Ashwagandha, a herb long used in Ayurvedic practice, has become one of the most talked-about natural supplements this year.

According to recent search trend data, UK interest in ashwagandha has more than doubled in the past six months, highlighting growing curiosity around its potential to support stress, sleep, and energy levels.

Supplement expert, Charava, says this surge reflects a broader shift towards adaptogens in everyday routines.

Its medical writer, Dr. Sidra Samad, notes: “Ashwagandha has been studied for its adaptogenic properties, its potential to help the body respond to stress.

“Women are increasingly exploring it for energy, hormonal balance, and overall vitality. But understanding dosage, safety, and product quality is essential.”

Why ashwagandha is gaining attention:

• Early studies suggest potential benefits for energy, mood, and sleep support.
• Its adaptogenic nature appeals to women balancing busy work and home lives.
• Social platforms and wellnessmedia are spotlighting it as part of stress management and self-care routines.

Top 10 ashwagandha benefits for women

1. Energy and stamina
   Ashwagandha is often linked to improved energy and reduced fatigue. For women balancing work, family, and personal commitments, it may help support stamina and overall resilience.
2. Antioxidant support
   Rich in antioxidants, ashwagandha may protect the body from oxidative stress – an important factor in ageing and long-term wellness.
3. Sleep and relaxation
   Traditionally used to calm the mind and body, ashwagandha may improve sleep quality by reducing stress and anxiety, helping you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.
4. Brain health
   Early research suggests ashwagandha can support mood, focus, and memory. By helping the body manage stress, it may positively influence cognitive performance and mental clarity.
5. Heart health
   Studies indicate ashwagandha may aid cardiovascular wellnessby supporting healthy cholesterol, triglyceride levels, and lipid metabolism, while reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.
6. Sexual health and fertility
   This herb has long been associated with improved libido and arousal. It may also promote hormonal balance and reproductive wellness, although further research is needed.
7. Hormonal balance
   Ashwagandha’s adaptogenic properties can help regulate cortisol and support the endocrine system, which may lead to more stable hormone patterns and regular cycles.
8. PMS relief
   By easing stress and inflammation, ashwagandha may help with PMS symptoms such as fatigue, cramps, irritability, and bloating, making the premenstrual phase more manageable.
9. PCOS support
   For women with PCOS, ashwagandha may aid in hormone regulation and metabolic balance, potentially improving menstrual regularity and overall wellbeing.
10. Menopause support
    Ashwagandha may help reduce menopausal symptoms by supporting hormone balance and easing both physical and psychological discomfort, contributing to improved quality of life.

When to take it

The best time to take ashwagandha depends on your goals. For stress relief or better sleep, take it in the evening.

To support energy and vitality, the morning will work better. For hormonal balance, splitting the dose between morning and evening can help maintain consistent levels. Choosing a high-quality, root-only extract such as KSM-66 ensures both safety and potency.

Few HR professionals believe managers are properly trained to support employees with endometriosis and other menstrual health conditions, new research has revealed.

Only 16 per cent of HR professionals said line managers had the training or resources to effectively support staff with menstrual health issues, according to new research.

That figure dropped to 13 per cent for endometriosis – a disease affecting the lining of the womb, which impacts one in 10 women and those assigned female at birth from puberty to menopause.

The research, carried out by HR software provider Ciphr and the charity Endometriosis UK, surveyed 121 HR professionals and leaders in summer 2025.

It also found that many employers do not provide free period products or have flexible uniform rules.

Julie Burns is the Endometriosis Friendly Employer scheme manager at Endometriosis UK.

She said: “We know that there are many HR professionals already putting in place the right measures to enable those with endometriosis to feel valued, be productive and contribute to their organisation’s success – but as a charity we also hear stories of women and those assigned female at birth treated unfairly or without sympathy, forced to change careers or abandon their ambitions, because of the disease.

“We hope HR professionals recognise that providing support to the estimated 1.5m in the UK with endometriosis is in their interests.

“Doing so will not only enable that community to achieve their potential, but it sends a message to your wider team that they are valued and can expect support and reasonable adjustments.”

Menstrual health policies were far less common among UK employers (11 per cent) than those for mental health (57 per cent) or peri/menopause (48 per cent).

