Delving into the world of Ayurveda? Meet Ashwagandha, an herb with 3000-year old history in natural remedies.
The name ‘Ashwagandha’ has a Sanskrit origin. The smell of its root resembles horse, thus named so. ‘Ashwa’ in Sanskrit is referred as horse and ‘Gandha’ indicates ‘smell’ by definition. It is also known as Indian ginseng or winter cherry. From improving mental well-being to enhancing physical strength, know why Ashwagandha has been appreciated for centuries.
In ancient ayurvedic literature, proponents had mentioned ashwagandha’s use in stress management and performance improvement. Renowned Ayurvedic Scholar Charaka (100 BC) had quoted about benefits of Ashwagandha: ‘One obtains longevity, regains youth, gets a sharp memory and intellect and freedom from diseases, gets a lustrous complexion, and strength of a horse’.
Calm Your Mind: Ashwagandha provides calming effect on patients suffering from anxiety symptoms. Some scientific reports mentioned consumption of Ashwagandha tonic can potentially to reduce cortisol or stress hormone. Regular consumption of Ashwagandha in moderation can improve sleeping habits too.
Fuel Your Performance: Ashwagandha supplements could potentially people gain strength and fitness. Thus, it is given to athletes recovering after surgery. A regular consumption of 300–500 mg Ashwagandha extract has been proven to be beneficial for individuals performing endurance training.
Heart Healthy: Ashwagandha provides phytochemicals required for lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. It can also provide relief from chest pain preventing heart diseases. Broadly, Ashwagandha acts as a cardioprotective medicine.
Unlocking Memory: According to a recent study, ashwagandha possess neuroprotective properties, which might be useful in treating patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, and Parkinson’s disease. A preclinical study has also confirmed that Ashwagandha can restore cognitive abilities.
Embrace Youthful Radiance: Suffering from skin infections, lack of moisture or hair loss, here is the effective strategy to look younger. Use Ashwagandha regularly.
Inflammation Relief: Ashwagandha is an effective Ayurvedic herb to reduce both chronic and acute inflammation.
The dosage of ashwagandha depends on the condition people are hoping to treat. As of now, there are no specific standards for treatment. Generally, patients tolerate ashwagandha in small-to-medium concentration. Based on age and health, 250-600 mg of Ashwagandha extract can reduce anxiety effectively. Currently, it is available as capsule, powder or even liquid form.
Nowadays, Ashwagandha herbal tea is available in the market, which is believed to reduce stress and headache. Ashwagandha face pack reduces acne problems. For immunity boosting, you can use Ashwagandha body oil, which is effective for kids too. Consume ashwagandha powder mixed with milk just before going to bed in the night to treat insomnia. Honey is another effective alternative to consume Ashwagandha powder.
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Consuming excess ashwagandha can cause digestive upset, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Ashwagandha is also not suitable for pregnant women, people suffering from thyroid or autoimmune disorders. If you are consuming immunosuppressants, anticonvulsants or thyroid hormone drugs, avoid Ashwagandha extract.
In Ayurveda, ashwagandha is referred as a ‘Rasayana’ indicating its potential to maintain youth, both mentally and physically.
