Ashwagandha is an ancient (4,000-year old) herb that’s developed a reputation for making men look and feel younger, while decreasing stress, improving sleep, ramping up testosterone levels and spicing up our sex lives.

It’s a “jack-of-all-trades” kind of herb because of its ability to help men regain hormonal and psychological balance – especially in times of stress (also known as an adaptogen).  All of its benefits follow the adaptogenic nature of ashwagandha.

So with its unique history and hormonal balancing abilities in mind, let’s check out the top benefits of ashwagandha for men.

Ashwagandha and Testosterone

The bread and butter of ashwagandha is found in the fact that it reduces cortisol levels in men.

Cortisol is your body’s anti-testosterone hormone. Anytime you get stressed out, put yourself under a heavy workload (at work, in the gym), sleep less than you should or even drink too much caffeine, your cortisol levels increase, and as a result, your testosterone levels plummet.

I think we would all agree that in today’s day and age, it’s easier than ever to get stressed out – even about little things that really shouldn’t make any endocrinological impact on us at all, like traffic jams, jibberish on nighttime television and gasoline prices. But instead, we choose stress instead of serenity.

That’s primarily where ashwagandha comes into play.  

Here are some studies proving the cortisol lowering benefits of ashwagandha for men:

1. In a 2012 study published in the Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, researchers gathered 64 test subjects with a history of chronic stress to measure the effects of ashwagandha root on serum cortisol levels and stress-assessment tests. One group was given a placebo while the other was given ashwagandha root and both groups were asked to take their supplementation twice a day for 60 days. The results showed that the ashwagandha group had an overall reduction in cortisol levels by 27%. They also reported a 69% average reduction in both anxiety and insomnia. As a result of cortisol reduction, testosterone levels in this group increased by 15%, proving the powerful adaptogenic effects of ashwagandha.
2. Another study, published in 2000 by the Journal of Indian Psychiatry, evaluated the effects of ashwagandha treatment on 39 patients with ICD-10 anxiety disorders. 20 of the subjects received ashwagandha supplementation while the other 19 were given a placebo. After a 2-week and 6-week checkup, the study confirmed an 88% success rate in anxiety reduction with ashwagandha supplementation.
3. One rat study indicated that ashwagandha could be a force to be reckoned with in the development of pharmacological treatments for general neurological disorders like anxiety, insomnia, sleep disturbances, muscle spasms, and seizures thanks to its adaptogenic properties. According to the study, this potent herb can block stress pathways by balancing chemical signaling in the nervous system.

The cortisol lowering benefits of ashwagandha for men don’t only reduce anxiety and increase testosterone levels in men, but ashwagandha’s adaptogenic effects can also help you add to your legacy. Because stress is one of the primary roadblocks of infertility, this ancient, cortisol-reversing herb has proven itself capable of helping families grow.

1. In a 2010 fertility study, researchers sought out the effects of ashwagandha supplementation on 75 infertile men, testing semen profile, oxidative biomarkers, and reproductive hormone levels in the male subjects. The subjects were divided into two groups (one given a placebo and one given ashwagandha), and the ashwagandha treated group showed significantly lower oxidative stress levels, improved levels of antioxidants in their bloodstream and better sperm quality and motility.
2. A similar study found in Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, saw identical results in terms of lowered oxidative stress, higher antioxidant levels and improved sperm quality and motility as the above mentioned study, and 14% of the (formerly) infertile men in the study became fathers within 3 months of ashwagandha supplementation.
3. It goes without saying that this baby-making herb also improves the sex life of men who supplement with ashwagandha. According to a 2003 study in Life Sciences, ashwagandha stimulates the production of nitric oxide in your body, which as a result, causes greater blood flow to your erections, making them harder and giving you the ability to last longer in bed.

As an added bonus, benefits of ashwagandha for men don’t only take place in the bedroom, but in the weight room as well.

1. A recent 8-week study published in The Journal of International Society of Sports Nutrition, researchers examined the benefits of ashwagandha on strength training and muscle growth in men ages 18-50-years old. In this study, 57 men were divided into 2 groups: one group receiving 300 mg of ashwagandha twice daily, while the other received a placebo. Compared to the placebo group, those given ashwagandha saw significant increases in strength on both the bench press and leg press, overall muscle mass, and a reduction in exercise-induced muscle damage. They also say a decrease in body fat, and a 20% increase in testosterone levels.

Essentially the men in that group didn’t only get stronger, build muscle mass, cut down on body fat, and increase testosterone, but when you add those 4 ashwagandha benefits together, you get the well sought after v-taper physique, that, according to studies, makes other men want to be you and women want to be with you.

Next Step

The benefits of ashwagandha for men are undeniable.

It’s easily one of the best herbs on the planet for your testosterone levels, and generally for a better quality of life.

For less stress, better sleep, better sex, a better physique and higher testosterone levels, this is the herb that you want to get into your supplement cabinet today.

Grab ashwagandha for yourself here.