ORGANIC INDIA Ashwagandha Capsules, Vegan Root, Gluten-Free, 60 Capsules

I'll preface my review by stating that I'm a healthy, quite physically fit 34 yr old male. Excellent cholesterol and blood pressure. I sleep well and average around 7-7.5 hrs per night. I do not take any medications. I take a low-dose whole food multi vitamin, fish oil and D3. I've been fasting 20 hours per day every day since January 2014. I take a serving of BCAAs and organic greens powder during my fasting period. I eat mainly organic, whole foods, no grains, and virtually no packaged products. I've taken all kinds of supplements in the past. Literally multiple dozens of them. Over the last 20 or so years I've come to approach health claims associated with them with a healthy heap of skepticism. I continue to take the supplements I previously mentioned because I do believe they're very important for maintaining optimal health and they have proven themselves to me. I happened to hear about Ashwagandha through a podcast I listen to about natural ways to maintain healthy testosterone levels. The hosts discussed at length how this herb (or herbal root, rather), is classified by many as an adaptogen, which is a substance that helps stabilize physiological processes. It's been used in Indian Ayurvedic medical practice for hundreds, perhaps thousands of years. I spoke about it with an Indian (native) colleague of mine at work; he explained that it's quite widely used to treat many conditions in his home country. It is also said to effectively regulate hormone levels, especially cortisol, which, is released by the body when under stress. Cortisol (aka adrenaline) is necessary for healthy function, but an over-secretion of it can underpin a wide range of health problems. What piqued my interest about Ashwagandha are its mood-stabilizing effects. I can become irritable as a result of fasting and lifting very heavy weights in the morning without food for the next 10 hours or so, and I don't like being that way. Cortisol and hormonal imbalances likely cause it, since the body releases cortisol in response to lack of food, which helps quiet hunger. I've also always been a slightly anxious person. Not clinically (at least I hope not), but enough that I sometimes don't enjoy things/ experiences as much as I know I could. After doing my research and coming to the conclusion that this is a safe supplement and reading reviews of it, I decided to purchase it. I took my first pill on 3/19, an hour before bed. I had a lot of food in my belly, and I didn't notice anything before falling asleep for the night. The next morning, about 15 minutes after waking up, I noticed that I was feeling calmer than normal. It's tough to explain. Sort of peaceful. It was marked enough for me to notice, but nothing overwhelming. I took another pill around 1 or 2pm that day. That was on an empty stomach. Within about 90 minutes, I definitely felt more relaxed. I'm continuing to take two pills per day, spread evenly. I absolutely, positively notice a difference in how I feel mentally--specifically how I respond to situations. The way I describe the feeling is that the edge is blunted. I don't care less about things, I care about them differently. When my 4.5 yr old son is behaving in a way that I don't like, it honestly doesn't grate on me the way it did pre-Ashwagandha. I feel that it allows me to observe him, think and calmly respond, rather than react, if that makes sense. I'm more open to ideas that are different than mine as well. I very highly doubt this is me experiencing a placebo effect. I began taking it thinking it would do nothing noticeable, but it really really does. It's not overwhelming--not like, "oh my gosh the world is sparking." It's mild, but there. I should note that when I took it at work for the first time (again, empty stomach), I became very drowsy 30-45 mins later. I never feel drowsy at work, so I might attribute that to the herb. A few hours ago I took a pill with black coffee (empty stomach), and don't feel drowsy, but feel that tranquility/ stability again. I would absolutely recommend this supplement if you're anything like me.

