How much ashwagandha per day for testosterone? In the randomized trials that measured testosterone, men took 300 mg of a root extract twice daily (600 mg a day) or a smaller standardized dose of a root and leaf extract, for 8 to 12 weeks. Testosterone rose modestly. No trial showed ashwagandha treating confirmed hypogonadism, and it is not an FDA-approved treatment for low T.
Independently researched. Last reviewed October 21, 2026. Educational information only, not medical advice. Affiliate disclosure.
This guide reads the trials themselves: the extract, the daily dose, who took part, how long it lasted and what changed. It also covers the safety signals on the liver and thyroid, and the line between a supplement that nudges a normal level and a condition that needs a clinician. For the wider supplement category, see our comparison of TRT and testosterone boosters. This page does not repeat it.
How much ashwagandha per day for testosterone did the trials use?
There is no official dose of ashwagandha for testosterone, because no regulator has approved it for that use. What exists is the dose each trial chose. The answer to how much ashwagandha per day for testosterone therefore depends on which extract you mean, since the products are not interchangeable.
The table below lists the doses, as reported in each study's abstract or methods.
| Study | Who took part | Extract and daily dose | Length | Testosterone result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wankhede, J Int Soc Sports Nutr, 2015 | 57 men aged 18 to 50, new to weight training | KSM-66 root extract, 300 mg twice daily | 8 weeks | Rose 96.2 ng/dL vs 18.0 ng/dL on placebo |
| Lopresti, Am J Men's Health, 2019 | Overweight men aged 40 to 70 with mild fatigue | Shoden root and leaf extract, 21 mg withanolide glycosides a day | 8 weeks per period (16 week crossover) | Salivary testosterone 14.7% greater increase than placebo |
| Ambiye, Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2013 | 46 men with low sperm counts | Full spectrum root extract, 675 mg a day in three doses | 90 days | Serum hormones improved more than placebo |
| Fornalik, Planta Medica, 2026 (meta-analysis) | 23 randomized trials, 1,706 participants | Various extracts | Various | Men: mean difference 57.43 ng/dL |
Two points stand out. First, the daily amount listed on a supplement label is only comparable to a trial if the extract matches. Second, every trial was short. None followed men for a year.
What did the Wankhede 2015 trial find?
The Wankhede trial was an 8-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 57 young men aged 18 to 50 with little experience in resistance training. The Wankhede group took 300 mg of ashwagandha root extract twice daily while the placebo group took starch capsules. The Wankhede methods name the extract as KSM-66, a high-concentration root extract. Both groups trained throughout.
Testosterone was a secondary outcome. In the Wankhede results, testosterone rose by 96.2 ng/dL with ashwagandha versus 18.0 ng/dL with placebo, a significantly greater increase. The same group gained more bench press strength and lost more body fat.
What the trial does not tell you: these were healthy young men starting a training program, not men with diagnosed low testosterone. The study does not show whether the effect continues past two months.
What did the Lopresti 2019 trial find?
Lopresti and colleagues ran a 16-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study in overweight men aged 40 to 70 with mild fatigue. In the Lopresti trial, men took the Shoden extract, delivering 21 mg of withanolide glycosides a day, or placebo for 8 weeks each. In the Lopresti trial, fifty-seven men enrolled and 43 completed all 16 weeks.
In the Lopresti results, ashwagandha was associated with a 14.7% greater increase in testosterone compared to placebo. That was measured in saliva, not in a standard blood test. Lopresti reported that fatigue, vigor and sexual well-being improved over time in both conditions, with no significant difference between ashwagandha and placebo.
So the hormone moved, but the symptoms men cared about did not separate from placebo in this trial. That is an important limit when a label promises more energy or libido.
What do smaller studies and pooled data add?
The Ambiye pilot study randomized forty-six men with oligospermia to a full spectrum root extract (675 mg a day in three doses for 90 days) or placebo. The Ambiye abstract reports a significantly greater improvement in serum hormone levels with ashwagandha than with placebo. Its focus was sperm count in men treated for infertility, a different question from low testosterone.
A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis in Planta Medica by Fornalik and colleagues pooled twenty-three randomized, placebo-controlled trials with 1,706 participants. In the Fornalik analysis, ashwagandha increased testosterone in men by a mean difference of 57.43 ng/dL, with no such effect in women. The authors note heterogeneity and limited data on some endpoints, and call for more standardized trials.
For context, a pooled rise of that size is small next to the gap between a low level and a mid-normal one. Our guide to testosterone levels by age shows the ranges labs use.
Is ashwagandha safe to take for testosterone?
Most short trials reported it as well tolerated, but rare serious problems exist, and they matter more than the question of how much ashwagandha per day for testosterone to take. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements ashwagandha fact sheet (updated 2 May 2025) is a useful summary.
- Liver. The ashwagandha fact sheet states there are a few reports of more serious side effects, including adverse effects on liver function. A case series by Björnsson and colleagues (Liver International, 2020) described five people with liver injury attributed to ashwagandha supplements. In that Björnsson series, all five developed jaundice after 2 to 12 weeks, and liver tests normalized within 1 to 5 months in four of them.
