Does Ashwagandha Make You Emotionless? Uncover the Truth

Ashwagandha is everywhere, from sleep aids to anxiety supplements.

But now some users are posing a different kind of question: Does ashwagandha make you emotionless?

You are here because you seek answers, not hype.

So let’s cut to the chase and find out what’s really happening when this ancient adaptogen encounters your modern nervous system.

Because calm shouldn’t feel like nothing at all.

Let’s break it down.

What Ashwagandha Really Does to Your Brain and Mood

Ashwagandha is a potent adaptogen—compounds that help your body cope with stress (1).

It does so primarily by modulating cortisol, your body’s main stress hormone (2).

Less cortisol = less panicking, less spiking of anxiety, and often better sleep.

But it also works on neurotransmitters such as GABA and serotonin.

That’s where things get interesting.

GABA is a calming neurotransmitter.

It slows brain activity and helps ease stress and promote mental stillness.

Serotonin, meanwhile, is connected to mood and emotion regulation.

At very subtle levels, ashwagandha may help modulate GABA-like effects and have a bit of serotonin for good measure (3).

In theory, that’s a recipe for emotional equilibrium, not emotional deadness.

Can Ashwagandha Make You Emotionless?

Some say they feel “flat” or “numb” after taking ashwagandha (4).

It’s easy to attribute the herb as being responsible.

But the actual answer is more nuanced.

To some people, what is being read as “emotionless” actually reads as calm — a feeling with which they may not be familiar.

For those of us who have been lurching through life in high-stress mode, that sudden reduction in mental noise can feel … well, empty.

That can feel strange — especially if you’re accustomed to anxiety being your default mode.

But being less reactive does not mean that your emotions are absent.

It might mean that you are finally letting your nervous system off the hook.

Who Might Be Most Sensitive to Emotional Blunting?

If you’re prone to depression or apathy, ashwagandha might magnify those feelings.

That’s not because the herb induces or causes depression.

It’s that you might not have such a range of emotions after all.

Ashwagandha might then blunt what’s left of the highs and leave you feeling “flat.”

It may be the case that the composite effects suppress emotional highs for those of us also on medications like SSRIs (which provide added but subtler benefit after methylphenidate or other nootropics raise baseline levels).

That’s why individualized use matters.

Your individual body chemistry will always dictate what you need to have in your supplement stack.

Ashwagandha Side Effects You Need to Know About

Ashwagandha is generally well-tolerated.

But as with any supplement, side effects are a possibility.

These may include:

• Digestive discomfort
• Excessive sleepiness
• Hormonal Long-term high-dose use

But “emotional numbness” is not a side effect that doctors acknowledge.

But if not balanced carefully, it could upset your emotional range in high doses over long periods.

If you feel off, it’s because your body (or mind) is asking for a change — not a total stop.

Anhedonia, PSSD, and Emotional Numbing — What You Need to Know

Let’s talk terms.

Anhedonia is when you cannot feel pleasure.

PSSD is an unusual condition associated with SSRI discontinuation.

Neither has been directly linked to ashwagandha in the clinical literature.

So although some hear mumbling about emotional numbness, there’s no science behind it — yet.

That being said, if you are feeling emotionally out of sorts, it’s a good idea to reevaluate your stack and dose.

Taking Ashwagandha Without Dousing Your Flame

It doesn’t have to be that ashwagandha is dimming your brilliance.

And it potentially can be a means by which to help you feel more grounded — if approached with intention.

Start low, go slow.

20–300 mg of a high-quality root extract is usually sufficient.

More is not always better.

Cycling — breaking every few weeks — can also prevent emotional blunting.

If you are sensitive, use only for high-stress times, not every day.

Seek out whole-root extracts like those in Wild Foods’ reWild Adaptogen Stack, which focuses on purity and balance instead of sedation.

Combining Ashwagandha with Lifestyle Upgrades

The most effective way to keep the spark in...?

And don’t be satisfied with a capsule alone.

For best results, use ashwagandha in conjunction with the building blocks of health:

• Prioritize deep, restful sleep
• Eat nutrient-dense real foods
• Move your body every day
• Soak up the sun and experience nature

These are the ideas that inspire everything The Wild Foods Co® mission is about—helping you rediscover your natural rhythm.

Ashwagandha should complement these habits, not take the place of them.

Final Thoughts

So if you’re wondering, does ashwagandha make you emotionless, here’s the answer:

It may make you feel different — but it’s not necessarily harming your feelings.

More often, it diminishes stress by a degree that may even feel foreign.

Imagine it as dimming background noise so you can finally hear what your own thoughts sound like.

But if you continue to feel so disconnected, then consider changing your dose, taking a break, or consulting a health professional.

Your emotions are feedback loops, not flaws.

Use that feedback wisely.

And if you’d like to experience those balancing effects of ashwagandha without becoming some sort of mellowed-out hemp necklace ray of human sunshine: try Wild Foods’ Adaptogenic Stack, made with whole-root integrity and wild-sourced purity.

Let nature recalibrate you.

☀️ Fuel Calm. Fire Focus. Daily Nutra’s Ashwagandha helps you feel grounded, energized, and ready for anything. ☀️

FAQs on Does Ashwagandha Make You Emotionless

Is it possible to feel absolutely nothing because of ashwagandha?

No, it usually doesn’t completely numb emotions. It might also relieve stress and over-arousal, which can feel strange or numb to some.

How long does Ashwagandha take to feel emotionally?

Most people feel less anxious within a few days to two weeks. Emotional changes can be dependent on dose and individual biochemistry.

Is it possible for ashwagandha to cause depression or apathy?

There is no clinical evidence linking ashwagandha with depression. There’s one thing about phenibut that disrupts the sweet dream of a harm-free way to take off: Higher dosing and stacking with other sedatives might lead some people to feel emotionally dull.

Is emotional blunting from ashwagandha permanent?

No. If it happens, reporting of side effects coincident with pain reduction with the dose or time off often takes care of it.

If I feel nothing/flat after taking ashwagandha, what do I do?

If so, decrease your dose, stop taking the supplement, and consider other factors such as sleep, diet, or drug interactions. Seek advice from a healthcare professional if symptoms continue.

Related Studies

1. Title: Dual impact of Ashwagandha: Significant cortisol reduction through meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

This systematic review and meta-analysis found that Ashwagandha significantly lowers cortisol levels, supporting its role as an adaptogen in stress management.

Link: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02601060251363647

2. Title: An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological activity of ashwagandha extract in stressed adults

A 60-day randomized controlled trial demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in cortisol levels in adults supplemented with Ashwagandha compared to placebo.

Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6750292/

3. Title: Effects of Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera) on stress, anxiety, and cortisol: A systematic review

A meta-analysis found Ashwagandha supplementation significantly reduces stress and anxiety levels without evidence of emotional numbness or adverse mood effects.

Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1550830724001691

4. Title: Ashwagandha: Is it helpful for stress, anxiety, or sleep? (NIH)

The National Institutes of Health fact sheet highlights Ashwagandha's benefits for stress and anxiety reduction and makes no mention of associations with anhedonia or Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction, suggesting no established scientific link.

Link: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Ashwagandha-HealthProfessional/