Last updated: October 2026
Yes. When we checked hollandandbarrett.com in October 2026, its ashwagandha section listed 76 products from over 50 brands. Holland and Barrett’s own brand had two single-ingredient capsules: Ashwagandha KSM-66 600mg (a root-only extract) and Ashwagandha 500mg (a 10:1 root extract standardised to 7% withanolides), plus an H&B Expert night-time blend.
Everything here comes from Holland and Barrett’s own product pages and official sources, checked 23 October 2026. We don’t rate, rank or review other brands’ products.
Want ashwagandha with CBD? Our Flow CBD Oil combines broad spectrum CBD with ashwagandha and maca in one daytime oil, which is unusual in UK CBD. Evopure is sold online only and isn’t sold by, or connected with, Holland and Barrett.
What ashwagandha does Holland and Barrett sell?
On 23 October 2026 Holland and Barrett’s ashwagandha page listed 76 products. Of those, 15 were sold by Holland and Barrett itself and 61 by what it calls “trusted sellers”, other companies selling through its website.
Most products were capsules or tablets. We also counted 12 gummies, two powders, a tea, liquid extracts and oral sprays. 27 product names mentioned KSM-66, and several products combine ashwagandha with other ingredients such as lion’s mane, magnesium, L-theanine, rhodiola, saffron or turmeric.
The brands sold by Holland and Barrett itself were Holland and Barrett, H&B Expert, Trip, Wild Nutrition, Solgar, Novomins, DR.VEGAN, Starpowa, Nature’s Way, Turmeric Vitality, Zooki, Mission, The Herbtender and Grass and Co. Stock in shops varies, so check the website or ask in store. For CBD at the same shop, see what Holland and Barrett sells in CBD.
Holland and Barrett’s own-brand ashwagandha
Here is what the two own-brand capsule pages said when we checked:
| On the listing | KSM-66 600mg | Ashwagandha 500mg |
|---|---|---|
| Extract | KSM-66 root extract | 10:1 root extract |
| Per capsule | 600mg | 500mg (“equivalent to 5,000mg”) |
| Withanolides | “Standardised”, % not stated | 7% (35mg) |
| Directions | 1 a day, with a meal | 1 a day, with a meal |
| Pack | 30 capsules | 30 capsules |
| Capsule | Vegetable (HPMC), vegan | Vegetable (HPMC), vegan |
Both pages advise anyone who is pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or under medical supervision to consult a doctor or healthcare professional first, and to stop and see a doctor if adverse reactions occur.
H&B Expert Calm Night Reset is a blend taken as two capsules at night. Per two capsules, its page lists 600mg of KSM-66 organic ashwagandha root extract, 264mg of turmeric extract, 100mg of L-theanine, magnesium bisglycinate (56mg of magnesium) and 5mg of BioPerine black pepper extract. Its advisory is stricter: not suitable in pregnancy or breastfeeding, if you take any medication, or if you have chronic health conditions, especially endocrine disorders, liver or heart problems or clinical depression, and not for under 18s.
Holland and Barrett ashwagandha KSM-66, 10:1 and withanolides explained
Three details on the label tell you what you’re getting:
- Branded extract (KSM-66). KSM-66 is a named ashwagandha root extract made to a set specification. Holland and Barrett’s page describes it as a clinically studied, root-only, full-spectrum extract, standardised for withanolides.
- Extract ratio (10:1). This tells you about 10 parts of dried root went into 1 part of extract, which is why 500mg can be “equivalent to 5,000mg”. It describes the starting material, not the strength of the active compounds.
- Withanolide %. Withanolides are the compounds researchers usually measure. The own-brand 500mg capsule states 7% (35mg per capsule). For comparison, the Solgar root extract on the same site lists 300mg of extract at 1.5% withanolides (4.5mg), plus 100mg of root powder.
The plant part matters too. Supplements can use root, leaf or both, and most of the well-known stress and sleep trials used root extract. Here is what some of them gave:
- A 60-day trial in 64 adults with chronic stress used 300mg of a high-concentration, full-spectrum root extract twice a day (600mg in total).
- An 8-week trial in 60 stressed adults compared 125mg and 300mg of a root extract, each taken twice a day, with a placebo.
- A 10-week trial in 60 adults with poor sleep used 300mg of root extract twice a day.
You can only match a product to a trial if its label gives the same extract and amount. Our guide to how much ashwagandha per day has a table by extract type, and when to take ashwagandha covers morning versus night.
