Ashwagandha vs Bacopa for anxiety
Short answer: For anxiety, users rate them about the same: 88% report improvement with Ashwagandha (881 reports) and 92% with Bacopa (142 reports).
Ashwagandha has 48 meta-analyses and 59 randomized trials on PubMed; Bacopa has 16 and 17.
Based on 2,447 reports about Ashwagandha and 1,156 about Bacopa. Not medical advice.
| Ashwagandha Supplement | Bacopa Supplement | |
|---|---|---|
| Users say it helped | 44%helped1,321 reports · high confidence | 54%helped474 reports · high confidence |
| Verdict | Mixed | Mixed |
| Research | AResearch: Strong | AResearch: Strong |
| Meta-analyses / RCTs | 48 / 59 | 16 / 17 |
| Mainly used for | ||
| Anxiety % reporting improvement | 88% (881) | 92% (142) |
| Mood % reporting improvement | 53% (446) | 51% (106) |
| Memory % reporting improvement | 75% (8) | 96% (286) |
| Sleep % reporting improvement | 77% (233) | 75% (53) |
| Energy % reporting improvement | 53% (125) | 23% (56) |
| Common side effects | anhedonia, drowsiness, fatigue, depression | fatigue, drowsiness, stomach issues, demotivation |
| Typical dose reported | 800-1600 mg / after dinner | 600 mg / daily |
The current systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of RCTs revealed a beneficial effect in both stress and anxiety following Ashwagandha supplementation. However, further high-quality studies are needed to firmly establish the clinical efficacy of the plant.
Phytother Res, 2022 ↗“I paired it with maca and ashwaganda and it legit felt like a steroid cycle.”
Caffeine enhances attention and executive functions. Together, the results from the compiled studies highlight the nootropic effects and the inconsistencies regarding PDNs that require further research.Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2021.2021137.
Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 2023 ↗“Bacopa monnieri is the best against my brain fog, I grow my own. But it does not give more energy, just good mental focus.”
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Percentages come from first-hand user reports and are not clinical outcomes. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. How we rate