Ashwagandha and Sexual Desire

What Is Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha is a plant used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine.

Its botanical name is Withania somnifera.

Modern supplements usually contain:

• root powder;
• root extract;
• root-and-leaf extract;
• standardized extracts containing specified concentrations of withanolides.

It is commonly marketed for:

• stress;
• sleep;
• energy;
• exercise performance;
• testosterone;
• fertility;
• sexual desire.

Those claims do not all have the same quality of evidence.

NCCIH says there is some evidence for certain preparations in stress and insomnia, while evidence for many other proposed uses remains limited.

Ashwagandha is not just marketing fluff — but neither is every claim made about it supported by the same research.

Does Ashwagandha Increase Sexual Desire in Women?

There is some evidence that it might.

That answer is stronger than:

there is no evidence.

But weaker than:

ashwagandha is clinically proven to boost female libido.

The main reason for interest is that two randomized placebo-controlled trials in women found improvements in validated measures of sexual function.

The later study specifically found improvement in the desire domain of the Female Sexual Function Index.

But the evidence base is still small.

What Did the Female Ashwagandha Studies Actually Find?

Both studies also measured sexual distress or satisfying sexual encounters.

The findings were generally favorable to the ashwagandha groups.

That is encouraging.

But there are several limitations:

• the trials were small;
• both lasted only eight weeks;
• the participants were relatively young or otherwise healthy women;
• specific standardized extracts were used;
• the findings have not yet been replicated in large independent multicenter trials.

Two promising trials are a reason to keep studying ashwagandha. They are not a reason to pretend the scientific question is settled.

Sexual Function Is Not Exactly the Same Thing as Libido

This distinction matters.

The Female Sexual Function Index measures several domains:

• desire;
• arousal;
• lubrication;
• orgasm;
• satisfaction;
• pain.

If the total score improves, that does not automatically mean:

the woman suddenly wanted sex much more often.

Sex could have become:

more comfortable;

more satisfying;

easier to become aroused during;

or easier to orgasm from.

The 2022 trial is particularly relevant because it did report improvement in the desire domain itself.

Even then, sexual desire is not isolated from the rest of sexual experience.

Could Ashwagandha Help Libido by Reducing Stress?

Possibly.

This is one of the more plausible explanations for why ashwagandha and sexual desire might be connected.

Stress can interfere with sexual interest by increasing:

• mental load;
• fatigue;
• sleep disruption;
• anxiety;
• difficulty shifting attention into erotic experience.

NCCIH says some ashwagandha preparations may help with stress and insomnia.

So if chronic stress is suppressing desire, improving stress or sleep could potentially make sexual interest easier to access.

But that creates an important distinction:

The existing female trials do not clearly establish which pathway explains the results.

See Stress, Exhaustion and Loss of Sexual Desire.

Does Ashwagandha Increase Testosterone in Women?

This is one of the most common marketing explanations.

It is also one that needs restraint.

NCCIH notes limited evidence that ashwagandha may increase testosterone in some studies, but that evidence is not the same as proving a testosterone-mediated libido effect in women.

The female sexual-function trials were not demonstrations that:

ashwagandha raised testosterone, which then raised libido.

That mechanism should not be assumed.

And female sexual desire is not simply determined by whether testosterone is high or low.

“Ashwagandha raises testosterone” is not a sufficient explanation for why a woman might experience a change in sexual desire.

For the hormone question specifically, see Testosterone and Female Libido.

What Dose of Ashwagandha Was Used in the Female Sexual-Function Studies?

Both of the main randomized studies used:

300 mg of standardized ashwagandha root extract twice daily.

That gave a total study dose of:

600 mg per day.

The treatment period was:

eight weeks.

Why “600 mg Ashwagandha” Does Not Tell You Enough

The supplement label matters.

Six hundred milligrams could mean:

• plain root powder;
• concentrated root extract;
• root-and-leaf extract;
• a standardized extract with a defined withanolide concentration;
• part of a proprietary herbal blend.

Those are not necessarily equivalent.

If a product says:

Clinically studied ashwagandha

look for whether it contains the same type of extract and amount that was actually studied.

How Long Does Ashwagandha Take to Work for Libido?

There is no established universal timeline.

The female trials assessed outcomes across an eight-week treatment period.

That means the research does not support claims like:

take ashwagandha an hour before sex;

or:

feel your libido increase tonight.

Ashwagandha has not been established as an immediate sexual stimulant.

An eight-week supplement trial should not be turned into a marketing promise that one capsule will switch desire on tonight.

Does Ashwagandha Help Low Libido After Menopause?

This is much less clear.

The 2022 female trial enrolled women between 18 and 50 and excluded women with hormonal disturbances.

That makes it difficult to take the result and confidently apply it to postmenopausal women with:

• genitourinary syndrome of menopause;
• vaginal dryness;
• painful sex;
• major estrogen-related tissue changes.