So originally I had bought several bottles of generic branded ashwagandha without checking the reviews. I had also bought an item on ebay from a chinese seller with ZERO feedback. So yes, I like to live dangerously... And then I actually did do the research and promptly put most of those generics right into the trash where they belong and chose this one. The reason is that there is usually contamination with heavy metals from the soil -specifically, metals including lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury. The contamination levels tend to be higher in polluted areas and so not just any generic one will do. Organic India uses ashwagandha which is organically grown and USDA certified and made by grounding whole roots (not extracts), so that it provides a complete blend of all beneficial ingredients from ashwagandha. They also take special care that no harmful chemicals are added during the process of drying and production. Stress is a state of mental or emotional strain or tension and Adaptogens such as ashwagandha are herbs that help in combating that stress. I use Ashwagandha as a good bet for long-term, more chronic stress that our bodies are always being put under, while L-Theanine I use is more your fast acting every day thing to combat minor stressors, mental tasks, improve mood, remain calm (inhibiting cortical neuron excitation) and can even modulate blood pressure increases in a high-stress-response. Ashwagandha can actually lower serum cortisol (or adjust higher as needed) which L-Theanine cannot do so I take it twice a day at lunch and bedtime and find this one works well. I also found a prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study (PMID 23439798) that also showed significant effectiveness in reducing stress, cortisol levels, and anxiety in adults with mild adverse effects (and same as placebo). I'm very happy with the organic india and the dose of the capsules are good at 400mg each, higher then the 300 used in the study. They also have a powder where 1/2 teaspoon is 2.5g of ashwaganda so be careful on the dosing! Has my review been of help to you? If so, would you consider hitting the "helpful" button below? I'd greatly appreciate it. Thank you!

Update! October 3: **See below for original review during my first week, I wanted to come back now that I'm on bottle #2. I. Love. Ashwaghanda. I said below that I wouldn't want to drive while taking it - THAT WAS TEMPORARY. I continued taking the recommended 4 pills a day dose and within a couple weeks I was not sleepy during the day and I'm completely confident when driving. I really can't say enough about Ashwaghanda. If I miss a dose, or like this past week when I got busy and missed three DAYS, I can tell. I bought the larger bottle when I was low on this 90 count bottle. For me it was almost a miracle worker - started working on the first dose. Now that I've adjusted, I do get anxiety coming through - but I've had chronic and overwhelming anxiety my entire life. I feel like Ashwaghanda has brought some control back to me and I've recommended it to friends and don't have any plans to not continue getting it. Thanks!!! Original review: I've only been taking this for 3 days but I didn't want to delay a review because I'm so happy with my purchase. I can't say enough about it. I really wish I could send a bottle to everyone I know. Pros from my experience so far: - I've had anxiety my entire life, had counseling, continuing to take St. John's Wort with this, but this makes me finally feel in control. Like I'm the lifeguard in charge of a water slide - anxious thoughts ranging from minor to ones that I recognize would have spiraled into an anxiety attack despite the progress I've made in counseling. I'm sure at some point it'll happen again, but I'm suddenly in the possession of the ability to register anxiety, acknowledge it, deal with whatever is happening if it's actually rational, and then it goes down the water slide. I've never had this ability. I've also had to be social (ha ha!) which always come with an undercurrent of stress and anxiety and I can also control that. It's like, I can see that ordinarily I'd be nervous and I do have that moment of 'I'm nervous' and then it just settles back down. - I'm sleeping SO GOOD. I couldn't ever turn my brain off and I'd end up stuck in a cycle of 'Don't sleep until [insert terrible hour here], gradually wear down to me falling asleep during the day, finally be able to sleep at a normal time, nope back to not sleeping.' and now I'm ready to rest at the end of the day. Cons from my experience so far: -I'm a little loopy/lethargic and off balance, and my attention is a little shorter. I've seen suggestions elsewhere to halve or skip the day time dose and for sure take the evening dose and I may try that soon, for the time being I'm so relieved to be more in control that I'm taking the full 2 in the morning/2 in the evening as suggested on the bottle. I'm a stay at home parent and don't have to drive, personally if I did have to drive I think I'd skip or halve the dose closest to driving time. So I wouldn't let this con keep you from trying it.

This supplement is very useful! I take it every day and it keeps me more calm from an anxiety through out the day, which helps me to be more focused. Good priced!

