Have you Heard the Health Benefits of Ashwagandha?
Found in India, Africa, and certain Middle Eastern countries, ashwagandha is an evergreen plant commonly referred to as “Indian Winter cherry” or “Indian Ginseng.”
What use therefore is ashwagandha?
Ayurvedic medicine is the traditional medical system of India, she continues. In order to encourage harmony between the body, mind, spirit, and environment, this therapeutic tradition combines medicines, exercise, mindfulness techniques, and diet. For several reasons, ashwagandha seems to be a good option for those who like herbal remedies.
Triggers for stress abound in modern living. And both physical and mental disease are exacerbated by such stress. Your heart pumps quicker and harder during stressful times because of the increased cortisol levels in your body. You inhale fast and your body produces extra glucose to give you a little energy boost. Your body enters fight or flight mode and your mind becomes totally focused on any dangers. Cortisol levels normalise and the related symptoms go away when the stressful event is ended.
An herb that is harmless and is becoming more well-known in the United States is ashwagandha. The plant is used to cure rheumatism and sleeplessness among other ailments and is a key component of the centuries-old Ayurvedic, the ancient system of medicine in India. “Its physiological effects… are interrelated,” Vermont-based integrative healthcare expert Andrea Fossati, M.D., notes. Better management of blood sugar, for instance, is a result of reduced cortisol levels brought on by less stress.]
The herbal material has been evaluated on a very limited number of volunteers in several clinical studies, nevertheless. The alleged advantages of ashwagandha must be confirmed by larger and more thorough research, particularly in the long run.
Ashwagandha Health Benefits
As researchers worldwide examine ashwagandha’s effectiveness against a range of diseases, the field is still developing.
These are some benefits of ashwagandha supported by research.
Releases Stress and Anxiety
The most famous use of ashwagandha is perhaps its ability to reduce stress. This benefit is shown by a number of research that show ashwagandha may greatly reduce individuals’ feelings of stress and anxiety. Researchers in one study demonstrated that ashwagandha may improve sleep quality as well; subjects who took the herb at higher dosages slept much better than those taking a placebo.
Reduces Fat and Blood Sugar
According to a few modest clinical trials, ashwagandha may lower triglycerides, the most prevalent kind of fat in the blood, and blood glucose levels. The lowering of blood sugar properties of ashwagandha was compared in one research to those of drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes.
Gains Strength and Muscle
Researchers are still looking into how well ashwagandha works to increase muscle growth and strength. Participants in one trial reported stronger and faster legs. In a another research, taking ashwagandha was linked to decreased body fat percentage and lower cholesterol as well as increased muscular strength. Although some people slept better as well, ashwagandha use was not compared to a placebo in this research.
Men’s Health: In a trial done only with male volunteers, ashwagandha therapies showed promising outcomes. Men who took ashwagandha had far higher muscular strength (as determined by bench press and leg extension activities) and larger arms and chest muscles than did the placebo group. They also had much lower body fat percentages and less post-workout muscle damage.
Hormone balance: Women’s health may benefit especially from ashwagandha’s hormone balancing effects, which include menstruation, reproduction, and menopause. 2019 study findings Ashwagandha affects the endocrine system, which controls mood, stress reactions, and reproduction, according to Trusted Source. Hormonal imbalances including sadness, anxiety, and sleep problems may be helped by this effect.
Control menstruation: Stress, inflammation, and hormone swings are just a few of the important variables that affect your menstrual cycle that ashwagandha helps with. It balances reproductive hormones including gonadotropin hormones, luteinizing hormone (LH), and serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) to assist control your cycle. A better cortisol, the stress hormone, balance may possibly be linked to this equilibrium. Sometimes irregular menstrual periods are caused by diseases including endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Phytoestrogens in ashwagandha may support cycle management and balance restoration.
Lessen PMS symptoms: By lowering cortisol levels, ashwagandha Trusted Source may help avoid high stress, which can make PMS symptoms worse. It could also help with cramp relief, tiredness reduction, and better sleep. Because ashwagandha reduces anxiety, despair, and irritation, it may help promote tranquilly. Low back discomfort, breast soreness, and fluid retention may all be lessened by its anti-inflammatory properties.
Increase sexual function: Ashwagandha’s aphrodisiac properties may improve libido and general sexual health. Its ability to improve mood and lower stress may be part of the reason for this impact. A 2023 Trusted Source study of healthy women revealed that taking ashwagandha root extract improves sexual function. As compared to a placebo, ashwagandha greatly raised ratings for sexual excitement, orgasm, and lubrication. The number of positive sexual experiences increased, according to researchers as well.
Warnings and Special Precautions to the Benefits of Ashwagandha
Pregnant women should probably avoid taking ashwagandha. Ashwagandha has some evidence suggesting it may be a cause of miscarriages.
Breast-feeding: The safety of using ashwagandha during breastfeeding is not well enough established. Preserve your safety and refrain from using.
Surgery: Ashwagandha has been shown to slow down central nervous system. Medical professionals fear this impact may be exacerbated by anaesthesia and other drugs used during and after surgery. Two weeks or more before a planned operation, stop taking ashwagandha.
Conditions of the thyroid: Ashwagandha may raise thyroid hormone levels. Use of ashwagandha should be done carefully or avoided if you use thyroid hormone drugs or have a thyroid disorder.
Final Thought on the Benefits of Ashwagandha
Research on ashwagandha has shown that it may aid with higher quality sleep, lower anxiety, tension, and exhaustion, boost testosterone in males, and enhance sexual well-being in both sexes. Although more thorough research is required to validate the advantages of ashwagandha—we are unsure whether these effects would be repeated in bigger studies—some early research indicates encouraging findings and calls for further investigation.
Should you decide to use this ayurvedic herb, see your general practitioner first, always read the labels, and take the prescribed dosages. Take it not if you are pregnant, nursing a baby, or taking any other prescription.