- Thyroid. The ashwagandha fact sheet notes that ashwagandha might affect thyroid function and might interact with thyroid hormone medications. The Fornalik meta-analysis also found T4 levels increased modestly.
- Pregnancy. The ashwagandha fact sheet reports that some experts advise against use by women who are pregnant.
- Prostate cancer. The ashwagandha fact sheet adds that because ashwagandha might increase testosterone levels, experts say it might not be safe for men with hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.
Anyone with liver disease, a thyroid condition or a prostate cancer history, or anyone on regular medication, should talk to a clinician or pharmacist before trying it. Stop and seek care for yellowing skin or eyes, dark urine or severe itching.
Is ashwagandha FDA-approved for low testosterone?
No. In the FDA's own words in its consumer page FDA 101 on dietary supplements (content current as of 2 June 2022), the agency does not have the authority to approve dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they are sold. A supplement cannot legally be marketed as a treatment for a disease such as hypogonadism. What is on the label is the manufacturer's responsibility, not an FDA finding.
That also means two bottles both labeled ashwagandha may contain different plant parts, extract strengths and withanolide content. Third-party testing marks from USP or NSF check what is in the bottle. They do not prove it works.
Can ashwagandha replace treatment for confirmed low T?
No trial supports that. The trials studied men with normal or near-normal levels, and the increases were modest. Hypogonadism is diagnosed differently. The Endocrine Society's clinical practice guideline (J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2018) recommends confirming the diagnosis by repeating the measurement of morning fasting total testosterone, in men who also have symptoms and signs consistent with deficiency.
If your levels are clearly low on two morning tests, no answer to how much ashwagandha per day for testosterone is likely to close that gap. Low testosterone can also have causes that need their own workup, such as pituitary problems, medications or obesity. A clinician can look for those. If you are unsure whether your symptoms fit, start with the low testosterone symptom guide, then get tested.
Testing usually comes first at online clinics as well. Of the 39 online TRT clinics we track, 14 include intake lab work in their listed price and 14 bill it separately. On 9 clinic pages the intake labs are not mentioned, and 2 pages could not be read when we checked. If you are weighing prescription options that keep your own production running, our enclomiphene hub explains how that differs from testosterone itself.
How should you read an ashwagandha label?
Use the trial details as a checklist rather than a dosing guide:
- Which extract is it? KSM-66 and Shoden are branded extracts with different plant parts and withanolide content. A generic powder is not the same product.
- How much extract per day, and how standardized? Compare the milligrams of extract and the withanolide content, not the milligrams of the capsule.
- Is it a single ingredient? In the Björnsson cases, four people also took other supplements. Blends make it harder to know what caused a problem.
- Is there a third-party test mark? That checks contents, not results.
Whatever the label says about how much ashwagandha per day for testosterone, the trials only support a modest change over 8 to 12 weeks in men without a diagnosis.
Frequently asked questions: how much ashwagandha per day for testosterone
How much ashwagandha per day for testosterone was used in studies? The trials that measured testosterone used 300 mg of KSM-66 root extract twice daily (600 mg a day), 675 mg a day of a full spectrum root extract, or a Shoden extract delivering 21 mg of withanolide glycosides a day. These are trial doses, not a recommendation. A clinician or pharmacist can tell you whether any dose suits you.
How long does ashwagandha take to change testosterone? The trials ran 8 to 12 weeks. None tested whether the effect lasts longer, or what happens after stopping.
Is more ashwagandha better for testosterone? There is no evidence that taking more than the trial doses helps more. The liver injury cases in the ashwagandha fact sheet involved daily amounts from 450 to 1,350 mg, so higher is not automatically safer.
Is KSM-66 better than Shoden for testosterone? They have not been compared head to head for testosterone. They are different extracts, tested in different groups of men, so their results cannot be ranked against each other.
Can I take ashwagandha while on TRT? Ask your prescribing clinician first. It can affect thyroid levels and may complicate how your hormone results are read during monitoring.
Related reading
- TRT vs testosterone boosters: when supplements can help
- Signs of low testosterone and how to get tested
- Testosterone levels by age
- Enclomiphene clinics and how they work
- Foods to increase testosterone
- Home testosterone test
Sources: Wankhede et al., J Int Soc Sports Nutr, 2015; Lopresti et al., Am J Men's Health, 2019; Ambiye et al., Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2013; Fornalik et al., Planta Medica, 2026; Björnsson et al., Liver International, 2020; NIH ODS ashwagandha fact sheet, updated 2 May 2025; FDA 101: Dietary Supplements, current as of 2 June 2022; Endocrine Society guideline, 2018.
Medical disclaimer: Educational information only, not medical advice. Dietary supplements are not FDA-approved to treat low testosterone. A licensed clinician must assess diagnosis and treatment. Some links on this site may lead to partners; see our affiliate disclosure. Last reviewed October 21, 2026.
