With ancient origins in Ayurvedic medicine, ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb with a wide range of potential advantages. Your whole health will benefit from its appropriate adaptation to your body. It is a secure substitute for psychoactive substances that are frequently chemically based prescription medications.

We all experience stress, weariness, anger, and other common emotions and symptoms as humans at some point in our life. We frequently hear advice like “relax,” “get over it,” and “go exercise” from friends, relatives, or total strangers. These things might be problematic at times and are often easier said than done. What is ashwagandha then? Is there any real relaxation benefit? We will go over all the information you require regarding the Ayurvedic herb in this article.

Ashwagandha: What is it?

A plant from the nightshade family, ashwagandha is also known as withania somnifera. It is an old-fashioned herb that has a lengthy history in Ayurveda, the earliest holistic medical system ever discovered (it has been used for over 3,000 years!). Through the integration of mind, body, and spiritual awareness, Ayurveda aims to maintain the body’s overall equilibrium. Most commonly, ashwagandha is used to unwind or adjust to other physical and psychological things.

What problems does Ashwagandha solve?

Ashwagandha is known to produce, which means that it is safe to use and adapts appropriately in the body to potentially assist do a lot of stress about ashwagandha, that it adds to overall cognitive health and general well-being. Ashwagandha has been demonstrated to have an impact on the central nervous system, reducing stress, anxiety, irritability, and occasionally even clinical symptoms like depression.

How do Ashwagandha do that?

GABA is a brain-based inhibitory neurotransmitter, and ashwagandha is known to have effects that are similar to those of GABA. GABA typically reduces sensations of excitement or spontaneity and regulates certain responses or other neurotransmitters. It acts to promote calmness all around, or to help with healing and relaxation. It has been demonstrated that ashwagandha has similar effects through impacting the central nervous system. Additionally, it has been connected to cardiovascular health, male fertility, immune system defence, and other things.

How should I consume ashwagandha?

The greatest supplements are those that are liquid-based or contain botanical extracts, like the majority of other supplements. It is ideal to find ashwagandha in liquid form since it may be metabolised more easily in the body. They can also be used with gum if capsules are more your thing or merely for convenience.

It’s best to keep in mind that anything marketed as an extract is probably preferable when considering this or any herbal supplement because the word “extract” typically denotes that the product in question was extracted from the root, not the ground. part. It is well known that KSM-66 is a pure, full-spectrum extract made right from the root of the Ashwagandha plant. If you want to, you should explore this choice because it is thought to be more potent.

10 Greatest health benefits of ashwagandha

Now that we’ve covered that, here are the top 10 health benefits of ashwagandha:

1. Reduced Cortisol :  The hormone cortisol, which the adrenal glands produce in reaction to stress, may be reduced by this herb. This study notably demonstrated that dosages ranging from 125 mg to 5 grammes per day for 1–3 months decreased cortisol levels by 11–32%.

2. Increase Testosterone and Male Fertility: Participants in a 90-Day Study Researchers discovered that men who took Ashwagandha had a 167% rise in sperm count, semen volume increased by 53% compared to the beginning of the study, and sperm motility improved by 57%.

3. Reduce inflammation : In research on humans, it was discovered that ashwagandha could “increase the activity of natural killer cells, a type of immune cell that fights infection and helps you stay healthy.” Furthermore, the research discovered Researchers discovered that ashwagandha may also “reduce markers of inflammation, such as C-reactive protein (CRP)”.

4. Relieve Anxiety and Depression: According to numerous research on this herb, Ashwagandha extracts are as effective in reducing anxiety as many regularly prescribed antidepressants, but without any of the negative side effects. This is brought on by withanolides, the herb’s active component, which stimulates particular brain regions. Ashwagandha users in a two-month study of 64 participants with chronic stress showed an average 69 percent decrease in anxiety and insomnia. Only 11% less anxiety was experienced by the placebo group, in contrast.

5. Increase muscle mass and strength: According to one study, after 30 days of daily ashwagandha use by healthy individuals, their muscle strength had risen. According to a another study, ashwagandha consumption resulted in “significant increases in muscle mass and strength” in 57 males, who also had body fat percentages that were more than twice as high as those in the placebo group.

6. lower triglycerides and cholesterol: This ancient root may be able to promote heart health by lowering LDL cholesterol (bad) and triglycerides (a type of fat cell linked to diabetes and high blood pressure). One study found that ashwagandha lowered cholesterol levels by 53%.

7. improve memory: Ashwagandha, Focus, Concentration, and Memory An 8-week study’s findings indicate that numerous studies have demonstrated how it can improve a variety of cognitive functions. Learning about ashwagandha can enhance executive function, attention, information, and short- and long-term memory. processing velocity.

8. Lower blood sugar: This medicinal root lowers blood sugar levels by promoting the release of insulin in the blood. It has been discovered that persons with type 2 diabetes benefit from it particularly well. It boosts insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion in muscle cells, according to an in vitro study.

9. Reduce stress: According to studies, ashwagandha helps normalise cortisol levels, which lowers stress reactions. In fact, it has been demonstrated that ashwagandha extract doses of 125 mg to 5 grammes can lower cortisol levels by 11% to 32%.

10. Aid in weight loss: Researchers hypothesise that antioxidant steroidal alkaloids and lactones, particularly lactones, are the source of many of ashwagandha’s health-promoting benefits. Ashwagandha can function as a natural adaptogen for the body to combat stress, assist in weight loss, fight disease, and lower levels of stress hormones.