Ashwagandha – A Natural Stress Breaker
Numerous individuals have extensively explored natural and chemical-free options to address mental and physical fatigue following demanding days. In this regard, Ayurveda, an ancient holistic science, offers Ashwagandha, a medicinal herb known for its potential in alleviating exhaustion.
Ashwagandha, the Ayurvedic medicinal herb, is an exceptional solution to all of your questions. Ashwagandha can improve the overall quality of life by relieving stress, increasing muscle strength, and improving sleep quality.
What is Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha or Indian Winter Cherry, also known as Withania somnifera is a herb commonly found in the areas of South East Asia and the Indian subcontinent. The Sanskrit name for the plant is “Ashwagandha,” which conveys the essence of a horse’s scent. The herb is named so because of its ability to increase the strength of an individual like a horse.
Ashwagandha is rich in antioxidants and known for its neuroprotective and antistress activities. The plant helps reduce anxiety, improving quality of the sleep and memory, and the overall health of the individual.
Benefits of Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha’s active constituents provide unique therapeutic benefits. Here are some of the benefits of Ashwagandha.
1. Helps reduce stress and anxiety
Ashwagandha has long been utilized in Ayurvedic medicine as a medicinal supplement for the purpose of managing stress and anxiety. Sleep deprivation and insomnia are common issues in people who experience stress. Ashwagandha helps reduce stress, increases the quality of sleep, and helps in restoring the quality of life.
2. Improves muscle mass and strength
Ashwagandha helps improve the performance of the sportsperson by increasing muscle mass and strength.
3. Enhance sexual performance.
Taking ashwagandha supplements has been found to help men by boosting testosterone levels and enhancing fertility. It can also increase sperm quality in those with low sperm counts. For women, ashwagandha supplements improve sexual experiences by enhancing arousal, lubrication, orgasms, and overall satisfaction, thereby preventing sexual issues.
4. Enhances memory and sharpens brain function
Ashwagandha enhances memory and sharpens brain function. It has a long history in Ayurvedic medicine as a remedy for improving memory and nerve health. It has been shown to positively impact immediate and overall memory, attention, and the speed of processing information.
5. Boost Thyroid function
One of the major benefits of Ashwagandha is its ability to stimulate the thyroid and help it work optimally. Even better, Ashwagandha is known to be effective for both overactive and underactive thyroid disorders.
6. Acts as anti-inflammatory property
Ashwagandha help to reduce inflammation. In chronic conditions like arthritis, it may also help prevent asthma and alleviate the symptoms of allergies. It can also help with skin conditions like eczema, which are often triggered by inflammation throughout the body. Ashwagandha may help reduce breast cancer risk through its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune-supporting properties.
How safe is Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha is generally safe to use and not toxic. It’s important to talk to a healthcare provider before taking an ashwagandha supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking other medications for prostate cancer, thyroid problems, liver disorders etc. Taking too much could cause vomiting, nausea and drowsiness.
Summary
The health benefits associated with ashwagandha are widespread and ranges from managing stress and blood sugar levels, to support concentration, physical endurance and sleep quality. The use of Ashwagandha for external applications can be traced back to ancient cultures, where it was applied to heal wounds or relieve inflammation of the skin. Today, it is used in a lot of cosmetics because it has been found to have anti-aging properties as well.
Ashwagandha’s effects may not be immediate, and you may have to take it for several months before noticing its effects. Ashwagandha is likely safe for most people in the short term. However, it’s not appropriate for everyone, so it’s always advised to talk with a healthcare professional before adding ashwagandha to your routine.
You can always consult our Ayurveda practitioners to ensure effective ayurvedic treatments for all your worries.