Instead of using Passion Flower for anxiety, I decided to try Ashwagandha, after reading all the raving about it on the internet. I went with the Organic India formula, again after reading some great things about the company. I was eager to see if Organic India Ashwagandha would have a better effect than Passion flower which has a subtle, but effective response to anxiety. Upon my first day of taking Ashwagandha, I was disappointed, because I felt no immediate affect. But, by the next morning before taking an additional dosage, I noticed a sort of subtle calm and inner groundness and then a rush of peace and exuberance. I guess I was looking for more of a slight sedation initially, but the described feeling was even better and it felt more natural and effective. The problem was that over the coming days and months of taking the herb, I found that it was very effective at keeping the nervous system inwardly tame and calm, but in a very subtle way that if you were having a higher level of anxiety, that it would not be as effective in immediately bringing you down, but would be effective in keeping your anxiety levels down to a level of self control. But, the effects are better felt when you are not at a high level of anxiety. (sounds complicated, but it seems to keep you leveled and inwardly anchored) So, therefore I don't think it's good if you need to use it to calm you down immediately, but it is fantastic in the longterm. It seems to help repair and harmonized your body and nervous system so that you don't burn your self out or boil over emotionally. The problem that I had with this brand is that I loved the sudden and sporadic intervals of feeling calm, exuberant and grounded, but it wasn't consistent, at least at a level where I could consciously feel it. But, the herb had another benefit that was consistent and that is bringing more vigor and stamina. My workouts, energy and strength have increased since taking this herb. But, I rather have the calming affect on a more consistent basis. So, I decided to go with Nature's Way Ashwagandha formula which is a standarized formula unlike Organic India's formula. And I have found the standarized formula more consitent and dependable than this brand.

This product is great for stress!

I have experienced progressively worsening anxiety and depression throughout much of my adult life. When I first got the anxiety diagnosis, I was surprised; however, as the years have passed and I get consumed with crippling worries over the silliest, most paranoid concerns, it's become undeniable. I am also not a fan of psychiatric medications. To each their own! Mental illness is absolutely real illness and needs to be treated, I personally just prefer CBT and other methods. That being said, the anxiety was creating a terrible feedback loop with insomnia and depression, and for a while I felt pretty lost in my worries. A colleague told me his wife, who is a licensed psychiatrist, recommends ashwagandha to many of her anxiety patients, particularly for sleeping issues. I immediately went to the store and bought powdered ashwagandha. While it did work, and knocked me out COLD for a deep nights' sleep when mixed into some warm milk with turmeric (plus pie spices and honey for flavour), it is bitter and takes time to prepare the hot drink. I eventually made my way to my local natural foods store where I found this brand on sale. The pills are MUCH easier to take than the powdered form, and have the same effect. I have gone through several bottles of various brands of ashwagandha capsules and can honestly say this is by far the best for me. Whatever Kroger's house brand is is WAY too bitter tasting, and other brands I've tried did not have the same concentration. I ultimately decided Organic India is worth the slightly higher price tag, and I can often find coupons for it at my local natural foods store. However with quarantine, I had to order online this last time, as the store I frequent does not deliver. These are still worth the additional expense for sure. They have no taste and very noticeable positive effects. Furthermore, if my local natural store is to be believed (which I haven't verified, so take this with a grain of salt!), the manufacturer is an awesome company who even gives their employees paid leave for a couple weeks if they adopt a rescue puppy. I love that! So, the big question... do they actually work? YES, at least for me. Again, I am not a fan of medication in general. I'm the person who declines pain medications even after surgery. I take vitamin & immune supplements, but I am dubious about the effectiveness of even supplements I consider to be pretty harmless and occasionally take (like melatonin). Nothing has a clear, definable effect on me, except for ashwagandha. It improves my ability to fall asleep and stay asleep, helps me maintain regular sleep/wake schedules, and quiets the worries that keep me up and night and make me sick to my stomach with anxiety during the day. I am positive it is not just a placebo effect, as there have been days I have wondered why I'm so nervous and upset all day, only to find my ashwagandha pill still sitting where I forgot to take it hours before. This has happened multiple times with the same effect each time. Before I bit the bullet and ordered this bottle through Amazon (which is more expensive than my local retailer for this product), I had run out for several weeks. My sleep habits were getting worse and worse. I've always been a night owl, but I was literally unable to sleep until after the sun had risen every day, and would struggle to feel energized even after 8-9 hours of sleep. The very next day after I got this new bottle of ashwagandha, I was wide awake at 10:30 AM and feeling refreshed. I have not had such sleep issues since. This is by no means a miracle cure, and I hesitate to give people false hope in case it isn't effective for you, however I consider this a wonderful, natural method to treat my anxiety, insomnia, and depression. It makes a tremendous impact in my life. I would highly recommend (if your doctor OKs it, of course!) trying this supplement if you have trouble quieting anxious thoughts. Please feel free to ask if you have questions! I hope my experience can help others find a solution to their own anxiety issues.

