What is Ashwagandha? KSM-66 vs Generic Extracts, Explained

What is ashwagandha — direct answers

Ashwagandha is the common name of Withania somnifera, an evergreen shrub in the Solanaceae family native to India, the Middle East and parts of Africa. Its root has been used in Ayurvedic practice for over 3,000 years; the Sanskrit name refers to the smell of the fresh root. KSM-66 is a branded, root-only extract of ashwagandha produced by Ixoreal Biomed, studied in more than 20 randomised human trials. Notable randomised placebo-controlled trials include Chandrasekhar et al. 2012 (Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine) and Lopresti et al. 2019 (Medicine). No EU/UK health claims are authorised for ashwagandha. Vitality Supplements uses 300mg of KSM-66 per serving in Cortisol Balance, a 7-ingredient adaptogen complex, described factually with authorised claims carried only by its vitamin B5 and vitamin C content.

Vitality Guides · Adaptogen Series

What is ashwagandha — and what makes KSM-66® different?

The botany, the traditional history, the branded-extract question and the human research on Withania somnifera — referenced to primary sources, with no claims dressed up as facts.

9 min read · Evidence-referenced · Reviewed Aug 2026
UK manufacturedISO/IEC 17025 batch tested4.8★ from 2,400+ reviewsEvidence-referenced
Quick answer

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a small evergreen shrub whose root has been used in Ayurvedic practice for over 3,000 years. KSM-66® is a branded, root-only extract of the plant and one of the most clinically studied ashwagandha extracts available, appearing in more than 20 randomised human trials. In the UK it is sold as a food supplement; no EU/UK health claims are authorised for ashwagandha, so credible brands describe it factually and let the referenced research speak for itself.

Key takeaways
  • Ashwagandha is the root of Withania somnifera, a shrub in the nightshade family used in Ayurveda for millennia
  • KSM-66® is a branded root-only extract — naming it on a label tells you exactly which material and specification is in the capsule
  • Randomised, placebo-controlled human trials exist — including Chandrasekhar 2012 and Lopresti 2019 — and are linked below
  • No EU/UK health claims are authorised for ashwagandha; claims you see on labels for it are not from the official register
  • Generic “ashwagandha powder” on a label tells you neither the plant part, the extraction, nor the withanolide specification
The plant

A root with three thousand years of history.

Withania somnifera is a small evergreen shrub in the nightshade family (Solanaceae), native to India, the Middle East and parts of North Africa. It grows to about a metre, with dull green leaves and small orange-red berries — but it is the pale, fleshy root that carries the plant’s entire reputation.

In Ayurvedic practice the root has been in continuous use for an estimated 3,000 years, classified as a rasayana — a tonic category. The Sanskrit name is usually translated as “smell of the horse”, a reference to the odour of the fresh root. The species name somnifera is Latin for “sleep-inducing”, a nod to its traditional evening use.

The root’s characteristic compounds are the withanolides — a family of naturally occurring steroidal lactones used as the standardisation marker for extracts.

Modern supplements are almost never raw root powder at meaningful strength; they are extracts, concentrated and — in the better cases — standardised to a stated withanolide content. Which raises the question the next section answers: if two labels both say “ashwagandha”, why can the capsules contain very different things?

The branded-extract question

KSM-66® vs “ashwagandha powder”.

“Ashwagandha” on an ingredients list is a plant name, not a specification. It does not tell you which part of the plant was used (root, leaf, or both), how it was extracted, or what it contains. Leaf material is cheaper and chemically different from root; unstandardised powder can vary batch to batch.

A branded extract closes that gap. KSM-66® is produced by Ixoreal Biomed from the root only, using a defined extraction process, to a consistent specification — and it is the specific material used in a large share of the published human trials. When a label names KSM-66®, the material in the capsule is the material in the studies.

20+
Human trials
A studied material
KSM-66® has been used in more than twenty randomised human trials across stress, sleep, exercise and cognition research — the extract itself, not just the plant.
Root
Only
No leaf material
Traditional use and most clinical work concerns the root. KSM-66® excludes leaf entirely, which cheaper extracts sometimes blend in undisclosed.
1
Named source
A checkable label
A branded extract can be verified: the producer, the process and the specification are public. “Ashwagandha extract 10:1” from an unnamed source cannot.

