The most clinically studied ashwagandha root extract for women's health and wellbeing

Women's health isn't just a matter of physical wellbeing. It's a multi-faceted domain encompassing the physical, psychological, and socio-emotional aspects of life.​

From managing hormonal fluctuations to addressing reproductive concerns and handling stress, the definition of women's health has evolved to reflect a comprehensive view of their overall life quality.

In recent times, the global women's health supplement market has seen a formidable rise. The global Women’s Health and Beauty Supplements market is expected to grow by 5.2% CAGR to around US $89.3 billion by 2032, up from US $54.5 billion in 2022.¹​

Although modern medicine has undeniably brought forth miracles, a significant shift towards botanical supplements has been observed. What is the reason? Botanical supplements are perceived to have fewer side effects and a holistic approach to healing. For women, herbal supplements have been game-changers in areas like hormonal balance, stress management, and overall vitality.

Ashwagandha: Nature's gift to women​

Ashwagandha, a cornerstone of Ayurvedic medicine, is one such herbal supplement that has gained traction in women's health circles. Known scientifically as Withania somnifera, this ancient herb is renowned for its adaptogenic properties, meaning it helps the body adapt to stress and restores balance. For thousands of years, ashwagandha has been used as an aphrodisiac for regulating hormones, improving menopausal health, and enhancing vigor and vitality.

KSM-66 Ashwagandha is a standardized and specialized extract that amplifies its effects and stands as the most clinically studied ashwagandha root extract for women’s health and wellbeing. Several gold-standard clinical studies have proven that KSM-66 Ashwagandha has aphrodisiac qualities that may enhance libido, pleasure, and performance and its adaptogenic qualities may improve menopausal symptoms, may regulate hormonal health and may promote overall wellbeing in women. A few of them are listed below:

KSM-66 Ashwagandha and sexual health​

Sexual health in women isn't just about the mechanics; it's an interplay of emotions, relationships, self-awareness, and physical harmony. Low sexual desire or libido is not uncommon in women.

Study 1​

A 2022 study evaluated the efficacy of KSM-66 Ashwagandha supplementation (600 mg/day) on sexual function and general wellbeing in otherwise healthy women. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involved 80 women, half of whom were given KSM-66 Ashwagandha root extract supplement, and the other half were given placebo for 8 weeks.²​

KSM-66 supplementation resulted in an increase of over 59.2% in the overall Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) scores. The scores for arousal, lubrication, orgasm, desire, and satisfaction domains saw increases of 40%, 48.7%, 75.7%, 71.6%, and 50.8%, respectively. Additionally, KSM-66 Ashwagandha supplementation notably decreased sexual distress in women, showing a significant 52.8% reduction in Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS) scores when compared to the placebo.²​

Study 2​

Another oft-quoted 2015 study examined the effects of KSM-66 Ashwagandha root extract on 50 healthy women with sexual dysfunction and arousal disorder. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, half of the women were given KSM-66 Ashwagandha root extract supplement (600mg/day), and the other half were given placebo for 8 weeks.

More specifically, supplementing with KSM-66 Ashwagandha led to an increase of >75% in total FSFI scores, with an increase of 62.4%, 59.4%, 82.4%, and 62.4% in the arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and satisfaction domains respectively and also reduced sexual distress among the women with a statistically significant reduction of 60.9% in FSDS scores. Also, KSM-66 Ashwagandha supplementation improved total sexual encounters (18.3%) and successful sexual encounters (31.8%).³​

Study 3​

A follow-up study which is currently under peer review examined the effects of KSM-66 Ashwagandha root extract supplementation in 92 women and demonstrated similar results. Women supplemented with 600mg/day KSM-66 Ashwagandha showed a significant increase of 585 in the level of sexual desire with a 59% decrease in FSDS scores. Moreover, supplementation with KSM-66 Ashwagandha root extract also resulted in a significant reduction of 37% in the perceived stress scale scores.⁴​

KSM-66 Ashwagandha and menopausal health

Menopause, perimenopause, and post-menopause are stages in a woman's life marked by the cessation of her monthly period. The most common symptoms during these stages include hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disorders, increased anxiety or irritability, vaginal dryness, depression, and cognitive impairment. The efficacy of ashwagandha during menopause comes from its stress-reducing properties, and the promotion of hormonal equanimity.

