Can ashwagandha cure anxiety?

Since writing about stress last week, people have DM’d me asking if I’ve tried ashwagandha. The answer is - obviously - yes. It’s a trending wellness ingredient, and I’ll give pretty much anything a whirl. Do I think it works? That’s a longer answer.

First thing’s first. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: you can’t supplement your way out of an unhealthy lifestyle. Always focus on the basics first. But assuming you’re already eating your veg, moving your body, prioritising sleep, drinking less (if any) alcohol… and your nerves are still as jangly and discordant as Logan Roy’s offspring, then you might be looking for something to take the edge off.

Ashwagandha is a flowering shrub that has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years, but it’s only in the last few years that it has become a household name in the world of supplements - mentioned in the same breath as Vitamin D or…