Sought-after ashwagandha supplements could soon be easier than ever to make. Scientists have engineered yeast to produce the active ingredients of this traditional herbal medicine, potentially reducing the need to grow and cultivate the whole shrub. Powdered extracts of ashwagandha ( Withania somnifera ) have been part of traditional Indian medicine for millennia. It's surged in popularity in recent years as a sleep aid and stress and anxiety reliever, thanks to certain corners of social media