First things first: the benefits of Ayurveda are well documented, studied and known. But how many of us know about the ingredients that go into the making of these medicinal marvels?
Ashwagandha is one such ancient medicinal herb. Actually, it’s one of the most important herbs in Ayurvedic medicine. By definition, ‘Ashwa’ means horse. The name ‘Ashwagandha’, thus, describes the smell of its root, meaning ‘like a horse.'
It forms a key part of our Ayurvedic recipe for Daily Greens– designed to boost your immunity, meet all your nutritional requirements to maintain a healthy lifestyle. One of the benefits of Ashwagandha is that it’s an ‘adaptogen’ – meaning that it can help your body manage stress.
Traditionally, the root and berry of the plant are used to make the medicine. In Ayurveda, ‘Ashwagandha’ is considered a Rasayana – which means, it helps maintain youth, both mentally and physically.
Furthermore, it also provides a hoard of other benefits for your body and brain. It can boost brain function, lower blood sugar and cortisol levels, and help fight symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Many of its health benefits, in fact, come from withanolides – which can fight inflammation and tumor growth.
Here are some other Ashwagandha uses and ways in which it helps your mind and body.
Stress and Anxiety
A common problem especially in urban India, Ashwagandha helps calm anxiety symptoms naturally, without the need for sedative and anxiety drugs.
Arthritis
Ashwagandha can act as a pain reliever, preventing signals from traveling from the nervous system to your brain.
Heart Health
Some other known benefits of Ashwagandha include lowering high blood pressure, managing cholesterol levels and blood sugar levels.
Manage Cortisol Levels
Known as a stress hormone, Cortisol is released in response to stress or when your blood sugar levels get too low.
This can lead to high blood sugar levels and increased fat storage in the abdomen. Ashwagandha helps manage these levels to counteract the effect of cortisol.
Improves Brain Function
We don’t just mean brain health, but memory too! In fact, studies suggest that Ashwagandha helps protect your memory and improves brain function in case of damage caused by injury or disease
As mentioned earlier, being a part of many Ayurvedic medications, Ashwagandha is both healthy and safe. It has no side effects, and can be safely consumed by all.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ashwagandha
Here are a few frequently asked questions about ashwagandha:
- Should I take Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha is an essential herb in Ayurveda that is known for its adaptogenic and medicinal properties. It has been traditionally used to reduce stress and anxiety, combat symptoms of depression, boost cognitive function and fertility, and even improve testosterone in men. There's sufficient scientific evidence available that substantiates the efficacy of this herb in improving one's overall health and quality of life. So if you are someone who is finding it difficult to cope with stress and anxiety in your daily life or have a weak immune system, make ashwagandha a part of your daily life. Doses between the range of 250 mg and 500 mg is considered safe to be taken, as per research.
- What's the best Ashwagandha supplement?
While there are many ashwagandha supplements available in the market, go in for Wellbeing Nutrition's Daily Greens. that contains ashwagandha along with 39 greens, fruits, vegetables, and herbs in one handy and delicious package, made from a farm-fresh organic combination of vital and alkalizing genuine greens.
- If you are planning to start with ashwagandha supplements, how do you take it without messing with your thyroid levels?
If you have thyroid or any other medical condition, it is advisable to consult your regular medical supervisor/ practitioner before starting with any supplements.
References:
- Mishra LC, Singh BB, Dagenais S. Scientific basis for the therapeutic use of Withania somnifera (ashwagandha): a review. Altern Med Rev. 2000 Aug;5(4):334-46. PMID: 10956379. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10956379/)
- Zahiruddin S, Basist P, Parveen A, Parveen R, Khan W, Gaurav, Ahmad S. Ashwagandha in brain disorders: A review of recent developments. J Ethnopharmacol. 2020 Jul 15;257:112876. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.112876. Epub 2020 Apr 16. PMID: 32305638. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32305638/)
- Wadhwa, R. (2017). Science of Ashwagandha: Preventive and Therapeutic Potentials. Germany: Springer International Publishing. (https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Science_of_Ashwagandha_Preventive_and_Th/c7I1DwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=ashwagandha+benefits&printsec=frontcover)
- Chandrasekhar K, Kapoor J, Anishetty S. A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults. Indian J Psychol Med. 2012 Jul;34(3):255-62. doi: 10.4103/0253-7176.106022. PMID: 23439798; PMCID: PMC3573577. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23439798/)
- Raut AA, Rege NN, Tadvi FM, Solanki PV, Kene KR, Shirolkar SG, Pandey SN, Vaidya RA, Vaidya AB. Exploratory study to evaluate tolerability, safety, and activity of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in healthy volunteers. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2012 Jul;3(3):111-4. doi: 10.4103/0975-9476.100168. PMID: 23125505; PMCID: PMC3487234. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23125505/)
- Candelario M, Cuellar E, Reyes-Ruiz JM, Darabedian N, Feimeng Z, Miledi R, Russo-Neustadt A, Limon A. Direct evidence for GABAergic activity of Withania somnifera on mammalian ionotropic GABAA and GABAρ receptors. J Ethnopharmacol. 2015 Aug 2;171:264-72. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2015.05.058. Epub 2015 Jun 9. PMID: 26068424. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26068424/)
- Vijay K. Bharti, Jitendra K. Malik, Ramesh C. Gupta, Chapter 52 - Ashwagandha: Multiple Health Benefits, Editor(s): Ramesh C. Gupta,
Nutraceuticals, Academic Press, 2016, Pages 717-733, ISBN 9780128021477, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-802147-7.00052-8.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128021477000528)
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