Ashwagandha is a traditional herb widely used in Ayurveda and has become increasingly popular as a dietary supplement. People commonly take it for reasons such as stress management, sleep and general well-being. However, as regular use becomes more common, an important question arises: is taking ashwagandha every day safe over the long term?
Research discussed in the report provides some insight into this question, but its findings need to be interpreted carefully. The study involved healthy participants, a specific ashwagandha preparation, a defined daily dose and a limited study period. Therefore, its results should not be interpreted as proof that every ashwagandha product is safe for everyone or that it can be taken indefinitely.
According to the study findings described, healthy adults generally tolerated 500 mg of a standardised aqueous ashwagandha extract daily for 24 weeks without evidence of serious liver or kidney injury linked to the study preparation.
Here is a closer look at what the research found.
What Did the Study Find About Liver and Kidney Health?
One of the important areas examined during the research was whether prolonged ashwagandha supplementation could adversely affect the liver or kidneys.
Researchers monitored relevant health markers during the study. These included liver function tests as well as kidney-related measurements such as creatinine and blood urea.
According to the reported findings, most laboratory measurements remained within normal ranges, and the overall safety results did not show a major difference between participants receiving ashwagandha and those receiving a placebo.
The study also did not find evidence linking the ashwagandha preparation used in the trial with serious liver or kidney injury during the 24-week period.
However, that does not mean liver effects are impossible.
Mild Liver Enzyme Elevation Was Reported in Some Participants
An important detail should not be overlooked when interpreting the results.
Around 2% of participants in the ashwagandha group reportedly experienced mild elevations in liver enzymes, compared with approximately 0.7% in the placebo group.
A mild increase in liver enzymes does not necessarily mean that a person has developed serious liver damage. Nevertheless, the finding is one reason it would be misleading to claim that ashwagandha can never affect the liver.
Safety may also depend on factors including an individual's existing health conditions, other medications or supplements, dose, duration of use and the specific ashwagandha product being consumed.
Did Ashwagandha Improve Immunity After Covishield Vaccination?
The research also examined whether long-term ashwagandha supplementation affected the immune response generated after Covishield vaccination.
According to the reported results, participants in both groups developed a strong immune response following vaccination.
However, researchers did not find clear, statistically significant evidence that taking ashwagandha provided an additional improvement in vaccine-generated immunity compared with the placebo group.
Therefore, the study should not be interpreted as proof that ashwagandha enhances immunity produced by the vaccine.
Were Serious Side Effects Reported?
Some participants experienced mild to moderate adverse effects during the study, but the overall safety profiles of the ashwagandha and placebo groups were described as comparable.
According to the reported findings, there were no serious adverse events attributed to the particular ashwagandha extract used in the trial.
Researchers concluded that 500 mg per day of the standardised aqueous extract was generally well tolerated by healthy participants during the 24-week study period.
However, “well tolerated in a clinical study” is different from saying a supplement is completely risk-free.
Who Should Be More Careful With Ashwagandha?
People should be particularly cautious about starting or regularly taking ashwagandha if they have an existing medical condition, use prescription medicines or other supplements, have previously experienced an adverse reaction to supplements, or plan to take the herb for an extended period.
Pregnant or breastfeeding people should also seek professional medical guidance rather than starting ashwagandha on their own.
People with liver problems, thyroid disorders, autoimmune conditions or other significant health issues should discuss supplementation with a qualified healthcare professional because individual risks and possible medication interactions may differ.
Does the Study Prove Ashwagandha Is Safe for 24 Weeks?
The most accurate interpretation is more limited.
In the study described, healthy adults taking the specified 500 mg daily dose of a particular standardised aqueous ashwagandha extract for 24 weeks generally tolerated it well, and researchers did not identify evidence of serious liver or kidney injury associated with that preparation during the trial.
That finding cannot automatically be extended to every person, every ashwagandha supplement, higher doses or use lasting for years.
Supplements can vary significantly in their concentration, formulation, manufacturing quality and additional ingredients. A result obtained with one standardised preparation therefore cannot establish that all products sold as ashwagandha will produce identical outcomes.
The research offers useful evidence about a specific dose and study period, but it does not establish unlimited long-term safety.
Anyone considering daily ashwagandha—particularly for prolonged use—should consider their health conditions and medications and discuss potential risks with a healthcare professional when appropriate. Supplements should complement, rather than replace, evidence-based medical care for health conditions.