Holland and Barrett ashwagandha gummies
Holland and Barrett listed 12 ashwagandha gummies in October 2026. These three were sold by Holland and Barrett itself:
| Gummy | Ashwagandha per 2 | Sweetened with | Also contains |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trip, 60 | 3,000mg KSM-66 (as listed) | Glucose syrup, sugar | Vitamins D, B6, B12 |
| Novomins, 60 | 1,500mg (KSM-66) | Maltitol, isomalt, erythritol | Vitamins B5, B6, D |
| Starpowa, 60 | 500mg | Maltitol, sorbitol and others | Vitamins B5, B1, iodine |
Three things are worth knowing about gummies in general:
- Headline numbers vary. Per-serving amounts ranged from 500mg to 3,000mg, and gummy pages don’t always say whether a figure is the extract itself or an “equivalent” amount of dried root. Compare like with like, and ask the brand if it isn’t clear.
- Sweeteners. Sugar-free gummies use polyols such as maltitol, and their pages warn that eating too many may have a laxative effect.
- Added nutrients. Many add vitamins, and one adds iodine. If you have a thyroid condition or already take a multivitamin, add up what you’re getting.
Ashwagandha benefits: what the research says
Here is an honest summary of the research on ashwagandha in general, whichever shop you buy from:
- Stress. A 2022 review of 12 trials (1,002 people) found ashwagandha may help a little with how stressed people felt, with results clustering around 300 to 600mg a day. The reviewers rated the certainty of the evidence as low.
- Sleep. Some small trials found people fell asleep slightly faster than with a placebo. The differences were modest.
- Overall picture. The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) notes that many studies have been small and used different preparations, and that long-term safety isn’t established. Most trials lasted 6 to 12 weeks.
No food supplement can claim to treat or prevent a medical condition, including anxiety or insomnia. Our guides to ashwagandha and anxiety, ashwagandha and sleep, ashwagandha for men and ashwagandha for women go through the trials one by one.
If stress, low mood or poor sleep is affecting your daily life, speak to your GP. Those deserve a proper check, not just a supplement.
Is ashwagandha banned in Europe or the UK?
Not in the UK. In October 2026 ashwagandha is legal to sell as a food supplement here, but its safety is under review. Across Europe the picture is mixed:
- Denmark banned ashwagandha in food supplements in 2023, after a Danish review concluded that a safe intake level couldn’t be set.
- The Netherlands (the RIVM institute) advises consumers not to use ashwagandha supplements or tea, and France (ANSES) advises certain groups to avoid them, including pregnant women and people with thyroid, liver or heart conditions.
- EU level. In June 2024 a working group of EU food safety agency heads recommended ashwagandha for a formal EU safety review. That is a review, not a ban.
- UK. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) ran a call for evidence from July to September 2024 and published a summary of the 19 responses in June 2026. The independent Committee on Toxicity (COT) discussed a second draft statement on ashwagandha in May 2026, kept confidential for now. The FSA will then carry out a risk assessment and publish the outcome.
While the review continues, the FSA has said it would advise people with pre-existing liver conditions and pregnant women to avoid ashwagandha supplements. Our UK ashwagandha safety review tracks each step.
Who should avoid ashwagandha, plus alcohol and medicines
Whichever brand you choose, don’t take ashwagandha, or check with your GP or pharmacist first, if any of these apply:
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding: avoid it. See ashwagandha and breastfeeding.
- Liver conditions: avoid it. Liver injury linked to ashwagandha is rare, but in one published case series five people developed jaundice 2 to 12 weeks after starting it. Their liver tests returned to normal within 1 to 5 months in the four who were followed up.
- Thyroid or autoimmune conditions, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, or surgery coming up.
- Regular medicines. NCCIH lists possible interactions with diabetes, blood pressure, thyroid, sedative, anti-seizure and immune-suppressing medicines.
- Under 18s.
Ashwagandha and alcohol. We couldn’t find official UK guidance on alcohol and ashwagandha specifically. Ashwagandha can cause drowsiness in some people, and sedative medicines are on the NCCIH interaction list, so if you drink regularly or take anything that makes you sleepy, ask your GP or pharmacist first. Our alcohol and sleep guide explains why a nightcap tends to disturb sleep anyway.
Stop taking ashwagandha and see a doctor if you notice yellowing skin or eyes, or itching all over. Common, milder side effects include drowsiness and stomach upset. See ashwagandha side effects for the full list.
A label checklist for any ashwagandha
These checks work at Holland and Barrett, Home Bargains or online:
| Check | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Plant part | Root, leaf or both |
| Extract | Named extract (KSM-66) or ratio (10:1) |
| Strength | Withanolide %, and mg of extract per dose |
| Daily amount | Follow one label; don’t stack products |
| Other ingredients | Added vitamins, iodine, sweeteners, herbs |
| Testing | Ask the brand for third-party lab results |
| Warnings | Pregnancy, liver, thyroid, medication |
Comparing ashwagandha with other options? See ashwagandha vs magnesium and reishi vs ashwagandha.
