It Cuts Cortisol, and the Research Is Specific
A 2012 double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in the Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine gave 300 mg of ashwagandha root extract twice daily to 64 adults with chronic stress. After 60 days, the group taking the extract showed a 27.9% reduction in serum cortisol compared to placebo. That is not a marginal finding. Cortisol at chronically elevated levels disrupts sleep, raises blood pressure, and suppresses immune response. Lowering it is not a wellness bonus, it is a physiological intervention.