09 Aug 2022 • 2 min read

An increasing amount of people are starting to turn to natural adaptogens for stress support; one of the most popular natural adaptogens is Ashwagandha.

Read on to discover the function of KSM-66 Ashwagandha, including what is does, benefits, how to take, dosage, and any side affects you should be aware of.

In this article, we’ll explore:

• What is KSM-66?
• What does KSM-66 do?
• Benefits
• Is KSM-66 the best Ashwagandha?
• Sensoril vs KSM-66
• Is KSM-66 safe?
• How to Use
• Dosage
• Side Effects

What is KSM-66 Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha, also known by its botanical name Withania somnifera, is one of the most popular Indian botanical plants.

Ashwagandha has been used in Ayurveda - the 5000-year-old Indian system of medicine - as a rejuvenative, and a daily tonic for many centuries.¹

KSM-66 Ashwagandha is a branded, full-spectrum extract, with the highest concentration of all major root only extracts available on the market today.²

Studies have presented extensive clinical evidence showing KSM-66 to be effective in supporting a variety of health conditions, including reduced stress and anxiety, improved memory and cognitive function, promoted strength, cardio-respiratory endurance and immunity in athletes.

Additionally, researchers have also shown that KSM-66 ashwagandha extract boosts sexual wellness in both men and women, improving testosterone production in men and alleviating perimenopausal symptoms in women.³

What does KSM-66 Ashwagandha do?

Clinical studies of KSM-66 have shown that Ashwagandha KSM-66 helps promote cognitive function, stress management, sleep, endurance, and recovery.⁴

KSM-66 Ashwagandha has been clinically proven to:

• Help reduce stress, anxiety, cortisol levels and stress-related food cravings
• Help promote enhanced memory and cognitive function
• Help promote endurance, strength, muscle size and muscle recovery rate
• Help enhance sexual performance health in both men and women, and testosterone in men⁵

The makers of KSM-66, Ixoreal Biomed, partner with top academic and research institutes to investigate the effectiveness of KSM-66, they are considered an industry leader in research regarding Ashwagandha.

With 24 studies, including 16 published studies and six ongoing trials, under its belt, Ixoreal Biomed always follows the gold standard of rigorous, scientific protocol for its clinical studies, all of which have randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled designs.⁶

Summary

Clinical studies of KSM-66 have shown that this Ashwagandha helps to promote cognitive function, stress management, sleep, endurance, and recovery.

Benefits of KSM-66

Discover the many benefits KSM-66 Ashwagandha and how it can support your health plus boost your wellbeing.⁷

1. Beneficial for mood disorders - For over 3000 years, ashwagandha has been used to help relieve stress, anxiety, and depression. KSM-66 Ashwagandha has been shown to block neural pathways in the brain responsible for stress, thereby regulating chemical signalling.
2. Immune boosting - In Ayurvedic medicine, ashwagandha is often prescribed to revive and rejuvenate the immune system after a period of illness. Ashwagandha also acts as an antioxidant and can increase cytokine levels - both of which stimulate immune response.
3. Balances blood sugar - Stress and cortisol both play fundamental roles in blood sugar regulation. When cortisol is out of control, your blood sugar levels will be too. This can lead to trouble sleeping, irritability, low mood, trouble concentrating and compromised immunity.
4. Brain health – Due to its extremely potent neuroprotective properties, ashwagandha has been proven to augment cognitive functions ranging from memory and attention to productivity and focus.
5. Helps to fight hypothyroidism - An underactive thyroid can leave you feeling tired, cold, constipated, depressed, achy, and weak. It’s a surprisingly common condition, particularly among women. Ashwagandha supports the production of thyroid hormones, increasing the amounts that are circulating in the blood.
6. Can boost testosterone and fertility in men - Ashwagandha has been shown to have a significant impact on fertility in men; by boosting testosterone levels and improving sperm count.
7. Fights inflammation - Regular supplementation with ashwagandha can reduce inflammatory markers by up to 70% in otherwise healthy adults. In particular, ashwagandha has been linked with lowering the inflammatory markers specifically linked to heart disease and poor cardiovascular health.
8. Can help lower cholesterol - Further heart health benefits come from ashwagandha’s ability to reduce cholesterol and lower triglycerides in the blood. One study found that daily supplementation with the adaptogen was able to reduce total cholesterol by 53% and slash triglyceride levels by 45%.
9. Can help to alleviate menopause symptoms - Menopause is triggered when a woman’s ovaries cease production of estrogen, throwing the female body out of balance. Ashwagandha has been used by Ayurvedic practitioners for centuries to restore hormonal balance in perimenopausal women.

