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Ashwagandha Supplements
Compare ashwagandha supplements by actual extract dose, KSM-66 and other extracts, daily cost and testing evidence. Read the research on benefits, sleep and side effects below.
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Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Testing evidence
Evidence status
Manufacturer COA
Manufacturer statement
Batch-specific COA (batch 57080) from Together Health Ltd, signed by the manufacturer's own QA (Bob Clough), states "Analysis performed by a 3rd party lab, accredited by UKAS" but does not name the lab. Read directly: no identifiable independent lab, so recorded as manufacturer-provided COA rather than verified independent lab testing.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Testing evidence
Evidence status
Verified independent evidence
Manufacturer statement
Product page says "Third-party lab tested — View Certificate" and the linked certificate is a Testing Compliance Certificate for "WEIGHTWORLD ASHWAGANDHA EXTRACT (KSM-66) 1500 mg 180 TABLETS - BATCH CODE: 15554".
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Testing evidence
Evidence status
Verified independent evidence
Manufacturer statement
Product page says "Third-party lab tested — View Certificate" and the linked certificate is a Testing Compliance Certificate for "WEIGHTWORLD ASHWAGANDHA EXTRACT (KSM-66) 1500 mg 180 TABLETS - BATCH CODE: 15554".
Compare actual extract mass and disclosed withanolides. Raw-herb equivalents are marketing figures, not interchangeable extract doses. Daily amounts use the recorded label serving. Badges use extract-specific study ranges where available; otherwise they compare actual extract mass with a 250–600 mg/day reference. That numerical reference does not establish equivalent effects between extracts. Read the dose guide ↓
Batch-specific COA (batch 57080) from Together Health Ltd, signed by the manufacturer's own QA (Bob Clough), states "Analysis performed by a 3rd party lab, accredited by UKAS" but does not name the lab. Read directly: no identifiable independent lab, so recorded as manufacturer-provided COA rather than verified independent lab testing.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer page states: "CERTIFICATIONS & LAB TESTS" with "Heavy Metals Testing" and "Microbial Contaminants Testing" for batch LC240392, and the linked report for Alpha01 - Ashwagandha Extract Capsules 10,000mg is a J.S. Hamilton Baltic test report dated 30.12.2025.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer page says: "Product Testing & Quality Controls" and includes Q&A headings such as "How do I know each serving contains the doses you say it does? Are your supplements tested for potency...", "What purity tests are carried out on your products?", and "Do you have a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for your products or their ingredients?" The product page also says "Certified Organic: Soil Association approved."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Bulk’s own site says: “Each batch is rigorously tested and reviewed to make sure it meets the highest quality in efficiency and nutritional value.” and “All relevant batches of our products are independently tested for pesticides, heavy metals, microbial activity, and other contaminants.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Nutravita’s own product page says “Laboratory tested products” and “Backed by 22 human clinical trials,” and the Ingredients page says ingredients go through “strict testing” and that “The testing is done in-house at the manufacturing site.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Nutricost’s own product page says: “Quality assurance: Every batch of Nutricost Ashwagandha Root Extract Capsules is manufactured in an NSF certified, GMP compliant facility, ensuring strict quality control standards are met” and “Third-Party Tested † Nutricost products are tested by an independent, accredited lab to help verify that what’s on the label is what’s in the bottle.” I also checked NSF’s own registry and found certification entries for other ashwagandha products, but not for this Nutricost product.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Jamieson’s product page says the product is “NMR-tested to certify ingredient authenticity” and the brand FAQ says “Jamieson guarantees the purity, potency and safety of each product until the expiry date listed on the label.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer site says: "Every batch is independently tested to confirm purity, potency, and safety" and the product page says "3rd Party Tested Every batch".
