ORGANIC INDIA Ashwagandha Herbal Supplement - Vegan, Gluten-Free, Kosher, USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO, Supports Mood, Endurance, Vitality & Strength - 90 CapsulesUSDA OrganicRegenerative Organic CertifiedRegenerative Organic CertifiedRegenerative Organic CertifiedFairtrade InternationalRegenerative Organic CertifiedFairtrade InternationalFairtrade InternationalFairtrade International

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.

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.

Ashwagandha has helped me sleep better and improve stress. It arrived quickly and the bottle is made of glass. I loved this brand because it has no additives.

It was ok, better brands out there