This is why Cortisol Balance names KSM-66® on the front of the pouch at its full 300mg dose — the point of paying for the branded material is being able to say exactly what is in the capsule.

Primary sources

The human research, linked directly.

Ashwagandha root extract has been tested in randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled human trials — the study design that controls for placebo effects. We link the papers rather than paraphrase their conclusions into marketing; read them and draw your own conclusions.

  • Chandrasekhar K, Kapoor J, Anishetty S (2012). A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine 34(3):255–262. KSM-66, 300mg twice daily, 60 days, 64 adults. PubMed →
  • Lopresti AL, Smith SJ, Malvi H, Kodgule R (2019). An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha extract: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Medicine 98(37):e17186. 60 adults, 60 days. PubMed →
  • Salve J, Pate S, Debnath K, Langade D (2019). Adaptogenic and anxiolytic effects of ashwagandha root extract in healthy adults: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study. Cureus 11(12):e6466. Compared 250mg and 600mg daily over 8 weeks. PubMed →

What we do not say: no EU/UK health claim is authorised for ashwagandha, so no responsible label or page should tell you it will do anything for you. These studies concern the extract in specific populations under trial conditions; findings do not transfer automatically to any individual, and Vitality has no involvement in this research.

Sensible use

Safety and who should avoid it.

In published trials, ashwagandha root extract at studied doses has generally been reported as well tolerated over study durations of 8–12 weeks. That is a statement about trial reporting, not a promise. The standard food-supplement cautions apply, and a few groups should not take it at all:

  • Pregnant or breastfeeding: do not use ashwagandha — consult a doctor.
  • On medication or under medical supervision: speak to your doctor or pharmacist before use, particularly for thyroid, immune or sedative medication.
  • Under 18: not for use.
  • Autoimmune or thyroid conditions: raise it with your clinician first.
  • Discontinue and consult a doctor if any adverse reaction occurs; food supplements must not replace a varied, balanced diet.
Common questions

Frequently asked questions.

Ashwagandha is the common name of Withania somnifera, an evergreen shrub in the nightshade family whose root has been used in Ayurvedic practice for around 3,000 years. Modern supplements use root extracts, ideally standardised and — in the best case — branded, so the material is a known quantity.

KSM-66® is a branded, root-only ashwagandha extract produced by Ixoreal Biomed to a defined specification. It is one of the most clinically studied ashwagandha extracts, used in more than 20 randomised human trials, which is why naming it on a label carries information that “ashwagandha powder” does not.

We make no such claim. No EU/UK health claim is authorised for ashwagandha. Randomised placebo-controlled trials exist and are linked in this guide — read them directly rather than taking any brand’s word for what they show.

The most-cited KSM-66 trial (Chandrasekhar 2012) used 300mg twice daily for 60 days; Salve 2019 compared 250mg and 600mg daily. Cortisol Balance provides 300mg of KSM-66® per 2-capsule serving, stated on the label. Follow the label; do not exceed the stated dose.

Traditional use and the majority of the clinical literature concern the root. Leaf material is chemically different and cheaper, and some generic extracts include it without saying so. Root-only, branded material removes that ambiguity.

Anyone pregnant or breastfeeding, anyone under 18, and anyone on medication or with a medical condition — particularly thyroid or autoimmune conditions — without speaking to a doctor first.

Cortisol Balance contains 300mg of KSM-66® Ashwagandha per serving as part of a 7-ingredient, 925mg complex in which every ingredient is individually dosed — alongside standardised rhodiola, phosphatidylserine, L-theanine, magnesium glycinate, vitamin C and vitamin B5.

Seven ingredients, every amount on the label.

Cortisol Balance pairs 300mg of KSM-66® Ashwagandha with standardised rhodiola, phosphatidylserine, L-theanine, magnesium glycinate, vitamin C and vitamin B5 — 925mg per serving, no proprietary blend, independently third-party tested.

View Cortisol Balance →
Free UK delivery60-day guaranteeThird-party testedVegan
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About Vitality Supplements

Vitality Supplements is a UK supplement brand built on full-dose transparency: every ingredient named and individually dosed, third-party tested at an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory, and every guide referenced to primary literature. Our guides are educational; they describe compounds and research factually and are not medical advice. Food supplements must not replace a varied, balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.

Reviewed & updated: August 2026 · Vitality Supplements, London