Comparison
Ashwagandha vs Selank
Side-by-side of Ashwagandha and Selank. 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.
Selank
Selank peptide benefits: tuftsin analog heptapeptide, intranasal anxiolytic and nootropic. Russian clinical data, dosing, half-life, safety.
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
Selank
- •Synthetic heptapeptide analog of tuftsin developed in Russia in the 1990s
- •Approved in Russia for generalized anxiety disorder and asthenic conditions
- •Russian RCTs report anxiolytic effects comparable to medazepam without sedation or dependence
- •Modulates GABAergic and serotonergic signaling and BDNF expression in preclinical models
- •Most commonly administered intranasally; subcutaneous use is anecdotal
- •No Western-validated trials; not FDA approved; research-use-only outside Russia
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Ashwagandha | Selank |
|---|---|---|
| Category | natural | peptide |
| Also known as | Withania somnifera, KSM-66, Sensoril | TP-7, Tuftsin analog |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 10 | 0.5 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 600 | 0.4 |
| Dosing frequency | daily | 2-3x daily (intranasal) |
| Routes | oral | intranasal, subcutaneous |
| Onset (hr) | 2 | 0.25 |
| Peak (hr) | - | 1 |
| Molecular weight | - | 751.85 |
| Molecular formula | - | C33H57N11O9 |
| Mechanism | GABAergic modulation and HPA-axis attenuation; withanolides reduce cortisol secretion and inhibit NF-kB signaling. | Modulates GABAergic, serotonergic, and dopaminergic signaling. Increases BDNF expression in hippocampal neurons in preclinical models. Modulates enkephalin levels and immune cytokine signaling via tuftsin-like activity. |
| Legal status | Dietary supplement in most jurisdictions; regulated in Denmark | Approved as a prescription anxiolytic in Russia; not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market in most other jurisdictions |
| WADA status | allowed | unknown |
| DEA / Rx | OTC supplement | Not FDA approved; not scheduled; research-chemical status outside Russia |
| Pregnancy | Not recommended | Not recommended; insufficient data |
| CAS | - | 129954-34-3 |
| PubChem CID | - | 11765600 |
| Wikidata | Q310109 | Q4416793 |
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)
Selank
Common side effects
- mild nasal irritation (intranasal)
- transient drowsiness (uncommon)
- mild headache
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- lactation
- severe psychiatric disorder (insufficient data)
Interactions
- benzodiazepines: additive anxiolytic effect; potential for over-sedation when stacked(moderate)
- SSRIs: no documented adverse interaction; co-administration described in Russian protocols(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. Selank 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 hormonal optimization, pick Ashwagandha.
- → If your priority is anxiety reduction, pick Selank.
- → If your priority is mood, pick Selank.
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 Selank 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 Selank?
Ashwagandha and Selank 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 Selank?
Ashwagandha half-life is 10 hours; Selank half-life is 0.5 hours.
Can you stack Ashwagandha with Selank?
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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