Ashwagandha

Sixty vegan capsules of organic ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root powder, 980 mg per two-capsule serving as printed on the back label. The brand lists no fillers, additives or artificial ingredients, and the capsules as vegan and gluten free. If you are looking for ashwagandha in the UK as a straightforward daily capsule, this is the Herbastore Selects own-label version: two a day with water, so a pot is exactly a month.

Ashwagandha is a shrub whose root is the part normally used in supplements. This is the capsule format; the same range also includes gummies.

What it is

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a small evergreen shrub grown mainly in India, where it has been used in Ayurvedic tradition for a very long time. The root is dug, dried and either ground to a powder or extracted and concentrated. In a capsule you get a fixed amount with no taste, which matters here because ashwagandha powder is notably bitter and smells of horse, which is roughly what the Sanskrit name means.

Labels to compare between ashwagandha brands are the milligrams per capsule, whether the root or the leaf is used, and whether it is a plain powder or a concentrated extract with a ratio and a withanolide percentage. This one is organic root powder, 980 mg per two capsules (490 mg each), not a concentrated extract, so there is no ratio or withanolide figure to quote.

Sixty capsules at two a day is exactly a month, which makes the cost per day easy to work out: about 57p. The brand also mentions 1 to 2 a day as a range, which would stretch the pot to two months at the lower rate.

This is a Herbastore Selects own-label product. It is a food supplement and should not be a substitute for a varied diet.

How to take it

Two capsules a day with a drink of water, per the label. The listing does not specify a time of day or whether to take them with food. Many people take ashwagandha in the evening, others split one morning and one evening; pick the slot you will remember and keep to it.

• 60 capsules per pot
• 490 mg per capsule, 980 mg per two-capsule serving, as printed on the label
• At 2 a day, a 30 day supply; at 1 a day, 60 days
• £16.99 works out at about 28p per capsule, or about 57p a day at 2

Store closed in a cool, dry cupboard. No refrigeration needed.

What's inside

• Organic ashwagandha root powder (Withania somnifera), 980 mg per 2 capsules
• Vegan HPMC capsule shell (hypromellose)
• No fillers, additives or artificial ingredients, per the label
• Gluten free, per the label

Withania somnifera is a member of the nightshade family with small orange-red berries and a long, pale taproot. The root is the part traditionally used and the part most supplements are made from; some products use the leaf as well. The label here states root.

Who it's for

People who want a daily ashwagandha routine in a measured capsule with no taste. It suits an evening wind-down, a morning supplement line-up, or anyone who has tried the powder and could not get past the flavour. Two capsules a day is simple enough to keep up for the month the pot lasts.

If you want a chewable, the ashwagandha gummies from the same range are the alternative. If you want ashwagandha as part of a combined evening formula, the Somniveve capsules include it alongside L-theanine, magnesium L-threonate and 5-HTP.

Pairs well with

The ashwagandha gummies are the chewable version from the same range. The Somniveve formula capsules combine ashwagandha extract with three other evening ingredients. People who take ashwagandha in the morning often pair it with shilajit resin, the other Ayurvedic staple on our shelf. See the herbal supplements shelf, every capsule under capsules, and the new supplements collection.

Frequently asked questions

What is ashwagandha?

A shrub, Withania somnifera, whose root has been used in Ayurvedic tradition for centuries. Today it is sold as a food supplement in powder, capsule and gummy form. Our ashwagandha guide covers it in full.

What is the best time to take ashwagandha?

The label does not specify. People commonly take it in the evening or split the two capsules between morning and evening. Consistency matters more than the hour.

How much ashwagandha per day?

The label says 2 capsules a day, which is 980 mg of organic root powder. It also mentions 1 to 2 a day as a range.

Is it organic and vegan?

Yes, according to the label: organic root powder in vegan HPMC capsules, gluten free, with no fillers.

Read our guide what is ashwagandha and how do people take it for the plant, the formats and what to look for on a label. Herbastore ships this product from the UK, with free UK shipping on orders over £40. Orders are packed by Herbastore UK, so if you are buying from more than one of our brands everything arrives together.