healthy subjects and patients with insomnia,” the authors explained. Claimed as the first randomised clinical trial conducted to assess the effect of ashwagandha on sleep quality in insomnia, the authors also noted that a large multi-centre study is required to enable some generalisation of their study’s findings. “Insomnia is one of the leading global health problems due to our present stressful lifestyle. Ashwagandha has a tremendous reputation as a somatogenic herb in the Indian traditional Ayurvedic medicine system and our results found ashwagandha to be statistically significant in comparison to the placebo in improving sleep parameters,” the authors concluded.

Source: 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. J Ethnopharmacol 2021;264:113276

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