Can ashwagandha treat erectile dysfunction? Not on the evidence: in the one randomised trial in men with erectile dysfunction, it did no better than a placebo. It is sold as a natural remedy for stress and to improve sexual performance, and in healthy men it has raised desire scores and, in some trials, testosterone — which is not the same as better erections. The TGA has also warned that, very rarely, it can injure the liver.
What happened when men with ED took ashwagandha?
No more than on a placebo. In a trial in India, 95 men with erectile dysfunction of psychological origin — the stress- and anxiety-related kind — were randomly given ashwagandha root powder or a wheat-powder placebo for 60 days. Among the 86 who finished, erection scores improved by 12.6% on ashwagandha and 19.1% on placebo, not a significant difference. In the authors' words, "Both Ashwagandha and Placebo provided no relief" (Mamidi and Thakar, Ayu 2011). It is the only trial in men diagnosed with ED. Stress-related ED is covered in treatment options for psychogenic erectile dysfunction.
Does ashwagandha improve sex for healthy men?
Short trials suggest it may lift desire and satisfaction; on erections they disagree.
| Trial | Who took part | Result against placebo |
|---|---|---|
| Mutha et al., 2025 | 100 otherwise healthy men, 30 to 50, with poor sexual satisfaction | Better desire, orgasm and satisfying sex; testosterone rose more; the erection score did not improve more* |
| Khanna et al., 2026 | 76 healthy men, 30 to 50 | Better desire, satisfying sex and overall scores; testosterone did not rise significantly more* |
| Lopresti et al., 2019 | 57 overweight men, 40 to 70, in Perth | Testosterone rose 14.7% more; sexual well-being no different |
* From the full papers.
The first two gave the same branded extract, 300 mg twice a day for eight weeks, supplied by its maker for the first. None compared ashwagandha with an ED medicine, and no dose has been shown to help erections.
Does ashwagandha raise testosterone?
A little, in men. A 2026 meta-analysis of 23 randomised trials (1,706 people) found testosterone rose by about 57 ng/dL more than on placebo in men, not in women, across trials that varied widely (Fornalik et al., Planta Med 2026). A higher reading is not an erection: hormones are one cause of ED among several, with blood flow, nerves, some medicines, alcohol and smoking (healthdirect).
Does ashwagandha help sperm and fertility?
Possibly; the evidence is thin. In one randomised trial, 46 men with low sperm counts took 675 mg of root extract a day or a placebo for 90 days: counts rose 167% on ashwagandha, barely on placebo (Ambiye et al., 2013). Without a placebo group, 75 infertile men had better sperm counts and motility after treatment (Ahmad et al., 2010). A systematic review called the data "too limited to provide novel and sufficiently robust evidence" (Durg et al., 2018).
Is ashwagandha safe?
Not for everyone. The TGA warns that products containing Withania somnifera can cause sudden, severe nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, sometimes after one dose, and very rarely liver injury. Stop taking it and seek medical advice if you notice "yellowing of the skin or eyes", dark urine, nausea, vomiting, unusual tiredness, weakness, stomach pain or loss of appetite; if you have or have had liver problems, avoid it (TGA safety advisory, February 2024). By July 2026 the TGA had 11 Australian reports of possible liver injury, none fatal; it knows of at least four overseas reports of liver failure, one needing a transplant (TGA, July 2026).
NCCIH says it "may be safe when taken in the short term (up to 3 months)"; long-term safety is unknown. Avoid it in pregnancy and breastfeeding, before surgery, and with thyroid or autoimmune disorders or hormone-sensitive prostate cancer; it may interact with medicines for blood sugar, blood pressure and the thyroid, sedatives, anti-seizure medicines and immunosuppressants. More in side effects of herbal Viagra.
Can you take ashwagandha with Viagra or Cialis?
Neither Australian leaflet names ashwagandha, and no trial has tested the pair. Both ask you to tell your doctor or pharmacist about "any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop" (Viagra CMI; Cialis CMI). Some herbal sex capsules also hide prescription medicines — see the TGA's hidden-drug warnings.
What has better evidence than ashwagandha?
Losing weight, exercising more, stopping smoking and pelvic-floor training have each helped men with ED in trials — see natural remedies for erectile dysfunction. Among supplements, L-arginine has the most consistent trials. The other Ayurvedic herbs are in Ayurvedic treatment for erectile dysfunction, and premature ejaculation in Ayurvedic medicine for ED and premature ejaculation.
The short answer
Ashwagandha has not been shown to treat erectile dysfunction: in the one trial in men with ED — the stress-related kind it is often sold for — it did no better than placebo. In healthy men it may lift desire and testosterone a little. It can upset the stomach and, very rarely, harm the liver. Erection problems can be an early sign of heart disease, so they are worth a GP visit (healthdirect). Every natural option is ranked by evidence in natural alternatives to Viagra.
