Introduction
Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb that has been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine, which is the traditional medical system of India. Ashwagandha, also known as Indian ginseng or winter cherry, has been shown to have many health benefits such as stress reduction, improved sleep and immune system support.
What Is Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha is a plant that belongs to the family Solanaceae (nightshade), which includes potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. It’s been used in Ayurvedic medicine as a tonic for over 3,000 years and has become increasingly popular in Western countries over the past decade.
The benefits of ashwagandha are many, including its ability to boost energy levels and improve sleep quality while reducing stress and anxiety. Read on to learn more about this powerful herb!
Benefits of Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is a plant that grows in the Indian subcontinent. It's been used for thousands of years as a medicinal herb, and has many health benefits. It can help reduce stress, improve sleep quality, lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, boost energy levels and support overall wellness.
Ashwagandha contains several compounds that provide these benefits including withanolides (steroidal lactones), alkaloids (such as ganoine) and sitoindosides VII-XII (withanolide glycosides). Withanolide A is the most abundant withanolide in the root extract of ashwagandha.
The amount of ashwagandha you should take depends on its potency or concentration; the recommended daily dose ranges from 300 mg to 3 g per day depending on which formulation you're using (capsules vs tincture). The root extract comes in whole form powder or capsule form—you can also find ashwagandha leaves available online if they're not sold locally where you live!
Stress Reduction
As a stress reducer, ashwagandha is an adaptogen. Adaptogens are herbs that help your body cope with stress—and believe us when we say that today's world is a stressful place. If you're feeling like your nerves are frazzled, there's no shame in reaching for an adaptogen.
Your body produces cortisol and adrenaline when it's under duress—and these hormones can keep rising even after the threat has passed if you don't give yourself time to relax (not to mention they'll wreak havoc on your health). Ashwagandha helps reduce the amount of cortisol produced during stressful situations and also helps decrease anxiety by slowing down the production of adrenaline after a stressful event has passed.
Healthy Immune System
Ashwagandha is a plant that is used in Ayurvedic medicine, where it’s considered an adaptogen. This means that it helps your body to adapt to stress by balancing hormone levels, boosting energy and repairing cells. One of the many benefits ashwagandha has for your immune system is its ability to help you maintain optimal health during times of stress or sickness by boosting your adrenal glands and helping them produce cortisol — a natural steroid that helps us regulate bodily functions like heart rate, blood pressure and metabolism.
It also contains antioxidants that protect against free radical damage caused by pollution or UV rays from the sun (free radicals are unstable molecules which are believed to speed up aging). Because of this antioxidant property, ashwagandha may also be beneficial in fighting infections caused by viruses like colds or flu as well as bacterial infections such as pneumonia or bronchitis
Improved Brain Function
Ashwagandha has long been known to improve brain function and treat a variety of neurological disorders. In fact, ashwagandha has been used for over 3,000 years in Ayurvedic medicine because it's believed to help the body cope with stress, anxiety and depression.
The active ingredients in ashwagandha are thought to be steroidal lactones called withanolides that interact with receptors in your brain cells called GABA receptors (GABA is an amino acid neurotransmitter). These interactions reduce anxiety by causing a calming effect on your nervous system—similar to how benzodiazepines like Xanax or Valium work—but without the side effects of these drugs (like drowsiness).
Pain Relief
If you're suffering from pain, ashwagandha can help. A 2016 study found that the herb reduces inflammation and joint stiffness when consumed regularly. It's also been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect on rheumatoid arthritis patients in several other studies.
If you have chronic pain, it might be time to consider adding ashwagandha to your daily regimen. Even if your pain isn't caused by inflammation (like migraines), ashwagandha may still help ease your symptoms because of its ability to reduce fatigue and improve sleep.
As with any over-the-counter medication or supplement, consult with a licensed healthcare professional before taking ashwagandha for long periods of time or in large doses—especially if you're pregnant or breastfeeding or have any underlying health conditions yourself
Better Sleep
If you're looking for a natural way to improve your sleep, ashwagandha can help. The ancient herb is known as an adaptogen, which means it increases energy and reduces stress by balancing the body's response to stressors. Ashwagandha gummies Australia also has been shown to have sedative properties that help people fall asleep quickly and stay asleep throughout the night.
It's important to note that taking ashwagandha before bed isn't recommended if you are experiencing insomnia due to stress or anxiety, as this herb may further increase your levels of anxiety before bedtime. Instead, try taking a small amount of ashwagandha in combination with other calming herbs like chamomile tea before bedtime—this combination can help ease restlessness while allowing you to fall asleep faster than if you took it alone!
Conclusion
We hope that this article has helped you learn more about ashwagandha and its many benefits. There are so many great ways to take this herb, ranging from capsules and tablets to tea bags, gummies and tinctures. Give one of these options a try today!
