A 360-patient RCT at AIIMS Jodhpur shows standardised Ashwagandha extract reduced serum cortisol by 22% over 90 days in chronic stress, replicating earlier smaller trial results.
An AIIMS Jodhpur team has published a 360-patient double-blind placebo-controlled trial of standardised Ashwagandha (KSM-66) for chronic stress, replicating and extending the 2012 Chandrasekhar findings.
Key results
Dose was 600 mg standardised extract twice daily for 90 days.
Why this matters
The original Chandrasekhar 2012 trial showed 27.9% cortisol reduction in 64 patients. Multiple smaller replications have followed, but this is the first large adequately-powered trial. The convergent evidence is now substantial — Ashwagandha for stress-related cortisol elevation is one of the best-evidenced herbal interventions in Ayurveda.
Interaction note
The trial team explicitly excluded patients on thyroxine. Ashwagandha can stimulate thyroid output, and combining with prescribed thyroxine without supervision risks iatrogenic hyperthyroidism. AyurConnect's interaction checker flags this combination.
Practical use
600 mg KSM-66 or 5 g classical Ashwagandha Choornam with warm milk at bedtime, 60-90 days, then reassess. Check thyroid status before starting.
Source: Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine · link