Comparison
Ashwagandha vs GHK-Cu
Side-by-side of Ashwagandha and GHK-Cu. Every row below is pulled from the compound schema and will update as our data grows. For deeper reads, follow through to each compound page.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha supplement guide: KSM-66 and Sensoril extracts at 300-600 mg/day cut morning cortisol and stress in RCTs. Dose, side effects, testosterone data.
GHK-Cu
GHK-Cu peptide (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper) is a topical copper peptide. Trials show fine-line and wound-healing gains; injectable longevity claims rem.
Effects at a glance
Ashwagandha
- •Reduces morning serum cortisol by ~20 to 30% at 300 to 600 mg/day standardized extract over 8 weeks
- •Lowers subjective stress on DASS-21 and PSS scales versus placebo in chronically stressed adults
- •Modest grip-strength and 1-RM gains of ~5 to 8% in trained men when paired with resistance training
- •Improves self-reported sleep quality and onset latency in adults with insomnia symptoms
- •Small testosterone increases (~10 to 15%) reported in stressed or subfertile men, less clear in healthy populations
- •May raise free T3 and T4; can interact with levothyroxine and unmask subclinical hyperthyroidism
GHK-Cu
- •Endogenous tripeptide that binds copper(II); plasma levels decline ~60% from age 20 to 60
- •Topical RCTs show improvement in skin firmness, fine lines, and barrier function over 12 weeks
- •Wound-healing models report accelerated re-epithelialization in diabetic and aged skin
- •Pickart gene-expression analyses show reset of >4000 genes toward a younger expression profile in cell culture
- •Anecdotal subcutaneous longevity protocols use 1 to 3 mg daily; no human longevity RCTs exist
- •Hair-growth claims rest on small open-label trials and topical scalp formulations
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Ashwagandha | GHK-Cu |
|---|---|---|
| Category | natural | peptide |
| Also known as | Withania somnifera, KSM-66, Sensoril | Copper Peptide, Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper, GHK |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 10 | 0.5 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 600 | 2 |
| Dosing frequency | daily | daily |
| Routes | oral | topical, subcutaneous |
| Onset (hr) | 2 | 24 |
| Peak (hr) | - | 168 |
| Molecular weight | - | 340.85 |
| Molecular formula | - | C14H24N6O4 (GHK alone); C14H22CuN6O4 with Cu(II) |
| Mechanism | GABAergic modulation and HPA-axis attenuation; withanolides reduce cortisol secretion and inhibit NF-kB signaling. | Tripeptide that chelates Cu(II) and delivers it to copper-dependent enzymes (lysyl oxidase, superoxide dismutase). Modulates expression of >4000 genes toward a younger profile in fibroblast culture, including upregulation of decorin and downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. |
| Legal status | Dietary supplement in most jurisdictions; regulated in Denmark | Topical cosmetics legal in most jurisdictions; injectable form not FDA approved for any indication; research-use-only grey market |
| WADA status | allowed | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | OTC supplement | Topical OTC (cosmetic); injectable not FDA approved; research-chemical status |
| Pregnancy | Not recommended | Insufficient data; topical use likely low-risk; injectable not recommended |
| CAS | - | 49557-75-7 |
| PubChem CID | - | 73587 |
| Wikidata | Q310109 | Q3104638 |
Safety profile
Ashwagandha
Common side effects
- mild GI upset
- drowsiness
- headache
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- autoimmune disease (theoretical immune stimulation)
- hyperthyroidism
- concurrent sedative use
Interactions
- benzodiazepines: additive CNS depression(moderate)
- thyroid hormone (levothyroxine): may raise T3/T4, altering dose requirements(moderate)
- immunosuppressants: theoretical antagonism via immune stimulation(moderate)
GHK-Cu
Common side effects
- mild erythema at topical site
- transient itch
- blue-green discoloration of injection site (copper)
- rare contact dermatitis
Contraindications
- copper allergy
- Wilson disease
- open wound near injection site (caution)
- pregnancy (no data)
Interactions
- topical retinoids: additive irritation; alternate days or apply at different times(minor)
- topical vitamin C (ascorbic acid): ascorbate reduces Cu(II) to Cu(I), which can destabilize the GHK-Cu complex; separate by 30 minutes(minor)
Which Should You Take?
Ashwagandha comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 3 catalogued goals, OTC dietary supplement, oral dosing, with a Tier-B outcome catalogued. GHK-Cu is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is stress and HPA-axis regulation, pick Ashwagandha.
- → If your priority is focus or working memory, pick Ashwagandha.
- → If your priority is skin health, pick GHK-Cu.
- → If your priority is wound healing, pick GHK-Cu.
Edge case: If you want to avoid research-only / gray-market sourcing, Ashwagandha is the more accessible choice.
Default choice: Ashwagandha. Lower friction to source, and broader goal coverage. Reach for GHK-Cu only if your priority sits squarely in the goals it owns above.
This verdict is generated from each compound's schema (goals, legal status, evidence outcomes, dosing route). It updates automatically as our compound data evolves; the deeper read sits on each individual compound page.
Common questions
What is the difference between Ashwagandha and GHK-Cu?
Ashwagandha and GHK-Cu differ in category (natural vs peptide), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, Ashwagandha or GHK-Cu?
Ashwagandha half-life is 10 hours; GHK-Cu half-life is 0.5 hours.
Can you stack Ashwagandha with GHK-Cu?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
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