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
A page titled "Ultra Ashwagandha KSM-66 | Informed Sport" is indexed at sport.wetestyoutrust.com/supplement-search/puresport/ultra-ashwagandha-ksm-66, strongly suggesting Informed Sport registration, but the page returned 403 Forbidden when fetched directly - its actual current certification/batch status could not be independently confirmed, so this is recorded as a claim pending verification, not a confirmed certification.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Certificate of Analysis for Shoden® Ashwagandha Capsules 120mg: identity testing (Withania somnifera root and leaf), total glycowithanolides assay, and heavy metals results are listed as Pass.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer page says: "To ensure the highest safety and quality, our products undergo rigorous testing for heavy metals and unwanted compounds during production..."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer site says: "Certified for Quality & Safety. Our products are GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certified" and the about page says products are made with "GMP Manufacturing Standards" and "scientific validation."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Amazon listing says: "carefully manufactured and tested to verify their potency and purity"; Pure Encapsulations site also says: "Every one of our products is formulated using high-quality, pure ingredients backed by verifiable science" and the FAQ page lists "What product testing does Pure Encapsulations do?" but I did not find an independently verifiable COA, lab report, or third-party certification for this specific Ashwagandha product.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Batch-specific COA (batch 57080) from Together Health Ltd, signed by the manufacturer's own QA (Bob Clough), states "Analysis performed by a 3rd party lab, accredited by UKAS" but does not name the lab. Read directly: no identifiable independent lab, so recorded as manufacturer-provided COA rather than verified independent lab testing.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer page states: "CERTIFICATIONS & LAB TESTS" with "Heavy Metals Testing" and "Microbial Contaminants Testing" for batch LC240392, and the linked report for Alpha01 - Ashwagandha Extract Capsules 10,000mg is a J.S. Hamilton Baltic test report dated 30.12.2025.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer page says: "Product Testing & Quality Controls" and includes Q&A headings such as "How do I know each serving contains the doses you say it does? Are your supplements tested for potency...", "What purity tests are carried out on your products?", and "Do you have a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for your products or their ingredients?" The product page also says "Certified Organic: Soil Association approved."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Bulk’s own site says: “Each batch is rigorously tested and reviewed to make sure it meets the highest quality in efficiency and nutritional value.” and “All relevant batches of our products are independently tested for pesticides, heavy metals, microbial activity, and other contaminants.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Nutravita’s own product page says “Laboratory tested products” and “Backed by 22 human clinical trials,” and the Ingredients page says ingredients go through “strict testing” and that “The testing is done in-house at the manufacturing site.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Nutricost’s own product page says: “Quality assurance: Every batch of Nutricost Ashwagandha Root Extract Capsules is manufactured in an NSF certified, GMP compliant facility, ensuring strict quality control standards are met” and “Third-Party Tested † Nutricost products are tested by an independent, accredited lab to help verify that what’s on the label is what’s in the bottle.” I also checked NSF’s own registry and found certification entries for other ashwagandha products, but not for this Nutricost product.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Jamieson’s product page says the product is “NMR-tested to certify ingredient authenticity” and the brand FAQ says “Jamieson guarantees the purity, potency and safety of each product until the expiry date listed on the label.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer site says: "Every batch is independently tested to confirm purity, potency, and safety" and the product page says "3rd Party Tested Every batch".
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
A page titled "Ultra Ashwagandha KSM-66 | Informed Sport" is indexed at sport.wetestyoutrust.com/supplement-search/puresport/ultra-ashwagandha-ksm-66, strongly suggesting Informed Sport registration, but the page returned 403 Forbidden when fetched directly - its actual current certification/batch status could not be independently confirmed, so this is recorded as a claim pending verification, not a confirmed certification.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Certificate of Analysis for Shoden® Ashwagandha Capsules 120mg: identity testing (Withania somnifera root and leaf), total glycowithanolides assay, and heavy metals results are listed as Pass.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer page says: "To ensure the highest safety and quality, our products undergo rigorous testing for heavy metals and unwanted compounds during production..."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer site says: "Certified for Quality & Safety. Our products are GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certified" and the about page says products are made with "GMP Manufacturing Standards" and "scientific validation."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Amazon listing says: "carefully manufactured and tested to verify their potency and purity"; Pure Encapsulations site also says: "Every one of our products is formulated using high-quality, pure ingredients backed by verifiable science" and the FAQ page lists "What product testing does Pure Encapsulations do?" but I did not find an independently verifiable COA, lab report, or third-party certification for this specific Ashwagandha product.
One-time purchase prices; delivery and conditional discounts excluded. Daily cost uses the recorded label serving. Comparison amounts are not personal dose recommendations. Unknown Prime eligibility is not treated as confirmed.
