Traditional and old-school remedies can often be the answer we’re looking for when it comes to our modern day troubles and extremely tense lifestyle. Ayurvedic medicines and herbs, in particular, are well-known and widely used. Ashwagandha is one such important herb.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a significant part of Ayurveda, India’s traditional medical system, and is used to treat various ailments, including rheumatism and insomnia. In sanskrit ashwagandha means “smell of a horse,” alludes to the herb’s aroma as well as its potential strength-building properties.
Ashwagandha is sometimes referred to as “Indian ginseng,” although it is not botanically related to true ginseng. It is an adaptogen, a drug supposed to increase your resistance to stress while also increasing your vitality. Here are eight ways ashwagandha might help you with stress.
Benefits of Ashwagandha
1. Revitalize your Body
According to traditional medicinal sayings, Ashwagandha is regarded as an ‘Ayurvedic Rasayana,’ or simply an herbal supplement that may revitalize your mind, body, and soul. The various benefits of Indian ginseng include antioxidant properties, restoring balance, ensuring smooth organ function, increasing stamina, and allowing you to live a longer, healthier life. As a result, it’s the sole anti-ageing ingredient you should consume regularly.
2. Reduces stress
Ashwagandha may be the cure you’ve been looking for to help with stress free life, mood disorders, anxiety, and stress-related symptoms. According to Ayurvedic teachings, a single root of ashwagandha can help you deal with stress and enhance your mental health by lowering your cortisol levels, a stress hormone. It is calm and relaxing in nature and just as effective as some anti-depressants. It can induce happy vibes and promote well-being when consumed regularly. It can also be used as a great sleeping aid.
3. Good for Brain
Ashwagandha contains specific ingredients that can help you boost your brain function, fight fatigue, reduce forgetfulness, and sharpen your memory. It is an excellent dietary supplement for growing children and people over the age of 40. It works by increasing nitric acid production in the brain, which raises oxygen levels in the body and helps to stabilize performance.
4. Hormone Balance
While many hormone issues and imbalances have been connected to modern living, this traditional herb may be the key to rectifying the mismatch and enhancing the overall quality of life. As a traditional herb with possible benefits for balancing critical hormones in the thyroid and adrenal gland, ashwagandha is frequently given for persons with thyroid problems. Ashwagandha can also operate from the inside out to rectify hormonal imbalances and establish balance.
5. Sharpens Memory
Ashwagandha may assist in improving cognition, memory, and the capacity to execute motor actions after being instructed. In small studies, ashwagandha considerably improved participants’ reaction speeds during cognition and psychomotor tasks compared to a placebo. According to one study, ashwagandha improved participant’s attention durations and immediate and general memory in a variety of tests.
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6. Depression
In some populations, evidence suggests that ashwagandha may help lessen symptoms of various mental health problems, such as depression. Researchers studied the effects of ashwagandha on 66 persons with schizophrenia who were depressed and anxious in one trial. They discovered that taking 1,000 mg of ashwagandha extract daily for 3 months reduced depression and anxiety more effectively than taking a placebo. In addition, a 2012 study found that stressed people who took 600 mg of ashwagandha extract per day for 2 months experienced a 77% reduction in depressive symptoms, compared to a 5% drop in the placebo group.
7. Improve sleep
Many people take ashwagandha to help them sleep better, and there is some evidence that it can help with sleep problems. A study of 50 adults found that taking 600 mg of ashwagandha root per day for 3 months improved sleep quality and mental alertness compared to placebo treatment. In addition, ashwagandha had a small but substantial favorable effect on overall sleep quality. People who took ashwagandha reported feeling less anxious and more attentive when they awoke. According to the study, the results were more evident in persons with insomnia and those who took more than 600 mg daily for 2 months or longer.
8. Saves Cellular Degeneration
Emotional, physical, and chemical stress can harm the brain and neurological system. On the other hand, Ashwagandha can protect the brain against cell degeneration. As a result, it protects us from neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, and Parkinson’s disease. Ashwagandha helps to delay, stop, and even reverse neurological degeneration.
When to take ashwagandha?
There is no such thing as an “ideal” time to consume ashwagandha. It’s crucial to remember that ashwagandha’s benefits aren’t immediate, and you may need to take it for at least a few weeks before you see anything. A 2019 study looking at the effects of ashwagandha on stress and sleep discovered that a 125 milligram dose taken twice a day for eight weeks was helpful in reducing stress and enhancing sleep quality.
A single 500 milligram dose of ashwagandha given in the morning for 3 months improved strength in active males. A study published in 2020 found that a 120 milligram dose administered once a day 2 hours before bedtime for 6 weeks improved overall sleep quality in healthy people.
According to studies, people can take ashwagandha on an empty stomach and with meals without experiencing any unwanted side effects. That implies you should be free to consume ashwagandha whenever it suits you most. Keep in mind that taking too much of this supplement might cause stomach distress, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Some people prefer to take this supplement with meals to avoid these problems. A skilled healthcare practitioner can assist you in determining whether ashwagandha is a good fit for your individual health needs. They can also determine the correct dosage for you.
Summary
Ashwagandha is an ancient medicinal herb that has a variety of health advantages. According to the research findings, it may help lower anxiety and stress, enable you to lead a stress free life, promote peaceful sleep, and even improve cognitive functioning in some people. Most people regard ashwagandha to be relatively safe. However, it is crucial to consult with a healthcare practitioner before incorporating ashwagandha into your daily regimen.