Blackmores Ashwagandha Supplements

Shop by goal: Stress Relief Vitamins and Sleep Support. Shop by type: Magnesium Tablets & Supplements and Gummy Vitamins & Supplements.

• Single-herb capsules and tablets: one active ingredient, so the dose is easy to read and compare.
• KSM-66 and Shoden: two branded extracts used in many of the trials. KSM-66 is made from the root only.^[1] Shoden is made from root and leaf^[3] and is taken at a lower dose.^[2][4]
• Liquid drops: measured with a dropper onto your tongue or into water. Our drops contain about 40% alcohol and taste bitter.
• Powders and cut root: stir powder into warm milk or a smoothie, or simmer cut root in water for tea. The taste is earthy. Follow the serve on the pack.
• Certified organic: several of our capsules and powders are sold as certified organic. Look for the certifier's logo on the pack.
• Gummies: chewable, so there is nothing to swallow. Check the label for added sugar.
• Combination formulas: ashwagandha with magnesium, B vitamins or a sleep herb such as passionflower. Some hold less ashwagandha than a single-herb capsule. Blackmores Ashwagandha+ gives 300 mg of extract a day, half the 600 mg in Nutrivital Ashwagandha One-A-Day.

Many of our ashwagandha products are listed medicines, which carry an AUST L number. Listed medicines can only make claims from the Therapeutic Goods Administration's (TGA) approved list.^[5] Their approved benefits include these:

1. Stress: Healthy Care High Strength Ashwagandha reduces the symptoms of stress. SuperFeast Ashwagandha is traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine to relieve symptoms of stress.
2. Mild anxiety: Healthy Care High Strength Ashwagandha also reduces the symptoms of mild anxiety. Carusos Super Magnesium + Ashwagandha helps relieve symptoms of stress and mild anxiety.
3. Adapting to stress: Wanderlust Ashwagandha High Strength and Blackmores Ashwagandha+ are traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine as an adaptogen to help the body adapt to stress. Both are also traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine to relieve nervous tension.
4. Sleep: Carusos Super Magnesium + Ashwagandha relieves sleeplessness, helps reduce the time taken to fall asleep and improves sleep quality. Thompson's Ashwagandha Stress Plus Sleep is traditionally used in Western herbal medicine to help induce sleep.
5. Tiredness: SuperFeast Ashwagandha is traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine to relieve weariness, tiredness and fatigue.
6. Attention span: Thompson's Ashwagandha Complex Stress Plus Focus, made with bacopa, is traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine to improve attention span.

If symptoms persist, talk to your health professional.

Always read the label and follow the directions for use.

Ashwagandha has been tested against a placebo, a dummy capsule with no herb in it, in small trials.

• KSM-66: stressed adults who took 250 to 600 mg a day for about two months had lower stress scores than those on placebo.^[1][6] Ixoreal Biomed, which makes KSM-66, supplied the extract for both trials.
• Shoden: in a trial run in India, with Australian researchers as lead authors, 60 stressed adults took 240 mg of Shoden or a placebo for 60 days. The Shoden group improved on one of the two main rating scales, but not clearly on the other.^[2] Arjuna Natural, which makes Shoden, funded the trial.
• Pooled trials: a review of 12 trials with 1,002 adults found lower stress with ashwagandha, but rated the certainty of that evidence as low.^[7] A second review of six trials found no clear change in how stressed people felt.^[8]
• Sleep: a review of five trials with 400 adults found a small improvement in sleep. The effect was larger at 600 mg a day or more, after eight weeks or more, and in trial groups who already slept poorly.^[3] In another trial, 150 adults who woke unrefreshed took 120 mg of Shoden a day for six weeks. Their sleep quality improved more than with placebo.^[4] Arjuna Natural supplied the extract and funding.

Most of these trials were small, ran for six to nine weeks and were held in India. The effect looks modest, so give it time and keep up regular sleep and good meals.

Check these four things when you compare labels.

• Extract (mg): the concentrated root extract in each capsule or tablet. Trial doses are given as extract.^[1][2]
• Equivalent dry root (g): how much dried root went into the extract. Extracts are concentrated by different amounts, so a bigger root figure does not always mean more extract. Wanderlust Ashwagandha High Strength holds 400 mg of extract made from 8 g of root. Nutrivital Ashwagandha One-A-Day holds 600 mg of KSM-66 made from 7.5 g.
• Withanolides: natural compounds in the root that labels use to show strength. At the label dose, Carusos Ashwagandha One A Day gives 30 mg a day and Blackmores Ashwagandha+ gives 9 mg. Shoden products list "withanolide glycosides", a different group of compounds, so compare like with like.
• Cost a day: divide the price by the number of days the pack lasts at the label dose.

