For my last giveaway I purchased one of Nootropics Depots sample packs to give out to a subscriber. Alongside that purchase I also added a bottle of Sensoril to the cart. Ashwagandha had been on my list of compounds to try for quite some time. Browsing the nootropics subreddit and other forums I saw many people raving about the stuff. It’s a very potent herb indeed as I described in my recent review.

Doing my research I began to see patterns in the way people were talking about Ashwagandha. At first, I thought KSM-66 and Sensoril were just other names for Ashwagandha. While this is somewhat true, there are crucial differences between each version as I will outline in this post.

Ashwagandha

Let’s start by examining Ashwagandha itself. Ashwagandha, otherwise known as Withania Somnifera, is a shrubby plant cultivated in dry earthy climates most commonly found in India. Indian medicine has used Ashwagandha for thousands of years as a general tonic for strength and virility. Translated, Ashwagandha means “smell of the horse” paying homage to the signature smell of the roots. Ground Ashwagandha roots supposedly smell like a horse and when consumed, give a person horse-like strength and virility. Traditionally, only the roots are used to create a fine powder which you can mix into water or warm milk with a bit of honey.

KSM-66

KSM-66 is a standardized formulation of Ashwagandha. This means there is a high level of quality control that goes into the formula. Most of the studies revealing Ashwagandhas potent qualities used KSM-66. KSM-66 is rated to supply an exact ratio of Withanolides. Withanolides are the active compounds found in Ashwagandha responsible for the tonic effects. KSM-66 is an extracted form of Ashwagandha containing 5% of these active Withanolides.

>>Read my full review of KSM 66<<

Sensoril

Sensoril is also another standardized version of Ashwagandha. It differs from KSM-66 in one key area – Sensoril uses both the root and the leaves to create an extract containing 10% Withanolides. This makes Sensoril the most potent form of Ashwagandha on the market. Sensoril is unique because it breaks the tradition of only using the roots.

Different effects

Ashwagandha, KSM-66, and Sensoril will produce different effects depending on the individual. With regular Ashwagandha powder or tincture, you are consuming the plant in the raw. You are not guaranteed a specific amount of Withanolides so the effects will not be as strong or potent. This is however it is traditionally prepared so there is something to say for that. If you require potent and acute effects, you need an extract. When using an extract like KSM-66 or Sensoril you are consuming an extracted form of the plant. In other words, effects will be much more pronounced. KSM-66 will generally be more energizing while the Sensoril is definitely more sedating and geared towards calming down anxiety levels.

Final thoughts

Ashwagandha is super potent for the right people. If you are prone to extreme anxiety or stress Ashwagandha is a powerful anti-anxiety agent and cortisol reducer. Try to gauge the level of healing you need and select the appropriate version of Ashwagandha. Remember, the raw powder will have mild effects while the KSM-66 and Sensoril will be much more powerful.