Ashwagandha vs Rhodiola for mood
Short answer: For mood, more users report improvement with Rhodiola — 87% of 219 reports, versus 53% of 446 for Ashwagandha.
Ashwagandha has 48 meta-analyses and 59 randomized trials on PubMed; Rhodiola has 18 and 45.
Based on 2,447 reports about Ashwagandha and 1,376 about Rhodiola. Not medical advice.
| Ashwagandha Supplement | Rhodiola Supplement | |
|---|---|---|
| Users say it helped | 44%helped1,321 reports · high confidence | 62%helped578 reports · high confidence |
| Verdict | Mixed | Mostly positive |
| Research | AResearch: Strong | AResearch: Strong |
| Meta-analyses / RCTs | 48 / 59 | 18 / 45 |
| Mainly used for | ||
| Anxiety % reporting improvement | 88% (881) | 78% (200) |
| Mood % reporting improvement | 53% (446) | 87% (219) |
| Energy % reporting improvement | 53% (125) | 90% (363) |
| Sleep % reporting improvement | 77% (233) | 41% (17) |
| Focus % reporting improvement | 64% (61) | 85% (102) |
| Common side effects | anhedonia, drowsiness, fatigue, depression | jitteriness, insomnia, drowsiness, irritability |
| Typical dose reported | 800-1600 mg / after dinner | 200 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.”
The data from the meta-analysis showed that plant adaptogens could provide a number of benefits in the treatment of chronic fatigue, cognitive impairment, and immune protection. In the future, there is great potential to register medicinal products that contain plant adaptogens for therapeutic purposes.
Nutrients, 2021 ↗“This one not only reduces my social anxiety but actually puts me in a good mood and makes me feel more social.”
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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