<p>I've read <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-proven-ashwagandha-benefits" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this</a> article, where is the herb <code>ashwagandha</code> which could treat depression.</p>

<p>Particularly:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>In one controlled 60-day study in 64 stressed adults, those who took
  600 mg of high-concentration ashwagandha extract per day reported a
  79% reduction in severe depression, while the placebo group reported a
  10% increase</p>
</blockquote>

<p>When I look at the products with <code>ashwagandha</code>, how do I recognize what is close to <code>600 mg of high-concentration</code>?</p>

<p>There is usually written the percentage of withanolides.</p>

<p>So, how to choose the right daily amount for depression in the particular product with <code>ashwagandha</code>?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-06T20:23:06.827Z
From the page you linked, did you read the next sentence? "However, only one of the participants in this study had a history of depression. For this reason, the relevance of the results is unclear." Reducing depression in people that don't have depression is likely meaningless.
Bryan Krause
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-06T20:38:30.467Z
@BryanKrause Yes, I read it, but in the citation there is a term "severe depression". There are probably other studies. See [here](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31046033) and youtube has videos where is mentioned ashwagandha for depression treatment as well.
xralf
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-06T20:49:46.340Z
The site you linked to is confused. The authors do have a scale item called "severe depression" but it's not measuring severe depression, it's a scale where scoring over a certain level can be used to detect depression. Changes on the scale below that cutoff don't necessarily mean anything at all. It would be like measuring blood pressure, seeing a drop in systolic from 120 to 118 (both normal), and then claiming you've cured high blood pressure.
Bryan Krause
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-06T20:52:29.427Z
@BryanKrause Here is another [study](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11194174) . I will edit the question tommorrow yet.
xralf
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-07T10:54:47.487Z
@xralf - your other study you linked in comments tested on rats, not humans.  Although the results indicate a **possible** benefit in rats, it doesn't mean there will be a benefit in humans
Chris Rogers
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-07T13:09:32.313Z
I can't find better study, that confirms or disconfirms if ashwagandha helps for depression. Should I delete the question and rather ask for "if it helps at all"?
xralf
<depression>
How much ashwagandha to relieve depression?
xralf
# How much ashwagandha to relieve depression?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-11-06)

I've read [this](https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-proven-ashwagandha-benefits) article, where is the herb `ashwagandha` which could treat depression.

Particularly:

> In one controlled 60-day study in 64 stressed adults, those who took
> 600 mg of high-concentration ashwagandha extract per day reported a
> 79% reduction in severe depression, while the placebo group reported a
> 10% increase

When I look at the products with `ashwagandha`, how do I recognize what is close to `600 mg of high-concentration`?

There is usually written the percentage of withanolides.

So, how to choose the right daily amount for depression in the particular product with `ashwagandha`?

**Tags:** depression

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: From the page you linked, did you read the next sentence? "However, only one of the participants in this study had a history of depression. For this reason, the relevance of the results is unclear." Reducing depression in people that don't have depression is likely meaningless.  
> **username_0**: @BryanKrause Yes, I read it, but in the citation there is a term "severe depression". There are probably other studies. See [here](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31046033) and youtube has videos where is mentioned ashwagandha for depression treatment as well.  
> **username_1**: The site you linked to is confused. The authors do have a scale item called "severe depression" but it's not measuring severe depression, it's a scale where scoring over a certain level can be used to detect depression. Changes on the scale below that cutoff don't necessarily mean anything at all. It would be like measuring blood pressure, seeing a drop in systolic from 120 to 118 (both normal), and then claiming you've cured high blood pressure.  
> **username_0**: @BryanKrause Here is another [study](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11194174) . I will edit the question tommorrow yet.  
> **username_2**: @username_0 - your other study you linked in comments tested on rats, not humans.  Although the results indicate a **possible** benefit in rats, it doesn't mean there will be a benefit in humans  
> **username_0**: I can't find better study, that confirms or disconfirms if ashwagandha helps for depression. Should I delete the question and rather ask for "if it helps at all"?  

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## 0 answers