However, flexible working – offered by 89 per cent of employers – may provide some support for employees with endometriosis.

Only 21 per cent of employers recorded data on how many staff had a diagnosed or suspected menstrual health condition such as endometriosis.

Meanwhile, 29 per cent said free period products were not supplied at work, with another 3 per cent unsure.

Among organisations where uniforms are worn, just 18 per cent said employees were asked whether adjustments were needed.

This could be particularly relevant for those with endometriosis, who may experience bloating or heavy bleeding that can temporarily alter body shape by up to two dress sizes.

Claire Hawes, chief people and operations officer at Ciphr, said employers should take the findings seriously.

She said: “It’s concerning that these results reveal such a wide gap in organisational awareness and readiness to support employees living with endometriosis and other menstrual health conditions.

“When managers are perceived as unapproachable or ill-equipped to respond with empathy and understanding, organisations risk sidelining the needs of a significant part of their workforce.

“HR teams have a vital role to play in changing this. Managers must be empowered to support their people holistically – not just in terms of performance and KPIs, but in their health and wellbeing too.

“That means investing in training, implementing flexible policies, signposting resources, and fostering open, compassionate conversations about health.”

Sanchia Alasia is a trustee of Endometriosis UK and senior HR professional who lives with endometriosis.

Alasia said: “My personal and professional experience shows me that a little bit of flexibility can go a really long way.

“Those with endometriosis need to know that if they have a flare-up or need to attend a medical appointment, they can tell a manager and be believed and understood, rather than judged.

“That flexibility needs to be there both in the culture of an organisation and in the policies that line managers rely on.

“Ultimately, line managers need clarity, and all sorts of employees may need that flexibility at some time or another, regardless of whether they have endometriosis, another medical condition, or other circumstances affecting them.”

A targeted therapy has improved survival compared with chemotherapy in patients with triple-negative breast cancer who cannot receive immunotherapy.

The drug, an antibody-drug conjugate (a treatment that delivers chemotherapy directly to cancer cells), slowed tumour progression and extended survival compared with standard chemotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer – an aggressive form lacking three common receptors found in other breast cancers.

AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo’s Datroway succeeded in a Phase 3 trial involving patients whose tumours were either metastatic (spread to other parts of the body) or locally recurrent and inoperable. These patients were ineligible for a commonly used immunotherapy.

The companies said Datroway treatment led to a “statistically significant and clinically meaningful” improvement in both progression-free survival and overall survival, adding that the benefit in slowing tumour progression was “highly significant.”

They said it was the first time a survival benefit had been seen compared with chemotherapy in people unable to receive immunotherapy.

Ken Takeshita, Daiichi’s global head of research and development, said these “landmark” results have encouraged the companies to continue advancing Datroway programmes for triple-negative breast cancer and other tumour types.

They said full study details will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting and submitted to global regulators “as soon as possible.”

Datroway is one of several antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) being developed by AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo in the hope of replacing chemotherapy in many tumour types.

The drug targets a protein called TROP2, which is overexpressed in multiple cancers.

The companies have high expectations for Datroway following the clinical and commercial success of Enhertu, another ADC they co-developed that has helped transform treatment for certain breast cancers.

However, Datroway’s benefits have so far been less clear, leading to a narrower approval in lung cancer and lower commercial expectations in some advanced breast tumours.

In triple-negative tumours, Datroway could face competition from Gilead’s Trodelvy, another antibody-drug conjugate that targets TROP2.

Earlier this year, Gilead said Trodelvy kept tumours in check longer than chemotherapy in a trial also involving people ineligible for immunotherapy, although that study had not yet shown a survival benefit.

According to AstraZeneca, about 70 per cent of people with triple-negative breast cancer cannot receive immunotherapy, leaving chemotherapy as the first-line standard of care.

“We expect today’s results will mark an inflection point in the treatment of these patients who have the poorest prognosis of any type of breast cancer and urgently need better options,” said Susan Galbraith, who leads AstraZeneca’s cancer and blood disease R&D.

AstraZeneca shares rose by over 1 per cent in Monday morning trading, while Daiichi’s climbed by about 4 per cent.