Comparison
Ashwagandha vs GHRP-2
Side-by-side of Ashwagandha and GHRP-2. 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.
GHRP-2
GHRP-2 peptide (pralmorelin, KP-102) is a synthetic hexapeptide ghrelin-receptor agonist that triggers pulsatile growth hormone release via the pituitary.
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
GHRP-2
- •Hexapeptide ghrelin-receptor agonist that stimulates pulsatile GH release within 15 to 30 minutes
- •Strongest appetite signal among GHRPs at standard doses; centrally mediated via NPY/AgRP
- •Produces measurable cortisol and prolactin rise (more than ipamorelin, less than GHRP-6)
- •Approved in Japan as pralmorelin for GH-deficiency diagnostic provocation; not FDA approved
- •Anecdotal protocols use 100 to 300 mcg subcutaneously 2 to 3 times daily on an empty stomach
- •Banned by WADA under S2; detection methods validated in accredited labs
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Ashwagandha | GHRP-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | natural | peptide |
| Also known as | Withania somnifera, KSM-66, Sensoril | Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide 2, Pralmorelin, KP-102, GPA-748 |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 10 | 0.5 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 600 | 0.1 |
| Dosing frequency | daily | 2-3x daily |
| Routes | oral | subcutaneous, intranasal, intravenous |
| Onset (hr) | 2 | 0.25 |
| Peak (hr) | - | 0.5 |
| Molecular weight | - | 817.97 |
| Molecular formula | - | C45H55N9O6 |
| Mechanism | GABAergic modulation and HPA-axis attenuation; withanolides reduce cortisol secretion and inhibit NF-kB signaling. | Hexapeptide agonist of the growth-hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a). Suppresses hypothalamic somatostatin tone and stimulates pituitary somatotrophs, producing a pulsatile GH release with secondary cortisol, prolactin, and ACTH elevation. |
| Legal status | Dietary supplement in most jurisdictions; regulated in Denmark | Not FDA approved; approved in Japan as pralmorelin (diagnostic); research-use-only grey market in US/EU; banned by WADA |
| WADA status | allowed | banned |
| DEA / Rx | OTC supplement | Not scheduled in US (research chemical); approved diagnostic in Japan |
| Pregnancy | Not recommended | Insufficient data; not recommended |
| CAS | - | 158861-67-7 |
| PubChem CID | - | 9919072 |
| Wikidata | Q310109 | Q7235681 |
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)
GHRP-2
Common side effects
- acute hunger
- head pressure or flushing
- water retention
- vivid dreams
- tingling at injection site
- transient lethargy
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- active malignancy
- history of pituitary tumor
- uncontrolled diabetes
- severe insulin resistance
Interactions
- CJC-1295: synergistic GH release; commonly co-administered for larger pulse(minor)
- sermorelin: additive GH release via parallel GHRH and ghrelin pathways(minor)
- insulin: sustained GH can blunt insulin sensitivity over weeks(moderate)
- corticosteroids: blunt GH response and amplify cortisol load(moderate)
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. GHRP-2 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 growth-hormone axis, pick GHRP-2.
- → If your priority is post-training recovery, pick GHRP-2.
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 GHRP-2 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 GHRP-2?
Ashwagandha and GHRP-2 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 GHRP-2?
Ashwagandha half-life is 10 hours; GHRP-2 half-life is 0.5 hours.
Can you stack Ashwagandha with GHRP-2?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
Go deeper