Christopher Walker | August 3, 2023
The Ashwagandha Testosterone Connection: The Ayurvedic Herb at a Glance
Hormones
Very few people are familiar with the ashwagandha herb despite its well-documented benefits. In fact, its very name elicits a confused look. Among its many benefits, recent research revealed a strong ashwagandha testosterone connection. For men in their 30s and beyond, this is an herb that warrants your attention.
Contents:
What Is Ashwagandha?:
Ashwagandha is an herb rooted in Indian Ayurvedic medicine. In Sanskrit, the name translates to “the smell of a horse.” The name was chosen because the herb is reportedly so powerful that it can restore the vitality of an aging stallion. You may also hear ashwagandha referred to by its formal — and equally difficult-to-pronounce — name: withania somnifera.
The herb is traditionally taken as an adaptogen, meaning it helps the body relax in response to physical and emotional stressors. Its origin dates back to 5,000 years ago. Of course, the scientific research behind this potent tonic has only emerged in the past two decades or so. Nevertheless, the results validate the positive experiences felt by generations of people spanning from the days before Jesus and Buddha.
In centuries past and in modern times, people use ashwagandha for:
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Strengthening their immune system
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Better sleep
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Constipation and diarrhea
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Fatigue and lethargy
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Joint discomfort
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Perceived low T
The Ashwagandha Testosterone Link
Ashwagandha Improves Sex Drive
Improved libido is one of the commonly reported positive effects of a testosterone boost. Another study confirmed that ashwagandha supplementation increased gonadotropin, a hormone needed for testosterone production.
In any case, if you’re seeking out this herb, we recommend looking for the designation KSM-66. This essentially means the product contains the highest concentration full-spectrum extract. In other words, it retains most of its constituents. It also has a withanolide concentration of 5 percent or higher. Withanolides refer to a class of over 300 naturally-occurring flavonoids, which attribute to many of ashwagandha’s benefits.
We recommend researching even further and determine the precise testing method. Try to verify if the withanolide content is tested using the trustworthy HPLC analysis. This produces far more accurate results over the less reliable and outdated gravimetric analysis. You don’t need to understand precisely how each method works. Just know that gravimetric measurements can overestimate withanolide content by a factor as high as three.
Read More: The Definitive Guide To Testosterone Boosting Supplements
Ashwagandha Is a Proven T-Boosting Herb:
Ashwagandha certainly doesn’t have the name recognition of more prominent herbs like ginseng, ginger or lavender. However, relative obscurity doesn’t equate to ineffectiveness. The ashwagandha testosterone connection is very real. This is why we firmly stand behind this compound as one of the best, albeit unknown, natural testosterone supplements for men.
Citations and Sources
1. Wankhede S, Langade D, Joshi K, Sinha S, Bhattacharyya S. Examining the effect of Withania somnifera supplementation on muscle strength and recovery: a randomized controlled trial. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015;12:43. [PubMed]
2. Rahmati B, Ghosian M, Khalili M, Enayati E, Maleki M, Rezaeei S. Effect of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal on Sex Hormone and Gonadotropin Levels in Addicted Male Rats. Int J Fertil Steril. 2016;10(2):239-244. [PMC]
3. Dongre S, Langade D, Bhattacharyya S. Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Root Extract in Improving Sexual Function in Women: A Pilot Study. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:284154. [PMC]