Ashwagandha is a unique ingredient originally found in parts of Africa, the Middle East, and India. Over the years, I've seen this ingredient travel cross country as it's in almost all herbal medicines, from fat burners to sleep supplements. It also played a feature role in many testosterone boosters, which sparked the need to find out more. Is it really the boosting aid manufacturers make it out to be, or is it just a marketing draw card?
Let's look into my findings below:
what you need to know
What is Ashwagandha And How is it Made?
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an evergreen shrub well-known for its use in Ayurvedic and African traditional medicine, which is how it earned the household name of Indian ginseng. So how did ashwagandha go from the soil to our medicine cabinets?
After years of Ayurvedic use, researchers, scientists, and chemists joined forces to harvest the plant to extract its beneficial effects. The plant was processed and transformed into a powder form which was then sold as is, inserted into capsules, or compacted into tablets.
The ingredient was then released into the mainstream market to boost energy, reduce stress and help with anxiety. But its benefits didn't end there, as clinical research found it also increased testosterone. I've seen several testosterone boosters feature the ingredient, but manufacturers rarely explain how it does this.
How Does Ashwagandha Work to Improve Testosterone?
Since I never got the answers about ashwagandha from sites boasting the effects of the ingredient, I decided to dig deeper and look into studies. I found that the exact way ashwagandha works still requires more investigation. However, experts do have some solid theories, which I expand on below:
Ashwagandha was found to have amazing anti-oxidant properties, which protect the body from oxidative damage. This means that it also protects the source of testosterone production- the testes, which in turn leads to improved levels of the hormone.
The herb also increases the production of the luteinizing hormone (LH), which is responsible for producing testosterone.
Even though researchers want to dig deeper, these two processes already set the ingredient's effect on testosterone levels in stone.
How Does Ashwagandha Impact Testosterone?
Ashwagandha has shown significant promise in improving testosterone levels. I came across a study that showed ashwagandha supplementation increased testosterone by 15% and DHEA by 18%. This part is important, as DHEA is a key component in testosterone elevation.
In another study, participants were given ashwagandha twice a day. The findings showed that men had improved testosterone levels, improvements in muscle size, strength, and recovery. What caught my attention here was that ashwagandha increased testosterone to an all-time high—five times higher than the placebo (those who didn't take it).
This clearly shows the positive effects of ashwagandha on testosterone. If you're wondering how much ashwagandha you should take for its testosterone-boosting effects, most of the studies I've seen involved a dosage of about 500mg. However, I have seen testosterone boosters like TestoPrime with higher doses which are also safe and effective.
The fluctuating doses in products and trials are primarily because ashwagandha has no official advised dose, so it's best to speak with a healthcare professional for guidance or do some trial and error with different doses. Ashwagandha can also be combined with vitamin D for enhanced results.
What Other Benefits Does Ashwagandha Provide?
Research on ashwagandha continues to evolve as experts are always studying its effectiveness against a variety of conditions. Here are other benefits of the miracle herb:
Final Call
When it comes to ashwagandha, the proof is in the pudding! All the studies focused on the ingredient have supported the safety and effectiveness of ashwagandha to boost testosterone. So, it made waves in traditional medicine and stood strong in tests in modern medicine. Testosterone boosters such as Prime Male or TestoPrime, which contain the ingredient, are a reliable source of its effects.
Great article. It answered alot of questions. Thank you!