Where Evopure fits
Evopure isn’t sold by Holland and Barrett, and we’re not connected with it. We sell online, direct from our own website:
- Flow CBD Oil: broad spectrum CBD with ashwagandha and maca in MCT oil, in 500mg and 1,000mg 10ml bottles, made for daytime. Few UK CBD oils add herbs like this. Read more in CBD and ashwagandha.
- Magnesium Glycinate Sleep Complex: magnesium bisglycinate and citrate (148mg of elemental magnesium per serving), with glycine, L-theanine, chamomile, passionflower, hops and oat straw, in a berry flavour. Magnesium contributes to a reduction of tiredness and fatigue and to normal psychological function.
- Reishi Mushroom Adaptogenic Complex: a reishi hot chocolate made with reishi mushroom extract, organic cacao, maca, coconut milk powder and coconut sugar. It contains a little natural caffeine from the cacao.
Everything we make is vegan, made in the UK and tested by ISO 17025 accredited labs, with reports on request from our lab testing page. Our CBD products are broad spectrum, 0% THC and on the FSA public list, linked to validated applications RP438, RP821 and RP47. Our products are for adults (18+) only. We don’t recommend our products during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
The FSA’s 10mg a day figure is precautionary advice rather than a legal limit, set while longer-term safety research continues. At Evopure we think it is a very cautious figure, and many adults use more. If you go above it, increase slowly, and check with your GP or pharmacist first if you take any medication.
FAQs
Does Holland and Barrett sell ashwagandha?
Yes. In October 2026 its website listed 76 ashwagandha products, including capsules, tablets, gummies, powders and liquids. 15 were sold by Holland and Barrett itself and the rest by trusted sellers through its site. Stock varies by shop.
Is Holland and Barrett ashwagandha KSM-66?
One of its own-brand capsules is: Ashwagandha KSM-66 600mg, one capsule a day. Its other own-brand capsule, Ashwagandha 500mg, uses a 10:1 root extract standardised to 7% withanolides rather than KSM-66.
Does Holland and Barrett sell ashwagandha gummies?
Yes. We counted 12 ashwagandha gummies in October 2026, from brands including Trip, Novomins and Starpowa. Amounts per serving ranged from 500mg to 3,000mg, so compare the label carefully.
How much ashwagandha should I take?
Follow the label of the product you buy and don’t combine products. For context, most stress and sleep trials used 250 to 600mg a day of a root extract, for 6 to 12 weeks.
Is ashwagandha banned in Europe?
Denmark banned it in food supplements in 2023, and the Netherlands advises against using it. It is legal in the UK as of October 2026, but the FSA is reviewing its safety and advises people with liver conditions and pregnant women to avoid it.
Can you drink alcohol with ashwagandha?
There is no specific UK guidance. Ashwagandha can cause drowsiness and may interact with sedative medicines, so if you drink regularly or take anything that makes you sleepy, check with your GP or pharmacist first.
Is Evopure sold in Holland and Barrett?
No. Evopure is sold online, direct from our own website, and isn’t connected with Holland and Barrett. Our Flow CBD Oil contains ashwagandha and maca alongside broad spectrum CBD.
Sources
- Holland and Barrett. Ashwagandha category page and product pages for Ashwagandha KSM-66 600mg, Ashwagandha 500mg and H&B Expert Calm Night Reset, checked 23 October 2026.
- Food Standards Agency, GOV.UK. Summary of responses to call for evidence on ashwagandha (June 2026).
- Committee on Toxicity, GOV.UK. Draft minutes of the 19 May 2026 COT meeting.
- Which? Ashwagandha: stress buster or health risk? (1 June 2026, includes the FSA’s statement).
- NutritionInsight (August 2024). Regulatory update: international authorities’ response to ashwagandha safety concerns (Denmark, the Netherlands, France, EU).
- NCCIH. Ashwagandha: usefulness and safety.
- Chandrasekhar K et al (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. PMID 23439798.
- Salve J et al (2019). Adaptogenic and anxiolytic effects of ashwagandha root extract in healthy adults. Cureus. PMID 32021735.
- Langade D et al (2019). Efficacy and safety of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root extract in insomnia and anxiety. Cureus. PMID 31728244.
- Akhgarjand C et al (2022). Does ashwagandha supplementation have a beneficial effect on the management of anxiety and stress? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Phytotherapy Research. PMID 36017529.
- Björnsson HK et al (2020). Ashwagandha-induced liver injury: a case series from Iceland and the US Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network. Liver International. PMID 31991029.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Evopure makes Flow CBD Oil, the Magnesium Glycinate Sleep Complex and the Reishi Mushroom Adaptogenic Complex. Evopure is not sold by or connected with Holland and Barrett or any brand named here; product details come from hollandandbarrett.com, checked 23 October 2026. Ranges and recipes change, so always check the label of the product you buy. If you run one of these brands and something here is out of date, email support@evopure.co.uk and we will correct it.