Decoding "raw-equivalent" claims
Some sellers headline a large "raw-herb equivalent" figure calculated from a concentrated extract, rather than the actual extract weight in the capsule. Both numbers can be true at once - they're just answering different questions. Here's a real example from this comparison:
Manufacturer headline1,500 mgraw-herb equivalent
Actual formulation150 mgof a 10:1 extract (WeightWorld Ashwagandha KSM-66 1500mg Tablets)
These two figures should not be compared directly with a product that states, say, 500mg of actual root powder - a raw-equivalent number is a calculation back to the unconcentrated herb, not a measure of how much material is actually in the capsule. In our comparison table, we show the actual extract mass first for this reason.
So what's a normal amount? There's no official recommended intake for ashwagandha, and it varies by extract - as a rough baseline, published research and typical products commonly use 250–600 mg of a standardised root extract (such as KSM-66), based on commonly used research doses - not an official recommended intake. That's a general ballpark, not a like-for-like comparison: 500mg of an unspecified generic extract is not the same claim as 500mg of KSM-66. Where we hold a verified commonly-studied range for a product's own branded extract (KSM-66, Sensoril, Shoden), we badge that product against its own extract's range in the table above instead of this general figure - and show "Dose disclosed" rather than a forced verdict when we don't.
Ashwagandha extracts explained
The extract used affects the research behind a product and what dose is comparable. Capsule, tablet and gummy are just delivery formats - use the Form filter above to narrow by those; the extract is what actually determines standardisation and studied dose.
Commonly labelled 5% withanolides; check the actual product
A branded extract used in published trials. Match the extract, plant part, dose and outcome rather than assuming every KSM-66 product has been clinically tested
Highly concentrated - standardised to a much higher withanolide percentage than KSM-66 or Sensoril
Formulated for low-dose, high-potency use; studies typically use far smaller mg amounts than root-only extracts
Generic extract
Unbranded / manufacturer's own extract
Plant part
Often undisclosed
Standardisation
Specifications vary by manufacturer and are often not independently standardised
Harder to compare against published research, since the plant part, extraction method and standardisation may not match any studied formulation
Ashwagandha dosage: compare the actual extract
Start with the actual extract in the recorded serving. A raw-root equivalent, extract ratio and withanolide percentage describe different things. Our decoder above keeps them separate; the comparison does not convert a marketing headline into material inside a capsule.
Study examples: extracts are not interchangeable
Preparation studied
Daily amount in an example trial
Why it matters
KSM-66 root extract
600 mg over eight weeks
Match the preparation and population, not just the milligrams.
Shoden root-and-leaf extract
120 mg over six weeks
A smaller extract mass does not mean the same concentration.
NIH ODS describes these sleep trials. These are study examples, not universal dosing instructions or proof that a retail product matches the tested material.
For a gummy, powder or capsule, check the amount in the full daily serving, plant part and declared standardisation. If the withanolide basis is unclear, the comparison leaves it uncalculated. More milligrams or a higher percentage is not a clinical outcome.
How the range badges work: Compare actual extract per day, after multiplying the serving amount by the recorded servings per day. KSM-66, Sensoril and Shoden use their own published-study ranges. Other extracts use a 250–600 mg/day extract-mass reference: below, within or above describes that numerical comparison only. It does not establish research equivalence, effectiveness or a recommended intake. Plant part, concentration and the preparation studied still matter.
What does the evidence say?
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) has a growing evidence base, concentrated mostly in stress, anxiety and sleep outcomes, with generally shorter trial durations than better-established supplements.
Some preparations may help stress and insomnia, but the evidence for anxiety remains unclear. Trials often use specific extracts, small samples and short follow-up; their findings do not transfer automatically to every retail product. See the NCCIH source in the references below.
Moderate evidence: Modest improvements in sleep quality, exercise recovery and cortisol levels are reported across several trials, though sample sizes are often small and some trials are funded by extract manufacturers.
Weaker or mixed evidence: Testosterone and fertility-related claims, cognitive/focus benefits, and general "adaptogen" claims are supported by a smaller and more inconsistent body of research.
Long-term use beyond 8-12 weeks has little published safety or efficacy data, so continuous year-round use has not been well studied.
As with any herbal extract, the strength of evidence for a specific product depends on whether it uses the same branded extract, plant part and dose as the studies behind these findings - a generic, non-standardised extract at a different dose is not automatically supported by the same evidence base.
