News Health & Medicine Can taking ashwagandha supplements improve health? Some studies report benefits, but more research is needed Herbal supplements of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) are typically made from extracts of its roots (some shown), which some say smell like a wet horse — hence its sanskrit name that means “horse smell.” Piyush Kothari/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) Share this:EmailFacebookTwitterPinterestPocketRedditPrint By Sean Cummings September 13, 2024 at 11:00 am Practitioners of Ayurveda — a traditional Indian medicine system — have used the ashwagandha plant for thousands of years.