I’m happy with these Ashwagandha capsules from ORGANIC INDIA. The capsules are easy to take and the packaging is convenient. I like that the product is organic and made with a simple approach. They fit easily into my daily wellness routine, and I appreciate the quality and consistency of the brand. Overall, a convenient option for anyone looking to add Ashwagandha to their routine.

Good product. Great price and fast shipment

I must admit I was a little sceptical about trying these - surely a simple herbal pill cannot be this good! Silly me. Not only my skin looks much healthier - I've been complimented how well I look (I have a rather demanding and stressful job so looking well is not a compliment I would often get before! ;)), but I definitely see the improvement in my energy levels, and what's more important an incredible improvement with my anxiety and stress levels! My temper is much milder, I don't snap so quickly anymore (a fact for which my wonderful, lovely, saintly partner is very grateful, no doubt) and I don't seem to get so stressed so quickly. I have suffered from a rather severe anxiety in the last few years and every since I started using ashwagandha I have been getting less and less anxious. I wholeheartedly recommend it! I have not suffered any side effects, have been getting more restful sleep and see nothing but improvements! One of the reasons I reached for ashwagandha was because my stress and anxiety were really getting out of hand and after a recommendation from a friend (who's incredibly zen, maybe that's what convinced me?!) I was getting to the point that I was willing to try anything to help me find some balance and get me back to my former, happier self - these have definitely helped me achieve that!

Good quality , it actually works

I've taken valerian root and camomile before, but they are much better at inducing sleep than at regulating daily stress levels. So, I've decided to try ashwaghanda and I have been taking the supplement for the past week and it has started working straight away. But it did take some time to figure out the best dosage and timing for taking this supplement. As ashwaghanda affects everyone differently, this will be different for everyone. One pill a day was too much for me, as (even though it made it calmer and helped with sleeping more soundly) it also made it groggy and sleepy during the day - not good when you have a high-pressure job where you always have to do presentations and think on your feet (one of the reasons for starting to take ashwaghanda). I've done some research and it was recommended to start from a smaller dose and take the supplement with a meal to minimise any drowsiness. So I took a third of a pill once a day at dinner, and it's been great! Even though I do feel a bit unmotivated to get up in the mornings, it's becoming less of an issue as days go by and I am definitely a lot more chilled out during the day. I am definitely a convert!

I quite like these. I've been using them just before bed to help me sleep during a massively stressful university exam period, and they really relax me in the evenings. I find it takes 5 capsules (2000 mg of powder) to feel the effect acutely, and after about half an hour the effects come on. I feel very relaxed, much less inclined to overthink and ruminate, and after about 45 minutes quite drowsy. Since I've been taking these, I fall asleep very quickly without tossing and turning, and wake up usually before my 8-hour alarm, feeling very well rested, mentally sharp, and generally more positive on my outlook towards life and work (whereas usually I'd have low quality sleep and wake up hitting my snooze feeling cranky). I have tried taking a lower dose during the day (2 capsules or 3 capsules at a time as indicated on the bottle) but I haven't noticed any effects from such a low dose so I can't say much on that. All in all, great for evening relaxation and sleep help, but didn't do much for daytime stress with low doses.