This study is only available for people able to travel to our office in Duncraig, WA 6023

Ashwagandha is an Indian herb used in Ayurvedic medicine for over 3,000 years to help relieve stress and improve general mental and physical wellbeing. In this study, we would like to know whether taking an ashwagandha extract (NRAHG001) for 4 weeks can improve mood, fatigue, and resiliency to stress in adults experiencing high stress. To help understand how ashwagandha works in the body, we will also assess changes in blood and saliva markers associated with stress, mood, and general wellbeing.

If you are aged between 18 and 65 years and are experiencing high stress, we invite you to participate in this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

PLEASE NOTE: Travel to our office located in Duncraig is required on 3 occasions over 4 weeks

Eligible participants will be RANDOMLY allocated into ONE of TWO treatment conditions:

1. Daily intake of capsules containing ashwagandha, or
2. Daily intake of placebo (fake) capsules

This 4-week study consists of the following:

1. Participate in a 15-minute phone interview to discuss the study and assess your eligibility to participate.

2. Take the capsules for 4 weeks (1 capsule every morning, containing either placebo or ashwagandha). 

3. Complete online questionnaires comprising the following: (1) a brief questionnaire every evening which takes less than 1 minute, and (2) a more comprehensive questionnaire 14 and 21 days after your capsule intake which takes approximately 10 minutes.

4. Attend our office on 3 occasions over 4 weeks. During these visits, the following tasks will be completed:

Visit 1 (30 to 40 minutes)

• Height, weight and blood pressure measurement
• Have a blood sample collected from your vein
• Complete questionnaires

Visit 2 (60 to 90 minutes), 7 days after capsule intake

• Weight and blood pressure measurements
• Complete questionnaires
• Complete a 3-minute test where you will place your hand in very cold water. We will measure your pulse, skin temperature, and sweat response with a watch placed on your wrist. You will also need to give a saliva sample before and 30 minutes after the test and will need to complete mood and fatigue ratings.

Visit 3 (70 to 90 minutes), 28 days after capsule intake

• Weight and blood pressure measurements
• Complete questionnaires
• Complete the same cold water test as visit 2
• Have a blood sample collected from your vein

Please Note: All participants placed in the placebo group will be provided with a FREE 4-week supply of ashwagandha capsules when the study is completed.

You can download the full STUDY INFORMATION SHEET by clicking the button on this webpage

To be INCLUDED in the study, the following inclusion criteria must be met:

1. You are a generally healthy adult (male or female) aged between 18 and 65 years.
2. You are currently experiencing high stress.
3. You have a body mass index (BMI) between 18 and 35 kg/m2.
4. You are a non-smoker.
5. You have no plan to commence any new treatments over the study period.
6. You are willing to provide a personally signed and dated informed consent form detailing all pertinent aspects of the trial

If any of the exclusion criteria below are met, the applicant will not be suitable for participation in this study:

1. You suffer from a recently diagnosed or unmanaged medical condition including, but not limited to, diabetes, hyper/hypotension, cardiovascular disease, gallbladder disease, autoimmune disease, endocrine disease, or cancer/ malignancy.
2. You have been diagnosed with a neurological or psychiatric disease (other than mild-to-moderate depression or anxiety) and/or neurological condition/ disease (e.g., Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease).
3. You regularly take medications including, but not limited to, anticonvulsants, benzodiazepines, opioids, corticosteroids, or immunosuppressants.
4. You have changed your medication (dose or type) in the last 3 months, or you expect to change it during the study.
5. Current use of supplements that contain ashwagandha or other supplements that may affect treatment outcomes.
6. In the last month, commenced or changed the dose of nutritional and/or herbal supplements that may impact treatment outcomes.
7. You plan on making major lifestyle changes in the next 2 months.
8. You drink more than 14 standard servings of alcohol per week.
9. You currently (or in the last 12 months) have regularly used illicit drugs.
10. You are pregnant, breastfeeding, or intend to fall pregnant during the study period.
11. You have had a significant surgery in the last 12 months or have a surgery planned during the study period.
12. You have participated in any other clinical trial in the month

To compensate you for your time and travel costs we will provide the following

1. $30 gift voucher at visit 1
2. $60 gift voucher at visit 2
3. $100 gift voucher at visit 3

This study has been approved by the National Institute of Integrative Medicine (NIIM) Ethics Committee (Reference number: 0153E_2025)

If you are interested in participating in this study, please click on the button "Complete the Study Application Form" located on this webpage. This questionnaire will take aproximately 5 to 10 minutes to complete and helps us assess your eligibility to participate in this study.

Please Note: All answers are confidential and will only be seen by study investigators. If you are not eligible to participate in this study, your records will be deleted immediately

If you would like to speak to a researcher to get more information about this study, you can call us on 08 9448 7376