Ashwagandha is an interesting herb that YOU should be aware of!
I was first introduced to it a few months ago while
researching natural supplements for anxiety and stress.
All the claims and health benefits associated with this herb used in Ayurveda
and Traditional Chinese Medicine intrigued me so much, that I decided to
purchase a few bottles to test it out myself. The results were miraculous as
soon as I discovered what these reputed websites were raving about.
I regularly meditate because of my high anxiety personality
and what I noticed after taking this essential supplement was that I was able
to settle into a meditative state quite effortlessly. I also noticed how much
more relaxed I was during my usual stressful work week. I was sold!
Being the resourceful person I am, I dug in a little deeper
to understand this herb and the other health benefits this centuries old remedy
claimed to provide.
What I Found Out Blew My Mind!
Ashwagandha is a nutritious evergreen shrub grown in the Middle East
and India. It is often referred to as the “Indian ginseng” and is classified as
an “adaptogen.” These
types of adaptogenic herbs are known to be extremely effective in bringing
balance to your hormones and normalizing the physiological functions in your
body.
For those out there who hate swallowing pills, there are
other ways of ingesting it other than taking it in capsule form. I have found
that you can also chew on the root or brew it in a fresh hot tea and it also
comes in a liquid extract.
Here are the top ten health benefits of Ashwagandha and why YOU should consider adding it to your health
routine.
1. Reduces Anxiety and Depression
About 350 million adults suffer from depression globally and
an estimated 40 million in the United States suffer from anxiety. Ashwagandha has shown to be extremely effective
in treating both anxiety and depression without any of the known side
effects that come with taking prescription drugs. It is known to lower
the levels of cortisol in your body and, in return, helps you to relax. In high
doses, it can actually be used as a mild sedative to help treat insomnia as
well.
2. Adrenal Fatigue
Your adrenal glands are part of the endocrine system. They
are responsible for releasing the hormones cortisol and adrenaline in your
body. Too often, we are dealt numberless amounts of highly stressful situations
throughout the week, whether it be from our jobs, family issues or paying off
debt. These all fatigue our adrenal glands and over time, can create health
issues associated with stress. Ashwagandha
helps support your adrenal glands and restore balance to your levels of
cortisol and adrenaline.
3. Improves Thyroid Function
Ashwagandha has been shown in studies to help re-balance the
thyroid. This is again due to its “adaptogenic” properties. It can help
with stress, the loss of energy and other common symptoms that are related to
thyroid issues.
4. Cancer Prevention
Studies have been very promising in ashwagandha’s ability to prevent and treat cancer. It
stunts the growth of cancerous cells and also supports the growth of white
blood cells that are lost during chemotherapy. More studies are being
conducted to find out more. Keep an eye out for this… interesting stuff!
5. Increases Stamina and Endurance
This herb can increase endurance and stamina during physical
activity. If you’re an athlete or just love working out regularly like I do,
then this is the perfect supplement for you! It sharpens your mind and
improves concentration during your workout, almost like caffeine does,
but without the side effects. A couple of other benefits
include the reduction of lactic acid and faster recovery time in your muscles
from extensive exercising.
6. Helps Treat Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
Test results for the treatment of Dementia and Alzheimer’s
disease have been very promising! They have shown that Ashwagandha improves memory loss and
that it helps rebuild lost connections in the brain from these degenerative
diseases. The National Brain Research Center has done studies on mice with
alzheimer’s and revealed that mice that were given ashwagandha were able to retain information learned after being
supplemented for 20 days. Although research is still in the early stages, we
should be confident that one day researchers will hopefully make a breakthrough
with this impressive ancient herb.
7. Boosts Immunity
Ashwagandha is not called the “Indian ginseng” for nothing. It is
also known to strengthen our immune systems and increase our
energy. Research has shown that the amount of white blood cells in our
bodies increase when we regularly take Ashwagandha.
If you’re feeling under the weather, add this to your arsenal of cold/flu
fighting vitamins and nutrients.
8. Anti-Inflammatory
The many types of diseases that arise due to inflammation -
like fibromyalgia and heart disease - can be reduced and possibly even healed by
taking Ashwagandha regularly. Taking
this herb can reduce the inflammation in your body, which in turn aids to
reduce the symptoms associated with disease.
9. Anemia
Ashwagandha can help with iron deficiency due to its high iron
content. If you are noticing the usual symptoms of iron deficiency, consult a
doctor first before taking this supplement.
10. Aphrodisiac
Yes, you read that right. Ashwagandha was used during ancient times as an aphrodisiac in
India. In fact, a 2013 study revealed that the herb can increase semen
volume, sperm counts and sperm motility when evaluating the spermatogenic
activity in males.