• Follow the label: most single-herb products are one or two capsules or tablets a day. Trials used 250 to 600 mg of KSM-66 or 120 to 240 mg of Shoden a day.^[1][2][4][6]
• Do not double up: if you also take a combination formula, add up the ashwagandha in each product. Some combinations contain vitamin B6, so count that too if you take a multivitamin.
• Pick a time you will remember: many labels say to take it with food. Sleep blends are taken in the evening, often an hour before bed.
• Give it six to eight weeks: most trials ran for six to nine weeks, and sleep results were larger after eight weeks.^[3] Talk to your health professional if symptoms persist.
• Long term: one study followed 191 adults taking KSM-66 for 12 months and reported only mild side effects. It had no placebo group, and Ixoreal Biomed supplied the extract.^[9] If you plan to take it for longer than a few months, check in with your practitioner.

In trials, side effects were usually mild, and no serious side effects were reported.^[1][3] The most common were nausea, stomach pain, headache and diarrhoea.^[9] Some people feel drowsy, so see how it affects you before you drive.^[1][10] Sudden vomiting or diarrhoea, sometimes after a single dose, has also been reported.^[11]

Liver injury linked to ashwagandha appears to be very rare.^[12][13][14] As a precaution, avoid ashwagandha if you have or have had liver problems.^[12]

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist first if any of these apply:

• You are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying for a baby: several products in our range are not for use at these times, and many ashwagandha medicines must carry a pregnancy warning.^[15] Ask before you take it.
• You have a thyroid condition: in a small trial, ashwagandha changed thyroid hormone levels.^[16] Check first if you take thyroid medicine.
• You take prescription medicines: ask first, especially about sedatives or medicines for sleep, mood, seizures, thyroid, blood pressure, blood sugar or the immune system.^[10]
• You have an autoimmune condition or surgery booked: ask first, and tell your surgeon you take it.^[10]
• You are allergic to nightshades: ashwagandha belongs to the same plant family as tomato, potato and capsicum.
• You avoid alcohol or lactose: our drops contain about 40% alcohol, and some tablets and capsules contain lactose.
• You are under 18: most ashwagandha products are for adults only.

Stop taking it and see a doctor if you notice yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite or unusual tiredness.^[12] If stress, worry or poor sleep is affecting your daily life, see your GP.

• Yes, it is legal: Withania somnifera is a permitted ingredient in listed medicines.^[15]
• AUST L number: the product is a listed medicine on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. Listed medicines can only use low-risk ingredients from an approved list. The TGA does not test each one to see if it works before it goes on sale.^[17] Each manufacturing step must be done by a licensed manufacturer in Australia, or certified by the TGA if done overseas.^[18]
• "Traditionally used": the claim rests on long use in Ayurvedic or Western herbal medicine. Claims like these do not need modern clinical trials.^[5]
• Pregnancy warning: an ashwagandha medicine must carry one, unless it is a root extract made only with water, ethanol or methanol. That extract must also stay within the equivalent of 12 g of dried root a day.^[15] A missing warning does not mean a product suits pregnancy, so ask first.
• Buying from overseas: medicines bought online from overseas are not regulated by the TGA for quality and safety.^[11]

1. Pick your format: capsule, tablet, drops, powder or gummy.
2. Choose single or combination: single-herb products are the easiest to compare. A combination suits you if you also want magnesium, B vitamins or a sleep herb.
3. Look for an AUST L number: it tells you the product is a listed medicine with approved claims.
4. Check the warnings: look for pregnancy, liver and medicine advice first.
5. Ask us: book a free 10-minute consultation with one of our naturopaths.

• Free advice from qualified naturopaths and nutritionists, in store and online, with no obligation to buy.
• Trusted since 1992, with eight stores across Sydney, the Hunter region and the Sunshine Coast.
• Free Click & Collect. Free standard shipping on orders over $120 in NSW and the ACT, or over $150 in QLD, VIC, SA, TAS and WA (NT calculated at checkout).
• Rated 4.7 stars from more than 3,200 customer reviews.
• More than 800 brands and 10,000 products.

Explore more with our Stress & Mood Supplements, Rhodiola Supplements, L-Theanine Supplements and Vitamin B Complex Supplements ranges.