Study 4​

A 2021 study examined the safety and efficacy of KSM-66 Ashwagandha (600mg/day) in alleviating climacteric symptoms in women during perimenopause. This 8-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involved 100 women.⁵​

KSM-66 Ashwagandha supplementation demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in the total Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) score (23.5%) and total Menopause Specific Quality of life (MEN-QoL) score (4.02%). Moreover, KSM-66 supplementation resulted in a statistically significant decrease of 30.8% in the hot flash score when compared to the placebo. Also, there was a statistically significant increase in serum estradiol, while there was a decrease in serum follicle-stimulating hormone.⁵​

Study 5​

A soon-to-be-published study also evaluated the efficacy and safety of KSM-66 Ashwagandha supplementation (600mg/day) on menopausal symptoms. KSM-66 Ashwagandha supplementation demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in total MRS score, hot flash score, and perceived stress scale scores when compared to the placebo group.⁶​

KSM-66 Ashwagandha and thyroid health

Thyroid hormones have an enormous impact on a woman’s health, affecting all aspects of her metabolism and also influencing the control of vital functions, such as body temperature and heart rate. As an adaptogen, ashwagandha is known to maintain thyroid function and regulate hormonal balance in the human body.

Study 6​

A 2015 study evaluated the effects of the KSM-66 Ashwagandha on thyroid hormone levels and showed promising results. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involved 50 subjects, half of whom were given 600mg Ashwagandha supplement and the other half given a placebo for 8 weeks. KSM-66 Ashwagandha supplementation resulted in significant improvements in both T3 (47.16 %) and T4 (23.19 %) levels. At the end of the study, the levels of thyroid stimulating hormone were normalized in participants taking ashwagandha.⁷​

Study 7​

Another study published in 2020 evaluated the safety of KSM-66 Ashwagandha on thyroid hormone levels. This study showed that KSM-66 Ashwagandha supplementation (600mg/day) had no statistically significant change or abnormality in the thyroid hormonal profile of the participants.⁸​

KSM-66 Ashwagandha and elderly health

Study 8​

A 2020 study evaluated the efficacy and safety of KSM-66 Ashwagandha in women aged between 65-80. KSM-66 Ashwagandha supplementation (600mg/day) resulted in 24.2%, 22.4%, 18.9%, 5.6%, and 9.8% increase in WHO-QoL scores of Global, Physical, Psychological, Social relationship, and Environmental domains respectively. It also resulted in a significant improvement in sleep and mental alertness on rising.⁹​

A clinically studied extract for women’s health  ​

In the realm of botanical supplements, KSM-66 Ashwagandha distinctly stands out, not just as a traditional cornerstone of Ayurvedic medicine but as the most clinically studied ashwagandha root extract for women's health. Its multifaceted benefits, supported by numerous clinical trials, range from enhancing libido and sexual wellbeing to providing relief from menopausal symptoms and supporting thyroid health.

This underscores its unparalleled position in the world of herbal supplements. As women globally lean towards natural health solutions, KSM-66 Ashwagandha emerges as a scientifically-backed, potent, and obvious choice.

References​

1.​ Market.us. (2023). Global Women’s Health and Beauty Supplements Market By Product (Vitamins, Mineral, Proteins & Amino Acids, Enzymes, Omega-3, Botanicals, Probiotics, and Other Products), By Application (Beauty, Women’s Health), By Distribution Channel, By Region and Companies - Industry Segment Outlook, Market Assessment, Competition Scenario, Trends, and Forecast 2023-2032.​
2.​ Ajgaonkar, A.; Jain, M.; & Debnath, K. (2022). Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Root Extract for Improvement of Sexual Health in Healthy Women: A Prospective, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study. ​Cureus, 14(10), e30787.
3.​ Dongre, S.; Langade, D.; & Bhattacharyya, S. (2015). Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Root Extract in Improving Sexual Function in Women: A Pilot Study.​ BioMed research international, 2015, 284154. 
4.​ A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study Investigating the Effects of Ashwagandha Root Extract on Sexual Health in Healthy Women (Under peer review).
5.​ Gopal, S.; Ajgaonkar, A.; Kanchi, P.; et al. (2021). Effect of an ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera) root extract on climacteric symptoms in women during perimenopause: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. ​The journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research. 47(12), 4414–4425. 
6.​ A Prospective, Double Blind, Randomized, Parallel, Single-Center, Two-Arm, Placebo Controlled Clinical Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of KSM-66 Ashwagandha® on Menopause Symptoms (Under peer review).
7.​ Sharma, A. K.; Basu, I.; & Singh, S. (2018). Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha Root Extract in Subclinical Hypothyroid Patients: A Double-Blind, Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial. ​Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 24(3), 243–248. 
8.​ Verma, N.; Gupta, S. K.; Tiwari, S.; et al. (2021). Safety of Ashwagandha Root Extract: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, study in Healthy Volunteers.​ Complementary therapies in medicine. 57, 102642.
9.​ Kelgane, S. B.; Salve, J.; Sampara, P., et al. (2020). Efficacy and Tolerability of Ashwagandha Root Extract in the Elderly for Improvement of General Well-being and Sleep: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study.​ Cureus, 12(2), e7083.