Answer

Does ashwagandha increase testosterone?

Ashwagandha ashwagandha testosterone hormones cortisol

Verdict

Leaning for

Ashwagandha raises testosterone only modestly and indirectly, by lowering cortisol.

13 sources: 3 positive, 8 partly, 2 negative

13 sources: 3 positive, 8 partly, 2 negative

By Arun AgrahriLast reviewed 2 timecoded sources

Based on what researchers say in public interviews on YouTube. Educational only, not medical advice. Ask a qualified clinician before changing a supplement, medication, treatment, or testing plan.

Short answer

Modestly and indirectly, mainly by lowering cortisol. Andrew Huberman lists ashwagandha under hormone support and says it "can indirectly support testosterone and libido." It is not a direct testosterone booster. The effect is small and clearest in chronically stressed men. Cycle off after about 30 days and check bloodwork if you take it for hormonal effects.

Leaning for

Ashwagandha is worth taking.

The verdict on Ashwagandha overall. 6 sources: 3 positive, 3 partly

What the evidence says

positive partly neutral negative Each researcher and each study counts once per claim, however often they come up.

  1. Leaning for

    Ashwagandha raises testosterone only modestly and indirectly, by lowering cortisol.

    13 sources: 3 positive, 8 partly, 2 negative.

    Researchers say

    No researcher counted yet.

    Studies show

    3 positive, 8 partly, 2 negative

    13 papers we read

    6 more not counted · see why
    The study is not yet read in full. 3
    The study cited could not be identified. 1
    We could not tell what position it takes on this claim. 1
    We could not tell where the evidence comes from. 1
    Show the receipts from 13 sources

    1. Other primary study, Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2011, PMID 19789214 Study · positive

      After treatment with W. somnifera , testosterone level improved in normozoospermics by 13%, normozoospermic cigarette smokers by 10% and infertile normozoospermics under psychological stress by 22%.

    2. Other primary study, Heliyon, 2024, PMID 39286132 Study · positive

      Additionally, morning serum cortisol levels significantly decreased by 66 % and 67 %, and male testosterone levels increased by 22 % and 33 % in the AE60 and AE120 groups, respectively, compared to the placebo group.

    3. Trial or observed group, Phytother Res, 2026, PMID 41063394 Study · positive

      Ashwagandha causes some reduction in serum cortisol and an increase in serum testosterone in both men and women, but lacks any effects on the lipid profile.

    4. Controlled trial, Medicine (Baltimore), 2019, PMID 31517876 Study · partly

      However, changes in testosterone between the ashwagandha and placebo groups did not reach statistical significance.

    5. Systematic review, Curr Nutr Rep, 2023, PMID 37428341 Study · partly

      Alternatively, Ws supplementation may also modulate key-enzyme activity in physiological pathways associated with testosterone production, leading to increased levels in individuals with low cortisol levels [ 15 , 39 , 56 ] but not those with high cortisol levels [ 40 ].

    6. Controlled trial, J Psychopharmacol, 2023, PMID 37740662 Study · partly

      In the men taking ashwagandha, there was a significant increase in the blood concentrations of free testosterone (p = 0.048) and luteinizing hormone (p = 0.002) compared to the placebo group.

    7. Other primary study, J Ayurveda Integr Med, 2025, PMID 40582043 Study · partly

      We also observed improvements in serum testosterone (p = 0.012), DHT, prolactin, FSH, and LH levels.

    8. Other primary study, Food Sci Nutr, 2025, PMID 41458530 Study · partly

      There was a significant improvement ( p < 0.05) in testosterone levels in males in the test group than in the placebo group (Table 5 ).

    9. Trial or observed group, Front Reprod Health, 2026, PMID 41766918 Study · partly

      Although numerical increases in total and free testosterone were observed, between-group differences were not statistically significant; therefore, hormonal findings should be interpreted as exploratory and supportive rather than confirmatory.

    10. Systematic review, Front Pharmacol, 2026, PMID 42199854 Study · partly

      The pooled results from the random-effects model indicated that Ashwagandha supplementation significantly increased testosterone levels compared with the control group (SMD = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.13–0.54, P = 0.001).

    11. Trial or observed group, Front Nutr, 2026, PMID 42780946 Study · partly

      However, between group differences were not statistically significant for both total and free testosterone concentrations ( p > 0.05).

    12. Controlled trial, Am J Mens Health, 2019, PMID 30854916 Study · negative

      No statistically significant change in salivary cortisol or estradiol was observed.

    13. Controlled trial, Nutrients, 2026, PMID 41599843 Study · negative

      No significant interactions were observed for testosterone (Males: p = 0.915; Females: p = 0.615), DHEA-S (Males: p = 0.386; Females: p = 0.050), or the testosterone-to-cortisol ratio (T/C) (Males: p = 0.351; Females: p = 0.161).

Where the sources disagree

Leaning for

Ashwagandha raises testosterone only modestly and indirectly, by lowering cortisol.

Supports it 3 sources
Partly 8 sources
Against it 2 sources

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Detailed Answer

Ashwagandha raises testosterone modestly, and only by a side door. It is a potent cortisol reducer at 300mg twice daily. High stress and high cortisol hold testosterone down, so dropping cortisol lets testosterone drift back up.

Andrew Huberman, on his own show, files ashwagandha under 'hormone support', next to shilajit and tongkat ali. In his words, it 'can indirectly support testosterone and libido.'

Indirect is the word to hold on to

The lift shows up mostly in men with chronic stress or low testosterone to begin with. It is not a stand-in for TRT, and a normal, well-rested man will not become an outlier. Huberman says the rise does show in the data but is probably indirect.

Caution

Ashwagandha touches hormone and thyroid pathways, so cycle off after about 30 days and check bloodwork. If you take it for testosterone, treat it as a stress tool: 300mg twice daily, cycled, with labs, and expect a small move. The approach on the record is 'careful, data-driven application rather than prophylactic use.'

Related Questions

How much does ashwagandha raise testosterone?
Modestly, and mainly in stressed or low-T men. It works by lowering cortisol rather than pushing testosterone directly, and it is not a TRT alternative.
Is ashwagandha safe to take for testosterone?
Use caution for hormonal use. Dose 300mg twice daily and cycle off after about 30 days. Monitor bloodwork, since it can affect hormone and thyroid pathways.
Does ashwagandha work if you're not stressed?
The testosterone effect is clearest in chronically stressed or low-baseline men. If your cortisol and testosterone are already normal, expect little change.

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