1. Chandrasekhar, K., Kapoor, J. and Anishetty, S. (2012) 'A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults', Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 34(3), pp. 255-262. doi: 10.4103/0253-7176.106022. Researchers: Asha Hospital, Hyderabad, India. Funding: none declared; Ixoreal Biomed, the maker of KSM-66, provided the extract.
2. Lopresti, A.L., Smith, S.J., Malvi, H. and Kodgule, R. (2019) 'An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study', Medicine, 98(37), e17186. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000017186. Researchers: Murdoch University and Clinical Research Australia, Perth, with investigators in India. Funding: Arjuna Natural, the maker of Shoden, funded the study and supplied the extract.
3. Cheah, K.L., Norhayati, M.N., Husniati Yaacob, L. and Abdul Rahman, R. (2021) 'Effect of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract on sleep: a systematic review and meta-analysis', PLoS ONE, 16(9), e0257843. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257843. Researchers: Universiti Sains Malaysia. Funding: none (unfunded study).
4. Deshpande, A., Irani, N., Balkrishnan, R. and Benny, I.R. (2020) 'A randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study to evaluate the effects of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract on sleep quality in healthy adults', Sleep Medicine, 72, pp. 28-36. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2020.03.012. Researchers: International Institute of Sleep Sciences, Thane, India. Funding: Arjuna Natural, the maker of Shoden, supplied the extract and financial assistance (article funding record and the published trial protocol, Medicine, 2018, 97(26), e11299).
5. Australian Government (2025) Therapeutic Goods (Permissible Indications) Determination (No. 1) 2025 (F2025L00450). Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2025L00450/asmade (Accessed: 25 October 2026).
6. Salve, J., Pate, S., Debnath, K. and Langade, D. (2019) 'Adaptogenic and anxiolytic effects of ashwagandha root extract in healthy adults: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study', Cureus, 11(12), e6466. doi: 10.7759/cureus.6466. Researchers: Prakruti Hospital and Clinsearch Healthcare Solutions, Thane and Mumbai, India. Funding: not stated; Ixoreal Biomed, the maker of KSM-66, supplied the extract.
7. Akhgarjand, C., Asoudeh, F., Bagheri, A., Kalantar, Z., Vahabi, Z., Shab-Bidar, S., Rezvani, H. and Djafarian, K. (2022) 'Does ashwagandha supplementation have a beneficial effect on the management of anxiety and stress? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials', Phytotherapy Research, 36(11), pp. 4115-4124. doi: 10.1002/ptr.7598. Researchers: Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Funding: not stated.
8. Albalawi, A.A. (2025) 'Dual impact of ashwagandha: significant cortisol reduction but no effects on perceived stress. A systematic review and meta-analysis', Nutrition and Health, 31(4), pp. 1395-1408. doi: 10.1177/02601060251363647. Researcher: University of Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Funding: not stated.
9. Salve, J., Kale, S., Prajapati, B.L., Sparavigna, A., Savant, M., Ademola, J. and Langade, D. (2026) 'Safety of 12-months administration of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) standardized root extract in healthy adults: a prospective, observational study', Phytotherapy Research, 40(8), pp. 4802-4812. doi: 10.1002/ptr.70096. Researchers: Prakruti Care Hospital, Thane, with centres in India and co-authors in the USA and Italy. Funding: no specific funding; Ixoreal Biomed, the maker of KSM-66, supplied the extract.
10. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (2023) Ashwagandha. US National Institutes of Health. Last updated March 2023. Available at: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/ashwagandha (Accessed: 25 October 2026).
11. Scattergood, G. (2024) 'Ashwagandha warning: Australian officials issue safety advisory, highlight risks of unregulated, overseas products', NutraIngredients, 26 February. Available at: https://www.nutraingredients.com/Article/2024/02/26/australian-officials-issue-ashwagandha-safety-advisory-highlight-risks-of-unregulated-overseas-products (Accessed: 25 October 2026).
12. Tracy, L. (2026) 'TGA makes second safety alert on ashwagandha and liver injury', The Medical Republic, 23 July. Reporting the Therapeutic Goods Administration's July 2026 safety advice on medicines containing Withania somnifera. Available at: https://medicalrepublic.com.au/tga-makes-second-safety-alert-on-ashwagandha-and-liver-injury/127554 (Accessed: 25 October 2026).
13. Björnsson, H.K., Björnsson, E.S., Avula, B., Khan, I.A., Jonasson, J.G., Ghabril, M., Hayashi, P.H. and Navarro, V. (2020) 'Ashwagandha-induced liver injury: a case series from Iceland and the US Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network', Liver International, 40(4), pp. 825-829. doi: 10.1111/liv.14393. Researchers: Landspitali University Hospital, Iceland, and the US Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network. Funding: US National Institutes of Health (NIDDK) grants to the network.
14. Philips, C.A., Valsan, A., Theruvath, A.H., Ravindran, R., Oommen, T.T., Rajesh, S., Bishnu, S., Augustine, P. and Liver Research Club India (2023) 'Ashwagandha-induced liver injury: a case series from India and literature review', Hepatology Communications, 7(10), e0270. doi: 10.1097/HC9.0000000000000270. Researchers: Rajagiri Hospital and Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kerala, India. Funding: not stated.
15. Australian Government (2026) Therapeutic Goods (Permissible Ingredients) Determination (No. 3) 2026 (F2026L01382), Schedule 1, item 5224: Withania somnifera. Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2026L01382/asmade (Accessed: 25 October 2026).
16. Sharma, A.K., Basu, I. and Singh, S. (2018) 'Efficacy and safety of ashwagandha root extract in subclinical hypothyroid patients: a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial', Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 24(3), pp. 243-248. doi: 10.1089/acm.2017.0183. Researchers: Sudbhawana Hospital, Varanasi, India. Funding: not stated.
17. Carbonell, R. (2024) 'What are menopause supplements, do they work, and are they safe?', ABC News, 18 September. Available at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-18/menopause-inquiry-supplements-explained/104355970 (Accessed: 25 October 2026).
18. Australian Government (2025) Therapeutic Goods Act 1989, s 28(5B) and s 28A (compilation of 5 September 2025). Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2004A03952/latest/text (Accessed: 25 October 2026).
19. Office of Dietary Supplements (2025) Ashwagandha: fact sheet for health professionals. US National Institutes of Health. Updated 2 May 2025. Available at: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Ashwagandha-HealthProfessional/ (Accessed: 25 October 2026).