All About Ashwagandha
What is Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha is the common name for Withania somnifera. It is a popular herb used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. It is probably the most popular Indian medicinal herb known in the western world. The plant has been used in India for thousands of years and was named Ashwagandha which means “horse smell” due to the odor of herbs’ roots. The Ashwagandha is a small shrub that grows to 35 up to 75 centimeters. It produces a fruit that when ripe becomes orange red and is similar to tomatoes. This fruit is used as a milk coagulant. The main part that is of interest to medicine and health buffs alike is the plants brown tuberous roots. The ashwagandhas’ roots contain chemicals used in the treatment of numerous ailments.
The Ashwagandha plant is also known as Indian ginseng, Winter cherry, Ajagandha, Kanaje Hindi, Amukkara and Samm Al Ferakh is a plant belonging to the Solanaceae or nightshade family. This grouping of plants includes potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, petunia, tobacco and chili pepper to name a few. Ashwagandha grows in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Congo, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan and Afghanistan. The small shrub has straight stems and produces yellow flowers. The plant grows mainly on slightly dry soil.
The Ashwagandha is considered an adaptogen which helps the body to cope with mental and physical stress. The roots of the Ashwagandha have been used over centuries as a powerful aphrodisiac. Aside from this, the plant is also traditionally used as a medicine to treat various illnesses. Today, Ashwagandha roots are processed into powder, oil, poultice and decoction and is being used as a remedy for a multitude of health problems like disorders of the nervous system, reproductive system and infections of the intestines but in India where it has been used for millennia, it is most popular as a traditional aphrodisiac.
Why Take Ashwagandha?
• Powerful Antioxidant
Indian researchers of Ashwagandha have found out that a lot of chemicals found in Ashwagandha are actually some of the most powerful Antioxidants. Chemicals like superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione and glutathione peroxidase too name a few, are capable preventing the oxidation of molecules in the body thereby prolonging the life of individual cells. Antioxidants are very crucial to life and are commonly a popular ingredient in a lot of health supplements.
• Natural Aphrodisiac
The Ashwagandha has always been popular in Traditional Indian Medicine or Ayurveda. It is usually made into tea and consumed to partake of its aphrodisiac properties. Ashwagandha has been celebrated in India similar to China’s reverence to Ginseng. In fact, the Ashwagandha is commonly called an Indian Ginseng. Clinical studies suggest that Ashwagandha extracts stimulate the production of nitric oxide in the body which dilates the pathways of the blood allowing for fresh blood to deliver its carried nutrients.
• Relieves Stress and Anxiety
In Classical Indian Medicine, the ground roots of the Ashwagandha are used as a stimulant to relieve anxiety and stress. The calming effect of the roots has also shown to alleviate mild depression. Those who take Ashwagandha in tea form have also reported to experience a good restful sleep and sleep of course is essential in the growth of body and mind. A long undisturbed sleep also enhances memory. When asleep, the brain tries to organize the data that it has processed throughout the day making sure that each memory has been properly imprinted in the mind.
• Antibacterial Properties
In a 2005 research, scientists conclude that the roots and leaves of the Ashwagandha are effective against pathogenic bacteria like the dreaded salmonella typhimurium. Both water and alcohol solutions of Ashwagandha were used as an antibacterial solution and have been tested on animal subjects. The Ashwagandha extract also showed potential as an alternative to synthetic antibiotics. Unlike synthetic antibiotics, Ashwagandha poses no threat on the development of the erythrocytes and therefore allowing for healthy blood to be produced.
• Lowers Blood Sugar
Ashwagandha extracts also possess potential in managing an individual’s diabetes. There has been an experiment on six human subjects that suffer irregularities on their body’s insulin supply. The subjects all took Ashwagandha to test the herbs claimed hypoglemic, diuretic and hypocholesterolemic effect. The results were favorable; it also showed that the herb has the ability to lower serum cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoproteins in the body. The ability of the Ashwagandha to lower the sugar or glucose content in the blood makes it valuable in treating cases of diabetes and irregular blood-sugar levels.
• Increase Mental Alertness
Ashwagandha is a popular treatment for patients in nursery homes were the elderly frequently experience disorders related to amnesia. The plant is thought to promote good neurotransmitter connections in the brain and throughout the nervous system. This greatly improves the health of each cell in the brain, improving their responsiveness and overall health.
• Minimize Risks of Cancer
The extracts found on the leaves of the Ashwagandha also prove to be an inhibitor of tumor cells, stunting their growth and propagation. In minimizing the growth of abnormal cells in the body, the herb has greatly reduced the potential development of cancerous tissues.
• Healthier Heart
If you favor eating meat and pork products then the addition of Ashwagandha supplements in your diet might probably save you from serious heart problem. The antioxidants in Ashwagandha (glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase) act similar to vitamin E when it comes to treating myocardial injury. The Ashwagandha in fact, prove to be more beneficial in protecting the heart than other synthetic vitamins.
Buying Supplements
When planning on buying Ashwagandha supplements, make sure to only buy from reputed producers and sellers. The Ashwagandha, being a popular herbal supplement with many benefits makes it a target for fraudulent makers of fake supplements. Always read testimonials on your choice of brand to assess the quality of the product, ensuring that you only get a pure Ashwagandha supplement.
