NOW Foods Ashwagandha Stress Relief 60 Veg Capsules

What it is

NOW Foods Ashwagandha Stress Relief is a dietary supplement supplied as 60 veg capsules in a white bottle with a dark purple screw cap. One capsule is one serving, and that serving carries two listed ingredients: 300 mg of ashwagandha extract and 150 mg of casein hydrolysate, the bioactive milk peptide preparation sold under the Lactium® trademark. The bottle front shows the NOW logo, the product name, the count and the line “A Dietary Supplement”.

The Supplement Facts panel wraps around the side of the bottle beneath a “General Health” banner and the line “Family owned since 1968.” Because the serving size is a single capsule, 60 capsules work out to 60 servings in the bottle — a figure derived from the printed count and serving size, because the panel itself prints no servings row. You can browse more single-herb products of this kind in Herbs & Botanicals, or the wider Supplements range.

What’s inside

The panel lists two ingredients by amount and three other ingredients by name, with both amounts given individually.

Ashwagandha Extract (Withania somnifera), 300 mg. Ashwagandha is a short woody shrub in the nightshade family, grown across India, the Middle East and parts of northern Africa, and its root has a long history in Ayurvedic preparations. The panel is specific about two things worth reading carefully: the extract is drawn from root and leaf, not root alone, and it is standardized to a minimum of 2.5% total withanolides. Withanolides are the naturally occurring steroidal lactones that laboratories use as marker compounds when they standardize an ashwagandha extract, so that percentage is a specification of the raw material rather than a statement about you. General background on the herb is published in the NCCIH page on ashwagandha, and the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements publishes a wider primer on botanical dietary supplements.

Casein Hydrolysate (Bioactive Milk Peptides) (Lactium®), 150 mg. Casein is the main protein in cow’s milk. A hydrolysate is that protein broken down by enzymes into shorter peptide chains, and Lactium® is the registered trademark Ingredia uses for its milk-peptide preparation — the trademark attribution is printed on the panel. The practical point for a shopper is the source: this ingredient is milk-derived, the panel states “Contains milk”, and the printed caution says not to take the product if you are allergic to milk protein.

Other ingredients: Hypromellose (cellulose capsule), Stearic Acid (vegetable source) and Silicon Dioxide. Hypromellose is the plant-derived cellulose the capsule shell is made from; stearic acid and silicon dioxide are standard supplement-manufacturing ingredients. The panel assigns no role to these, so neither do we. The panel also notes that natural color variation may occur in this product.

Supplement Facts

How to use it

The printed Suggested Usage is: “Take 1 capsule 1 to 2 times daily, with or without food.” That is the full labeled range — one capsule as a minimum, two capsules across a day as the maximum, and no requirement to pair them with a meal. The panel does not tie a capsule to a fixed hour of the day.

For storage, the panel says to store the bottle in a cool, dry place after opening. The capsule shell itself is cellulose, which is what the Other Ingredients line means by “Hypromellose (cellulose capsule)”.

Who it’s for

This is an adults-only product, and the bottle says so in plain terms: “For adults only. Not recommended for pregnant/nursing women.” Beyond that, it suits an adult shopper who wants a named, single-herb ashwagandha extract with a disclosed milligram amount and a stated standardization, rather than an unlabeled blend — and who is comfortable with a second ingredient derived from milk.

It is not a fit for anyone with a milk allergy, for anyone avoiding dairy-derived ingredients, or for anyone whose doctor has asked them to check supplements first. If you are browsing the Health & Wellness aisle for a dairy-free option, this one is not it — the panel is explicit that the product contains milk.

Good to know

The caution block is printed on the bottle and is worth reading before you buy. As printed: for adults only; not recommended for pregnant or nursing women; do not take if allergic to milk protein; consult a physician if taking medication (especially thyroid hormones) or if you have a medical condition (especially thyroid and gastrointestinal conditions, including ulcers); discontinue use if rash or itching occurs; keep out of reach of children.

The allergen line reads: “Contains milk. Not manufactured with yeast, wheat, gluten, soy, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut or sesame ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.” The panel also states that the product is made and quality tested in the USA with globally sourced ingredients, and carries a “GMP Quality Assured” seal. The manufacturer address printed on the bottle is NOW Foods, 395 S. Glen Ellyn Rd., Bloomingdale, IL 60108, USA. If you want neutral background on how dietary supplements are regulated in the United States before you decide, the FDA publishes a consumer page on dietary supplements.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many capsules are in the bottle?

Sixty. The front of the bottle reads “60 Veg Capsules”, and the Supplement Facts panel sets the serving size at 1 Veg Capsule, so the bottle holds 60 servings.

Does this product contain milk?

Yes. The Supplement Facts panel lists Casein Hydrolysate (Bioactive Milk Peptides) (Lactium®) at 150 mg and prints the words “Contains milk”, and the caution on the bottle says not to take it if you are allergic to milk protein.

What part of the ashwagandha plant does this use, and how strong is the extract?

Root and leaf, standardized to a minimum of 2.5% total withanolides, at 300 mg per serving. The panel prints it as “Ashwagandha Extract (Withania somnifera) (Root and Leaf) (min. 2.5% Total Withanolides)”, which is a more specific description than a plain root-powder listing.

What else is in the capsule besides the two listed ingredients?

Three other ingredients: Hypromellose (cellulose capsule), Stearic Acid (vegetable source) and Silicon Dioxide. Both of the listed ingredient amounts are printed individually on the panel rather than pooled into one combined figure.

How is this order packaged for delivery?

Orders ship in plain outer packaging. It will not show the Gear Isle name.

Product information compiled and reviewed by the Gear Isle product team. We transcribe supplement facts directly from manufacturer packaging. Found an error? Tell us.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Dietary supplement for adults 18 and over. Consult a licensed healthcare professional before use, especially if you have a medical condition, heart concerns, or take prescription medication (including nitrates). Keep out of reach of children.