Ashwagandha is the Ayurvedic plant known as “Indian ginseng” and traditionally used to help reduce stress. Its botanical name is Withania somnifera, an evergreen shrub in the nightshade family, Solanaceae.
The nickname reflects a similarity between its withanolides and the ginsenosides found in true ginseng, Panax ginseng. Ashwagandha is native across parts of the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, Africa, and southern Europe, and its root has been used in Indian medicine for centuries.
Modern studies have investigated root extracts for stress, anxiety, and sleep. Some short-term research reports improvements in perceived stress or related measures, but clinical evidence remains limited and does not prove that every supplement works. “Indian ginseng” is a nickname, not evidence that it is the same plant as ginseng.
The species name somnifera means “sleep-inducing,” while the Sanskrit-derived name ashwagandha refers to the root’s distinctive, horse-like smell. Supplements may contain root, leaf, or mixed extracts, so products are not interchangeable.