NCCIH also says there is not enough evidence to determine whether ashwagandha is useful for menopause generally.

If low desire after menopause is being driven by painful or uncomfortable sex, a supplement may be addressing the wrong problem.

See Menopause, Low Libido and Relationship Intimacy.

Is Ashwagandha Safe?

NCCIH says ashwagandha may be safe for short-term use — roughly up to three months — but there is not enough information to draw firm conclusions about long-term safety.

Reported side effects can include:

• drowsiness;
• stomach upset;
• diarrhea;
• vomiting.

Rare cases of liver injury have also been linked to ashwagandha supplements.

That does not mean liver injury is common.

It means the phrase:

it's natural, so there is nothing to worry about

is not accurate.

Who Should Be Particularly Careful With Ashwagandha?

According to NCCIH, ashwagandha should be avoided during pregnancy and should not be used while breastfeeding.

It is also not recommended for some people with:

• thyroid disorders;
• autoimmune disorders;
• upcoming surgery.

Potential medication interactions include medicines used for:

• diabetes;
• high blood pressure;
• thyroid disease;
• seizures;
• immune suppression;
• sedation.

What About Ashwagandha and Thyroid Function?

This deserves its own section because ashwagandha is often sold casually as a stress supplement.

NCCIH specifically advises caution in people with thyroid disorders.

Ashwagandha may affect thyroid hormone levels.

That means somebody taking thyroid medication should not assume:

it's only an herb, so it can't interfere.

If you have known thyroid disease or take thyroid hormone medication, check before using it.

Can Ashwagandha Make You Sleepy?

Yes, drowsiness is a reported side effect.

That may sound harmless, especially because the herb is also studied for sleep.

But it matters if you combine ashwagandha with:

• sedating medication;
• sleep medication;
• other supplements that make you drowsy;
• alcohol.

Again, a desired effect in one context can become an unwanted interaction in another.

How to Choose an Ashwagandha Supplement More Carefully

If you decide to try it, the label should tell you enough to understand what you are taking.

Look for the plant part

The female trials discussed here used root extract.

Look for extract information

A standardized extract is easier to compare with research than a vague “ashwagandha blend.”

Look for the actual amount

Avoid proprietary blends that hide the dose.

Look for independent quality testing

Quality testing cannot prove the supplement works, but it can help confirm that the product contains what the label says.

Do not assume more is better

Higher doses are not automatically more effective and may increase the chance of adverse effects.

Be suspicious of exaggerated sexual claims

Especially:

• instant arousal;
• guaranteed libido increase;
• “female Viagra”;
• permanent hormone balancing;
• dramatic testosterone boosting.

Ashwagandha Capsules vs Gummies for Libido

The format itself does not determine effectiveness.

A gummy containing ashwagandha does not inherit the trial result simply because ashwagandha appears on the label.

See Libido Gummies: Do They Work?.

Ashwagandha vs Maca for Female Libido

Both have some human research.

Neither is proven.

See Maca for Female Libido.

When Ashwagandha Is Probably the Wrong Answer to Low Desire

A supplement is unlikely to solve libido when the main barrier is something else.

For example:

Sex hurts

Ashwagandha does not replace investigation and treatment of painful sex.

You have vaginal dryness

Treating dryness or GSM may matter more than adding a libido supplement.

An antidepressant changed your sexual function

Discuss the medication with the prescriber rather than trying to compensate for the side effect yourself.

You are chronically exhausted

The bigger intervention may be sleep, workload, stress, or medical assessment.

You resent your partner

A herb cannot make unresolved resentment feel sexually appealing.

Sex feels obligatory

Increasing libido is not the first problem to solve if intimacy is already associated with pressure.

The more accurately you identify why desire disappeared, the less likely you are to spend money treating the wrong problem.

See Why Have I Lost Interest in Sex With My Partner?.

Is Ashwagandha Worth Trying for Sexual Desire?

If the question is:

Is this herb completely unsupported?

No.

There are legitimate randomized human studies in women.

If the question is:

Is it proven to reliably restore female libido?

Also no.

The sensible position sits between those extremes.

• The early female trials are promising.
• The studies are small and short.
• The research used standardized root extracts.
• Commercial products may not match the studied preparations.
• Safety and medication interactions still matter.
• Low desire should be understood in context rather than treated automatically as a supplement deficiency.

This article is part of the Sexual Intimacy and Desire in Relationships: Complete Guide.

For supplement comparisons, see Best Libido Supplements for Women.

For the wider supplement overview, see Female Libido Supplements: What to Know Before Buying.

For maca specifically, see Maca for Female Libido.

For gummies, see Libido Gummies: Do They Work?.

For stress-related loss of desire, see Stress, Exhaustion and Loss of Sexual Desire.

FAQ: Ashwagandha and Sexual Desire