C
Clarity News Hub

Can ashwagandha make you sleepy?

Author

Emily Sparks

Published Jan 16, 2026

Ashwagandha might cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Some medications, called sedatives, can also cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Taking ashwagandha with sedative medications might cause breathing problems and/or too much sleepiness.

Do I take ashwagandha in the morning or night?

The bottom line

Most people take ashwagandha as a capsule or powder that can be taken at any time of the day. You may wish to incorporate it into your nightly routine to promote good sleep habits. Alternatively, you may find taking it in the morning suits your routine better.

Why does ashwagandha make me tired?

Ashwagandha, for example, may increase thyroid hormone levels, which could cause fatigue, anxiety, shortness of breath and other problems.

Is ashwagandha a stimulant or sedative?

Classical Uses of Ashwagandha

For most of these 6000 years Ashwagandha has been used as a Rasayana. The root of Ashwagandha is regarded as tonic, aphrodisiac, narcotic, diuretic, anthelmintic, astringent, thermogenic and stimulant.

What are the side effects of ashwagandha?

People can usually tolerate ashwagandha in small-to-medium doses. However, there have not been enough long-term studies to fully examine the possible side effects. Taking large amounts of ashwagandha can lead to digestive upset, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. This may be due to irritation of the intestinal mucosa.

15 related questions found

Does ashwagandha cause insomnia?

Ashwagandha root extract is a natural compound with sleep-inducing potential, well tolerated and improves sleep quality and sleep onset latency in patients with insomnia at a dose of 300 mg extract twice daily.

Who should not use ashwagandha?

Certain groups of people should avoid using ashwagandha, including those who are pregnant or breastfeeding and those who have medical conditions like diabetes, high or low blood pressure, stomach ulcers, autoimmune disease, or thyroid disorders.

Does ashwagandha relax?

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.

Is ashwagandha a sedating?

Since ashwagandha has sedative effects, it could help ease anxiety and stress -- in fact, human studies have indicated as much.

Can you have ashwagandha at night?

Ashwagandha is an adaptogen, a plant that may help your body cope with stress. Since it may help counter high stress levels—which have been shown to disrupt and shorten sleep—ashwagandha may also help improve your sleep.

How quickly does ashwagandha work?

When used in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle, ashwagandha can begin to positively impact the body within two weeks. However, depending on your individual health, it may take a few months to experience or even notice big changes.

What happens when you take ashwagandha daily?

Ashwagandha is a medicinal herb that may offer several health benefits, such as improved blood sugar, inflammation, mood, memory, stress and anxiety, as well as a boost in muscle strength and fertility. Dosages vary depending on your needs, but 250–500 mg per day for at least one month seem effective.

Is it OK to take ashwagandha everyday?

Yes, taking ashwagandha daily is safe, but people should never take it beyond the recommended doses or periods. Ashwagandha may have contaminates, such as dirt and heavy metals, so processing it to get its purest form is necessary.

Can you take melatonin and ashwagandha together?

Interactions between your drugs

No interactions were found between ashwaganda and melatonin. However, this does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.

Is ashwagandha good for anxiety?

Ashwagandha is an ancient medicinal herb with multiple possible health benefits. Study findings suggest that it may help reduce anxiety and stress, support restful sleep, and even improve cognitive functioning in certain populations. Ashwagandha is considered relatively safe for most people.

Does ashwagandha affect serotonin?

In preclinical studies, ashwagandha can also influence GABAergic and serotonin activity,[8,43] which have antidepressant and anxiolytic effects.

Can ashwagandha cause weight gain?

Can ashwagandha make you gain weight? Ashwagandha is unlikely to make you gain weight.

How does ashwagandha feel?

Ashwagandha has been used in medical practices like Aryuveda, a medical system that originated in India over 3,000 years ago, to fight stress, boost endurance, and promote a general sense of calm. While science is limited, modern studies reinforce ashwagandha's potential to reduce stress and anxiety in adults.

Is it good to take ashwagandha in the morning?

Do I Take Ashwagandha in the Morning or at Night? Because this multifaceted herb has numerous benefits for mind and body, it can be taken morning or night — but, Ashwagandha's potent relaxation and sleep-enhancing benefits make it perfect for consuming before bed (enter FOCL Night).

What does ashwagandha do for females?

At least one clinical study indicates ashwagandha can benefit women experiencing sexual dysfunction. The administration of ashwagandha resulted in significant improvements in arousal, lubrication, orgasm and satisfaction, as self-reported by the participants.

Does ashwagandha increase estrogen?

SUMMARY. Ashwagandha may safely increase your levels of oestrogen, in turn lowering your FSH and LH back to a more comfortable level. This could help to relieve symptoms such as hot flashes and depression.

Does ashwagandha increase GABA?

Ashwagandha treatment significantly increased GABA levels in the corticohippocampal lysates over both control and ethanol-treated animals. Ashwagandha has been previously reported to have GABA-mimetic activity by acting on both GABAA and GABAB receptors and may also have glycine mimetic action.

Is ashwagandha a depressant?

Ashwagandha has also renowned to boost nerve health and vitalise the nervous system. It is helpful to fight deteriorating brain diseases, such as Alzheimer's and memory loss. Also, controls cortisol the stress hormone in the human body. It is a herbal and potent anti-depression and anti-anxiety medicine.

Does ashwagandha and magnesium make you sleepy?

New Chapter Magnesium + Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is an herb with sleep-inducing properties that may improve sleep quality and insomnia. A 2019 study found that it helped with sleep latency and overall sleep quality in patients with insomnia and anxiety ( 11 ).

Does ashwagandha react with other meds?

Ashwagandha has no known severe interactions with any drugs. Ashwagandha has no known serious interactions with any drugs.