The rising popularity of herbal extracts reflects a growing preference for natural and holistic health approaches. Consumers now seek solid scientific evidence and are discerning in their choices. In this feature, we emphasize the importance of key elements in identifying and establishing the most clinically studied Ashwagandha extract.
Root-only Extract – Traditional and Scientific Basis
Traditionally, only roots of Ashwagandha have been advised for internal consumption. Ayurvedic doctors and physicians have been prescribing only roots for centuries, and continue to do till date. Almost every clinical trial performed by independent researchers (excluding commercially sold Ashwagandha extracts) has been conducted on root and root-based formulations. Additionally, the Government of India Advisory advocates for the utilization of Ashwagandha roots alone citing the insufficient evidence for the safety and efficacy of Ashwagandha leaves.
Therefore, KSM-66’s approach of using only roots is vastly based on a better scientific and historical foundation than the approach of ashwagandha extract makers who use leaves.
Gold Standard Clinical Trials – Foundation of Evidence-based Medicine
The most widely accepted trial design is the “Gold Standard Clinical Trial Design” i.e., Randomized, Double-Blinded, and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trials, ensuring both reliability and validity.
All clinical studies conducted on KSM-66 Ashwagandha are well designed and adhere to the Gold Standards of substantiation - Randomized, Double-Blinded, and Placebo-Controlled Clinical.
Healthy Populations – Ensuring Appropriate Evaluation
Clinical studies conducted by some ashwagandha makers often focus on demonstrating the effectiveness of their product by showing improvement in clinically compromised or less than fully healthy populations. However, if the finished product is targeted toward normal healthy populations, this is very problematic because clinically compromised populations are systematically different from normal healthy populations and, therefore, demonstrations of improvement in clinically compromised populations may not hold true for normal healthy populations.
The clinical studies conducted on KSM-66 Ashwagandha are on a normal healthy population having no pre-existing clinically adverse conditions. Recruiting people from normal healthy populations is frequently difficult because they are less interested in participating in clinical studies. However, the studies on KSM-66 have been performed on normal healthy people because most of KSM-66 customers target their end-products at normal healthy people who want to develop some extra function or strength. Therefore, it is important to have efficacy data available for those kinds of normal healthy people.
PubMed Indexed Journals – A Mark of Quality
In the era of information overload, it is extremely important to distinguish credible research from unsubstantiated claims. PubMed is a widely recognized and trusted database that is pivotal in maintaining scientific rigor. PubMed is an index, maintained by the U. S. Government’s National Library of Medicine, of articles published in what academics consider to be high-quality biomedical journals. Journals not indexed in PubMed are considered to be of a distinctly lower tier than PubMed-indexed journals.
All of KSM-66’s research publications are in PubMed-indexed and peer-reviewed journals with good impact factors.
Independent Researchers as Principal Investigators - Upholding Scientific Integrity
Independent researchers and academicians with established publication records play a crucial role as principal investigators in conducting clinical trials. Their expertise and experience contribute to the trials' credibility, reliability, and scientific rigor.
All of the KSM-66 Ashwagandha studies have been conducted by Western medicine doctors and independent researchers affiliated with renowned institutions and multi-specialty hospitals who serve as principal investigators to uphold scientific integrity and credibility.
KSM-66 Ashwagandha – the most clinically studied Ashwagandha root extract
Ixoreal is the industry leader in clinical trials investigating the effectiveness of ashwagandha, and KSM-66 is the ashwagandha extract with the most extensive set of research and clinical studies: 37 completed studies and 18 ongoing studies, focusing on a variety of conditions.
- Stress and Anxiety: Six completed studies reveal that KSM-66 Ashwagandha root extract reduces stress, anxiety, and cortisol levels in individuals dealing with stress.
- Sleep: Four completed studies demonstrate that KSM-66 Ashwagandha root extract improves sleep by aiding faster sleep onset, increasing sleep duration, and enhancing sleep quality.
- Memory and Cognition: Four completed studies demonstrate that KSM-66 Ashwagandha root extract enhances focus, concentration, general memory, attention, executive function, information processing speed, and task performance.
- Men's Health: Six completed studies indicate that KSM-66 Ashwagandha root extract enhances testosterone levels, improves sperm count and quality, and boosts sexual desire in men.
- Women's Health: Five completed studies reveal that KSM-66 Ashwagandha root extract boosts sexual desire, arousal, and orgasm in women and alleviates climacteric symptoms during the menopausal transition.
- Physical Performance and Endurance: Four completed studies demonstrate that KSM-66 Ashwagandha root extract improves muscle strength, size, muscle recovery, and cardiorespiratory endurance.
- Weight Management: One completed study demonstrates that KSM-66 Ashwagandha root extract helps reduce stress-related food cravings and aids in weight management.
- Thyroid Function Support: Three completed studies show that KSM-66 Ashwagandha root extract helps maintain healthy thyroid levels.
- Elderly Care: Two completed studies highlight that KSM-66 Ashwagandha root extract increases mental alertness, improves sleep quality, and enhances physical and psychological well-being in elderly individuals.
- Personal Care: Two completed studies found that KSM-66 Ashwagandha root extract improves skin texture and hydration, reduces wrinkles and hyperpigmentation, boosts collagen production, enhances hair density, and reduces scalp irritation and hair fall.
Takeaway
By being a category creator and not just a market leader, KSM-66 Ashwagandha serves as the finest example of a world-class ingredient built upon extensive dedication towards research and clinical science. Its efficacy and safety have been consistently demonstrated through multiple gold-standard clinical trials on healthy populations ensuring its position as a trusted and scientifically substantiated herbal extract in the pursuit of health and wellness.
