Traditional Ayurvedic wisdom is full of secrets and miracle cures. One such herb that belongs to this category is ashwagandha. Colloquially meant as the ‘smell of a horse’, this plant is a powerhouse of multiple health benefits. Currently, there is a rise in ashwagandha-based supplements that can help treat several ailments.
This article tries to answer the question- ‘does ashwagandha make you horny’?. It will draw evidence from science-backed research and will try to provide you with an appropriate answer. So jump right in and find out if Ashwagandha makes you horny or not.
Understanding Ashwagandha
Scientifically called withania somnifera, ashwagandha is also known by the names of Indian Ginseng and winter cherry. It is a member of the nightshade family and is mainly found in India, Africa, and the Middle East. Ashwagandha is a crucial part of traditional Indian medicine or Ayurveda which is claimed to be an adaptogen.
Adaptogens are substances that can reduce both mental and physical stress in your body. The plant is mainly used for various purposes such as lowering stress and anxiety, alleviating insomnia, increasing male fertility, reducing inflammation, supporting brain functions, balancing blood sugar levels, etc.
Does Ashwagandha Make You Horny?
Ashwagandha is a known aphrodisiac by traditional knowledge, but scientific evidence that supports this claim has yet to be fully formed. But there are connections between this plant and libido. One of the ways through which ashwagandha can help stimulate libido and make you horny is by relieving stress.
As an adaptogen, this plant can lower stress and anxiety levels. There is much research that claims that higher stress levels can cause an imbalance in your hormones and thereby diminish your libido. Ashawagandha can regain your hormonal balance by lowering stress which positively reflects in your libido levels. Research published in the Pharmaceutics journal supported this claim by finding that ashwagandha consumption showed improved sexual function in healthy women.
It explained further that an increase in sexual arousal, orgasm, and lubrication was observed as a result of ashwagandha intake. Some small groups of studies support the usage of ashwagandha to relieve erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. It supports the production of testosterone and enhances sperm quality and motility.
Ashwagandha’s Benefits For Men
Ashwagandha intake can be beneficial for both men and women and this section will discuss the benefits for men from this plant.
- Promotes testosterone production– One of the major hormones in the male body, testosterone is crucial for stimulating sex drive and managing fat storage in the body. Research published in Sage Journals explained that consuming ashwagandha for eight weeks promoted better testosterone levels in men and reduced their stress and fatigue levels.
- Heightened sex drive– The stress-relieving properties of ashwagandha can help men achieve a better sex drive. Also as it supports testosterone production, this elevates sex drive.
- Improved fertility– Studies have shown that ashwagandha can increase sperm motility and raise sperm count in men. This will positively support fertility in men.
- Improved athletic performance– Consuming ashwagandha tea increases athletic performance in men. It has been shown to enhance muscle recovery after an intense workout session.
- Blood sugar balance and inflammation– Another way through which this root works is by reducing inflammation in the body. Also, it can maintain healthy blood sugar balance in diabetic patients.
- Relieve from erectile dysfunction (ED)– Even though much research is absent in this regard, anecdotal evidence suggests consuming ashwagandha helps with proper erections.
Who Should Avoid Taking Ashwagandha?
Even though ashwagandha has multiple health benefits to offer, certain groups of people should avoid taking it. They are:
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women– It is not ideal to take ashwagandha-based supplements during pregnancy as there are some reports of it causing miscarriages.
- People with high blood pressure– Research shows that ashwagandha can lower blood pressure levels. So consuming this will be dangerous for people who already have low blood pressure. Also, it might interact with existing blood pressure medications that can be dangerous for people with high or low blood pressure.
- Diabetic patients– Even though this plant can lower blood sugar levels, taken along with antidiabetic medicines, it can drastically lower blood sugar. This can be dangerous for health.
- People with autoimmune conditions– As it is known to increase immune activity, ashwagandha might worsen some of the autoimmune conditions and their symptoms.
Along with this, people who are having surgery, or have stomach ulcers and thyroid disorders shouldn’t consume ashwagandha.
Benefits Of Ashwagandha For Women
Like men, ashwagandha can also provide some health benefits for women. These benefits are described below:
- Supports hormone balance– Ashwagandha consumption can help you balance hormones in your body. It can relieve you from hormonal imbalance issues such as PCOS. Studies have shown that this plant can lower cortisol levels and modulate thyroid hormone production in the female body.
- Reduce stress and anxiety– Another way in which ashwagandha can be helpful for women is by relieving them of stress and anxiety. Due to its adaptogenic properties, this plant can enhance the body’s response to various kinds of stress.
- Promotes menstrual health– This plant can regulate menstrual cycles in women and reduce symptoms of PMS. It can also relieve them from PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) which is a hormonal disorder.
- Support fertility and sexual health– Known to enhance libido in women, ashwagandha can also aid in ovarian health, reduce inflammation, and promote overall fertility levels.
- Relieves symptoms of menopause– Another way by which ashwagandha helps women is by reducing symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes and promoting bone health and sleep quality.
Can Ashwagandha Be Used As Viagra?
There aren’t many human studies that support ashwagandha to be effective in treating conditions like erectile dysfunction. But being an adaptogen, this plant can lower stress levels and promote male and female hormones that are associated with increased sexual functions. This can lead to better libido and increased sexual drive both in men and women.
Also, similar to Viagra, ashwagandha can promote nitric oxide production which is crucial for maintaining an erection. Nitric oxide helps your smooth muscles to relax and more blood is reached to the penis that enables healthy erections. But whether ashwagandha can be used as viagra is a question that needs to be answered by experts and researchers. As the existing studies are all on animals, there is no comprehensive conclusion based on this. Also, viagra is a prescription medicine for erectile dysfunction and it can’t be replaced by ashwagandha.
Are There Any Side Effects Associated With Ashwagandha?
Small to medium doses of ashwagandha are usually considered safe. But long-term intake in higher quantities can lead to side effects such as:
- Potential liver problems
- Might affect hyperthyroidism
- Can cause digestive issues
- Fever and drowsiness
- Can cause dry mouth and chest pain
Final Thoughts
Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic plant that can lower stress levels and provide multiple health benefits for both men and women. It is a crucial part of traditional Indian medicine offering various uses for its stem, roots, and leaves. Ashwagandha and its connection to heightened libido need to have much more research evidence.
Still, being an adaptogenic plant it can lower stress and promote hormone production which directly increases libido and sexual arousal. The plant can provide hormonal balance and relief from menstrual issues for women. It can promote testosterone levels and enhance muscle recovery for men. But ashwagandha shouldn’t be a substitute for Viagra as the latter is a prescription medicine for ED.
FAQs
The daily consumption of ashwagandha in moderate quantities for up to 3 months is considered safe. Anything beyond that can cause problems.
Even though there isn’t much research that supports its usage for treating ED, ashwagandha has been shown to increase stamina in bed.
You can take ¼ -½ teaspoon of the root powder with honey, sugar, or ghee twice a day for a month.
Consume it in moderation and take it with food to avoid digestive discomfort. Taking ashwagandha for at least 3 months is safe and do not take it for longer periods.
Yes. Ashwagandha has been shown to increase muscle size and growth.
Even though proper scientific research on it is lacking, ashwagandha is a known aphrodisiac, and anecdotal evidence shows that it helps men stay in bed.
