The vitamin and supplement market is big business, and you can’t go into a store or look online without there being an array of supplements that claim to have various health benefits when taken orally. Whether you have heard of it or not, Ashwagandha is fast becoming the new kid on the block for herbal supplements, even though it has been around for centuries and has been used in Ayurveda, traditional Indian medicine, for thousands of years.
What is Ashwagandha, and where does it come from?
Originating in parts of India, Africa, and the Middle East, the roots of the Ashwagandha plant are reported to smell like a horse, which is where it gets its name from (Ashwa meaning horse and gandha meaning smell). But don’t let that put you off this small evergreen shrub because the Ashwagandha plant is renowned as one of the most powerful herbs around and is often referred to as the “Indian Ginseng” because of its rejuvenating properties. Luckily, you can take Ashwagandha in pill or supplement form to help your health so that you wouldn’t get the horsey aroma it is most famous for.
Various parts of the Ashwagandha plant are used for medicinal purposes. Still, it’s ashwagandha extract – taken from the plant’s roots – that is found in most of the supplements available to buy today. Some of the more traditional treatments used in Ayurvedic medicine use the whole dried root of the Ashwagandha plant, which is dried and ground down into a powder and traditionally steeped in milk.
What are the benefits of Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha has been classified as an adaptogen and appears to reduce cortisol levels, earning the supplement somewhat of a big reputation for coping with stress and improving attention and concentration levels.
Ashwagandha is recognized worldwide as a potent herbal medicine that has been used to treat the symptoms of many diseases and conditions in India for nearly 5,000 years. These include inflamed joints, rheumatism, constipation, insomnia, hormone imbalances, and increasing energy levels, and creating a general sense of well-being. But that’s not all.
Ashwagandha is a powerful little herb, and, as a result, its use extends far beyond its Indian roots (pardon the pun). Use it to treat symptoms such as tiredness and chronic fatigue, poor memory, insomnia, low libido (sex drive), poor concentration, frequent illness or disease, anxiety, low endurance (both mental and physical), joint pain, and numerous other common neurological conditions.
The benefits of taking Ashwagandha certainly don’t stop there, though. Studies have also shown that Ashwagandha extract can help balance your cholesterol levels, lower blood sugar levels, increase muscle mass, and help with physical endurance. Is there anything that this plant extract cannot do?
Women can benefit from taking Ashwagandha as it has been known to level out hormonal imbalances caused by menopause which can sometimes result in some women experiencing hot flushes, depression, sleep issues, and anxiety.
Ashwagandha has also been recognized for its fertility-enhancing attributes across multiple research studies with positive results for both men and women. Women have reported having increased sexual satisfaction, and men have reported increased testosterone levels, sperm levels, and sexual performance.
Research has been carried out into the effects that Ashwagandha may have on cancer cells, and the tests that have been carried out on mice have certainly been encouraging, although it is not sure at this stage if Ashwagandha would have the same effect on cancer cells in humans.
How to take Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is available in powder, pill, or supplement form, and it is really down to personal choice as to how you would take it. You’ll find Ashwagandha pills will help, or supplements, and both should ideally be taken with food. If you choose to take Ashwagandha in powder form, mix it with water or milk.
In Summary
Ashwagandha isn’t a cure-all for everything, although this super herb certainly makes a name for itself in the modern Western World. We hope we have given you enough information especially when it comes to knowing what it’s used for and how to potentially start using it yourself.
Ashwagandha is such a powerful herb, and studies have shown the extract to have so many benefits for various symptoms. If you have any of the conditions we have mentioned, then give it a try.