Ashwagandha 8 Fantastic Health Benefits & Side Effects

Ashwagandha is also known as an “Indian ginseng” or “Indian winter cherry”. “Ashwagandha” is a Sanskrit word meaning “smell of the horse”, because of its unique smell and ability to increase strength. 

Botanical Name: Withania somnifera 

Ashwagandha is first described in sacred Ayurvedic texts: “ THE CHARAKA” AND “ THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITAS”. It has been used for over 3000 years to relieve stress, increase energy level, and improve concentration. 

Ashwagandha is cultivated mainly in India, North Africa, Yemen, China, and Nepal. In India, predominantly cultivated in drier regions, such as Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Gujarat, and Kerala. 

Varieties: Poshita and Rakshita are high yielding varieties released by CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow. 

Ashwagandha plant is a small shrub. It has simple leaves and small cherry but they are poisonous, so only used in medicinal preparations. The major constituents of ashwagandha is alkaloid (Withanine, Somniferine,etc.) 

Ashwagandha can reduce anxiety and stress, help fight depression, boost fertility and testosterone in men and may even boost brain function, so ashwagandha is one of the most important herbs in Ayurveda, a form of alternative medicine based on Indian principles of natural healing. 

Ashwagandha belongs to a sub-group of “Rasayanas” (or elixir) known as “Medhyarasayanas” 

Ashwagandha may promote antioxidant activity that protects nerve cells from harmful free radicals. It also treated the epileptic condition and Alzheimer’s disease. 

Ashwagandha has a cognition promoting effect. so traditionally been used to boost memory. It is useful in children with memory deficit and also prevents memory loss in old age people and also prevent the gradual loss of physical strength 

Relaxation, a benefit derived from the Ashwagandha’s stress-fighting effects, also improves long-term visual memory 

MAIN THING: Ashwagandha is more than a stress reliever, protects the brain from cell degeneration, anti-aging properties, able to boost memory and other cognitive skills. 

Ashwagandha root extract as an anti-anxiety medication. Cortisol is a steroidal hormone response to stress. Ashwagandha helps to control the level of cortisol so It is the best stress buster and reduces anxiety without making you drowsy. 

Ashwagandha is also prescribing in the treatment of depression, such as a bipolar disorder in which there are alternating periods of depression and manic phases, so ashwagandha creates a balance and prevents extreme mood swings. 

MAIN THING: Ashwagandha supplements may help lower cortisol levels in chronically stressed individuals. 

Ashwagandha helps in reducing the blood sugar level in a healthy person as well as in a diabetic person. 

Ashwagandha works on insulin sensitivity rather than an increase in the production of insulin by the pancreas, so mainly use in “TYPE-2 DIABETES MELLITUS” because in “ type-2 DM” insulin production is normal but its sensitivity is decreased. 

MAIN THING: Ashwagandha may reduce blood sugar level that helps to control Diabetes 

Ashwagandha strengthens the reproductive system in both men and women through various mechanisms, like stress reduction, and restoring hormonal balance, so powerful effects on testosterone levels and reproductive health. 

In olden days, ashwagandha prescribes for enhancing sex desire, improving sexual performance and ensuring satisfaction of both partners, so in Ayurveda , drug formulations containing ashwagandha as the main ingredient are often used to treat impotency, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and also improve the quality of semen , increasing both the count and motility of sperms. 

Ashwagandha is considered a womb cleanser and toner, so it removes the impurities that stand in the way of conception and strengthens the uterine muscle. It is also used to treat dysmenorrhea and problems related with menopause. 

MAIN THING: Ashwagandha helps to regulate hormonal secretions and improve fertility in men. Resolve infertility and menstrual problems in women.

The anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of ashwagandha could be responsible for the protection from cancer. 

Ashwagandha helps infuse apoptosis, which is the programmed death of cancer cells. It also impedes the growth of new cancer cells in several ways and prevented the spread of cancer to other organs. 

It may help treat several types of cancer including breast cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, brain cancer, and ovarian cancer.

Ashwagandha is a favorable tonic effect on the heart and good for cardiovascular problems. it helps to increase the heart rate, contractility, and relaxation. It strengthens the heart muscles and can also control cholesterol.

Ashwagandha possesses hypolipidemic properties that help in bringing down the blood cholesterol levels. Ashwagandha has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties that are good for cardiovascular problems. 

MAIN THING: Ashwagandha may help to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels and keeps your heart strong and healthy. 

Ashwagandha can be a helpful tool for people engaging in resistance training and other forms of exercise that can be strenuous on muscles, so it mostly used by bodybuilders and strength trainers. 

Ashwagandha s anti-stress properties that help to improve stamina and balance adrenal hormones that are involved in physical activity and decrease body fat percentage.

Ashwagandha may help people who suffer from thyroid dysfunction like “Hashimoto's disease” or underactive thyroid. 

It also helps patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and Graves disease. It improved serum thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH) and thyroxine(T4) levels.

MAIN THING: Ashwagandha may help to keep away thyroid dysfunction and maintain thyroid hormone secretion. 

Ashwagandha works as an energy boost and relaxes the mind and promotes restful sleep when it is needed, which means you took one dose in the morning it gives you lots of energy throughout the day and takes in the evening it gives you fitful sleep. 

Ashwagandha has been recommended for management of polyarthritis, lumbago, painful swellings, plague, asthma, vitiligo, general debility, impotence, ulcers, uterine infection, leucorrhoea, hemorrhoid, orchitis, etc 

Ashwagandha is Safe when taken by mouth short-term. 

Large doses of ashwagandha might cause stomach upset, diarrhea and vomiting. 

Pregnancy: It is Unsafe during pregnancy. 

Breastfeeding: Not known about the use of ashwagandha. 

Stomach ulcers: Don’t use ashwagandha if you have a stomach ulcer. 

Surgery: Stop taking ashwagandha at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery. 

Moderately interacts with Medications that decrease the immune system (Immunosuppressants), Sedative medications (Benzodiazepines) and CNS depressants Moderately interacts Minor Interaction with Thyroid hormone. 

Ashwagandha supplements are mainly made from the roots of the plant and available in the market in the form of powder. So whenever we bought the powder it should be free from heavy metals and other environmental pollutants. 

If cared for properly, our organic raw ashwagandha powder has a shelf life of two to three years. To preserve the freshness of this product. 

Avoid exposure to heat. The powder will reside fresh if stored at room temperature or below. 

Avoid exposure to direct sunlight. 

Compress all of the air out of the bag before sealing. 

Seal the bag tightly after each use. 

Store the powder in a dry place, and avert all contact with moisture.