Ashwagandha, used for centuries in Eastern medicine, is an herb that has been becoming more and more popular in the Western world lately. It’s now actually one of the more popular supplements on the market today. It helps alleviate many ailments, including anxiety, stress, insomnia, and athletic performance. Many take it daily, while others take it only when highly stressed or anxious.
Several manufacturers produce ashwagandha supplements. Here we will explain more about ashwagandha, how it works, what it is, who should take it, what the side effects are and what the benefits are. We will also show you the top three options available to you.
WHAT’S ASHWAGANDHA?
It is basically an evergreen herb, AKA Withania somnifera. It’s been used in Ayurvedic medicine for many, many centuries, to support health and wellness.
If you take an ashwagandha supplement every day, this may help improve energy levels, support overall wellness, and reduce inflammation.
Ashwagandha, also known as “winter cherry” or Indian ginseng, grows naturally in India, Africa, and the Middle East. The Sanskrit name means “smell of the horse” – due to its unique scent and the claim that it can make you stronger than a horse.
Ashwagandha also helps with stress and anxiety management. It can also help with sexual health and insomnia.
HOW DOES THIS HERB WORK?
Composed of chemicals that calm the brain, ashwagandha may also reduce blood pressure, improve the immune system, decrease swelling, and manage your stress response.
This adaptogen changes the way your body will respond to biological, physical, mental or chemical stress. It can also stimulate the body’s natural stress-protection response, which in turn helps you get back to a homeostatic state.
Because we all have that natural “fight or flight” reaction when a stressor occurs, ashwagandha can impact that response, which ultimately changes the way we respond to stress.
Ashwagandha controls the body’s stress mediators, specifically Hsp70 (which are heat shock proteins). It can affect stress hormones like cortisol, as well as JNK-1, or c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase, which is activated by stress. When under stress, these stress biomarkers’ levels will increase. Studies show ashwagandha could decrease these levels, helping to ease anxiety.
WHO IS ASHWAGANDHA GOOD FOR?
Anyone who could benefit from stress and anxiety relief, or who wants to increase testosterone levels, or who wants to lose weight can all take ashwagandha supplements. These people could benefit the most from taking it. Those who:
- Have insomnia or difficulty sleeping
- Want a natural treatment for stress and anxiety
- Want to boost strength and muscle recovery after a workout
- Want to increase virility, overall function and sex drive
- Are looking to improve brain power, memory and cognition
- Want to reduce inflammation
Ashwagandha has been popular in Eastern medicine for many centuries and has been used as a comprehensive health and wellness aid. Rather than just target one aspect of your health, it actually supports overall wellness in many ways. This is what makes it great for anyone.
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