Summary

KSM-66 Ashwagandha has been found to have a wealth of health benefits, from immune boosting qualities to reducing stress and anxiety.

It can also promote cognitive function, endurance, muscle recovery rate, enhanced sexual performance health and can help to alleviate menopause symptoms.

Is KSM-66 the best Ashwagandha?

KSM-66 is the highest concentration, most bioavailable full-spectrum root extract on the market today, retaining all the natural constituents of the herb in the original balance.

It has the highest percentage of withanolides of all branded root-only extracts available today. It has more than 5% concentration of withanolides as measured by HPLC.

KSM-66 was awarded the Sports Nutrition Ingredient of the year, by The NutraIngredients Asia 2018, the recipient of “SFE-Herbal Industry Leader Award” 2016, Frost & Sullivan 2014 “Product Innovation in Botanicals” award, “Best Botanical Ingredient” award for 2013 at Natural Products Expo West and “Innovative Ingredient of the Year” award for 2012 at Panacea.⁸

Is KSM-66 the same as Sensoril Ashwagandha?

Sensoril Ashwagandha is a leaf and root extract that offers potential calming and sleep benefits, while KSM-66 Ashwagandha is a specialized root extract that closely resembles the natural ratios of bioactive constituents of the Ashwagandha root and is more uplifting.⁹

Sensoril ashwagandha is sometimes thought as the best ashwagandha powder because it contains both root and leaf extracts of Withania somnifera.

However, KSM-66 by Ixoreal offers a different approach with their patented Ashwagandha extract; Ixoreal has taken this traditional technique and refined it greatly to produce a high-quality full spectrum Ashwagandha, resembling the natural ratios of Ashwagandha root.

Ashwagandha root extract is better absorbed by the body than leaf extract.¹⁰

Deciding between KSM-66 and Sensoril Ashwagandha simply depends on what you’re hoping to achieve by taking a daily Ashwagandha supplement. It’s recommended that you pick the Sensoril Ashwagandha or KSM-66 ashwagandha capsule, powder or other form of supplement that most effectively aligns with your supplementation goals.

Summary

• Sensoril Ashwagandha is a leaf and root extract that offers potential calming and sleep benefits
• KSM-66 Ashwagandha is a specialized root extract that closely resembles the natural ratios of bioactive constituents of the Ashwagandha root and is more uplifting.

Is KSM-66 Ashwagandha safe?

Ashwagandha KSM-66 embodies the very essence of a preventative and curative approach to health in Ayurveda, referred to as the Prince of Herbs in Ayurveda.

KSM-66 is produced using a unique proprietary extraction process, based on “Green Chemistry” principles, without using alcohol or any other chemical solvent.¹¹

Green chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances. Green chemistry applies across the life cycle of a chemical product, including its design, manufacture, use, and ultimate disposal.¹²

KSM-66 is the ashwagandha root extract with the most extensive set of research studies and clinical trials. It is GRAS Affirmed, vegetarian, safe and shelf stable.

How to Use KSM-66

KSM-66 has a neutral taste, it is not bitter like other ashwagandha extracts, making it an excellent choice for use in foods and beverages.

Find out more about Ashwagandha, it’s uses and how to incorporate the supplement into your daily routine over at our Ashwagandha Guide.

KSM-66 Dosage

Dosage varies depending on your needs, but 300–600 mg per day for at least one month seems to be successful. The optimum dosage recommended for KSM-66 Ashwagandha is 600mg per day.¹³

KSM-66 Side Effects

Ashwagandha is believed to be safe for most people to take, although its long-term effects are unknown. Typical doses, taken on a short-term basis, may cause mild to moderate side effects, such as headaches, sleepiness, and stomach upsets.

You should avoid taking it if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or have an autoimmune disease, unless advised otherwise by your GP.

People who are taking medication for thyroid disease should also be careful when taking ashwagandha because it might increase thyroid hormone levels.

Summary

KSM-66 Ashwagandha is safe for most people to take on a short-term basis; like other herbs it may cause mild to moderate undesirable side effects, such as headaches, nausea, and stomach upsets.

The advice in this article is for information only and should not replace medical care. Please check with your GP or healthcare professional before trying any supplements, treatments or remedies. Food supplements must not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.

Last updated: 24 November 2022