Ashwagandha vs Kava for anxiety
Short answer: For anxiety, more users report improvement with Kava — 93% of 196 reports, versus 88% of 881 for Ashwagandha.
Ashwagandha has 48 meta-analyses and 59 randomized trials on PubMed; Kava has 41 and 37.
Based on 2,447 reports about Ashwagandha and 431 about Kava. Not medical advice.
| Ashwagandha Supplement | Kava Supplement | |
|---|---|---|
| Users say it helped | 44%helped1,321 reports · high confidence | 63%helped224 reports · high confidence |
| Verdict | Mixed | Mostly positive |
| Research | AResearch: Strong | AResearch: Strong |
| Meta-analyses / RCTs | 48 / 59 | 41 / 37 |
| Mainly used for | ||
| Anxiety % reporting improvement | 88% (881) | 93% (196) |
| Mood % reporting improvement | 53% (446) | 80% (35) |
| Sleep % reporting improvement | 77% (233) | 86% (37) |
| Energy % reporting improvement | 53% (125) | 50% (2) |
| Libido % reporting improvement | 62% (127) | — |
| Common side effects | anhedonia, drowsiness, fatigue, depression | drowsiness, liver damage, stomach issues, irritability |
| Typical dose reported | 800-1600 mg / after dinner | 60 mg kavalactone equivalent / 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.”
Numerous interactions between herbal medicines and conventional drugs have been documented. While the significance of many interactions is uncertain, several interactions, particularly those with St John's wort, may have serious clinical consequences.
Drugs, 2009 ↗“I felt insanely relaxed, any anxiety was dropped to 0, and I could think more clearly.”
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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