Ashwagandha benefits: stress, sleep and the evidence
Evidence by goal
Goal
Evidence strength
What was assessed
Typical study context
Main limitation
Stress and cortisol
Promising short-term findings
Several root and root/leaf extracts
Small trials over several weeks
Different preparations; cortisol change is not a diagnosis or treatment target
Sleep
Modest benefit; evidence limited
KSM-66 and Shoden
Five-trial review in adults
Small evidence base; findings do not validate every retail product
Anxiety
Unclear overall
Different preparations
Trials differ in participants and measures
Stress findings should not be treated as proof for an anxiety disorder
Read the full evidence-by-goal detail
Stress and cortisol
Trials summarised by NIH ODS suggest possible reductions in perceived stress and cortisol. Preparations and populations differ. A lower research measurement does not establish that someone has “high cortisol” or needs a supplement.
Sleep
A systematic review of five trials found a modest overall improvement, with greater effects in people with insomnia. The evidence base was small and adverse-event reporting limited. It does not establish the best retail brand or long-term benefit.
There is no universal best time established by the studies reviewed by NIH ODS. Studies usually evaluated daily use over weeks, rather than an immediate effect after one capsule. Check the product instructions and review whether continuing is useful; do not assume every product has the same onset.
The sleep review cannot establish that taking it immediately before bed is better than another time. See the safety section before choosing a routine.
Ashwagandha side effects and safety
Who should be cautious?If any of the following apply to you, speak to a healthcare professional before taking Ashwagandha - see the full detail below for why.
Pregnancy or breastfeeding: avoid use
Thyroid or autoimmune conditions, or planned surgery
Liver disease or unexplained liver symptoms
Hormone-sensitive prostate cancer
Prescription medicines: check interactions first
Possible effects include drowsiness, stomach upset, diarrhoea and vomiting. Rare liver-injury cases have been reported. Long-term safety remains uncertain. NCCIH safety guidance.
The FSA’s June 2026 response summary describes further risk assessment following its evidence call. That process is not a product safety endorsement.
Ashwagandha interactions and combinations
Potential interactions include thyroid medicines, sedatives, anticonvulsants, immunosuppressants and medicines for diabetes or blood pressure. Ask a pharmacist to check the actual combination; do not change prescribed doses yourself. NCCIH interaction guidance.
If comparing ingredients for sleep, read the separate magnesium sleep evidence. Check overlapping ingredients and costs across your products; adding ingredients together does not establish a combined benefit.
Ashwagandha for men and women
Evidence for testosterone and sperm quality in men is limited. Evidence is insufficient for menopause or female infertility. Neither establishes a general need for a “men’s” or “women’s” formulation. NCCIH evidence summary.
Compare the preparation and dose against the particular goal. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are safety exclusions, not reasons to select a different brand.
Testing, sourcing and label transparency
Look for plant identity, plant part, assay method and a report tied to the product or batch. A branded extract claim does not verify the contents of the finished product. “No public evidence located” means the research did not locate accessible evidence; it does not mean the product failed a test.
The FSA’s 2025/26 targeted retail survey found labelling problems and some contaminant issues among sampled ashwagandha products. This is context for checking reports, not a finding about any named product in our comparison. We have not used it to change individual testing statuses.
Some preparations show promise for stress and sleep; results differ by extract and study. The benefits table and cited studies separate these findings from the less certain anxiety evidence.
How much ashwagandha should I take?
There is no single amount that makes different extracts equivalent. Compare the actual extract and serving with the dose guide; the example study amounts are not personal instructions.
When should I take ashwagandha for sleep?
The available sleep studies do not establish a universal best clock time. Read the timing evidence and its limitations, then check the product label and safety guidance.
How long does ashwagandha take to work?
Studies commonly assess outcomes over weeks. They do not guarantee an immediate or identical response to every supplement. See the study-duration context.
What is the difference between KSM-66 and Shoden?
They are different branded preparations. Compare plant part, standardisation and actual extract amount in the extract cards; their milligram amounts are not interchangeable.
Are ashwagandha gummies different from capsules?
Gummy and capsule describe the format. Read how much extract the whole serving supplies, whether standardisation is declared, and what else is included. Use the Form filter to inspect the available products.
What are the side effects of ashwagandha?
The safety panel covers common adverse effects, rare liver reports and who should avoid it, with links to NIH guidance.
