πŸ”– Monday Ingredient Spotlight: Ashwagandha KSM-66 vs Sensoril


Monday Ingredient Spotlight: Ashwagandha KSM-66 vs Sensoril

The question of "Which ashwagandha should I take, KSM-66 or Sensoril, Dr D.?" has come up a few times lately, so I wanted to squeak into your inbox with a quick rundown: what ashwagandha does, why the type matters more than the brand, and how to match it to what you're actually after.
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Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an adaptogen used for centuries to steady the stress response. Modern practice leans on standardized extracts - and the useful distinction isn't the patented brand name on the bottle. It's the withanolide concentration, the dose, and when you take it.

Match the extract to the goal:

πŸ”Ή For focus + stamina: lower-concentration root extracts (~5% withanolides), taken in the morning, help with daytime stress, cortisol, and energy.

πŸ”Ή For rest + sleep: higher-concentration extracts (~10%+), at higher doses in the evening, especially at β‰₯600 mg/day for at least 8 weeks, are calming and supportive of sleep.

It comes down to the goal and the clock:

Want daytime energy, focus, and performance? Reach for a lower-concentration extract in the morning.
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Want to come down from the day and sleep well? A higher-concentration, higher-dose extract in the evening is the better fit.

Same herb - different job, depending on how it's standardized and dosed.

A quick safety note: ashwagandha can interact with sedatives, thyroid supplements, blood pressure medication, and diabetes medication. Quality also varies a lot between products, so make sure you purchase one with a Natural Product Number on it, letting you know it's been evaluated for safety and efficacy by Health Canada.

Curious which type fits your goal and won't clash with your other supplements or medications? Book a call, and we can sort it out together.

Until then, scroll intentionally.

Dr. Dominika

Dr. Dominika Zarzeczny

Naturopathic Doctor

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Hi! I'm Dr. Dominika Zarzeczny, ND

First inspired by the work of Dr. Gabor Mate, Dr. Dominika has focused much of her career on helping her patients connect the dots between early adversity and trauma and their impact on lifelong health and well-being. She knows that the reversal of chronic illness involves the nervous system, and so she has dedicated her practice to helping patients master their own nervous system to positively influence their mind and body, behaviours and ultimately health outcomes. Her explanation of disease doesn't pathologize or blame, but is nuanced, humanized and filled with hope. She trained with various psychologists and experts in the field of psychological trauma. She incorporates the principles of neuroscience, attachment theory, mindfulness, Polyvagal Theory and compassionate inquiry in her approach with patients. Combining these with her naturopathic training, she likes to say that she works at the intersection of science and human experience.

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