Ashwagandha: Benefits, Weight Loss, Side Effects & Usage – Inlifehealthcare

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a medicinal herb used in Ayurveda, of India. Its root has a horsey smell (in Sanskrit, ashva means “horse” and gandha means “smell”) and is said to confer the strength and potency of a horse. Ashwagandha is an adaptogen (a substance that helps the body adapt to stressors). It is best known for its anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) properties: it can lower cortisol levels and may mitigate stress-induced insomnia, depression, and immunosuppression. It can also reduce low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), improve physical performance in both sedentary people and athletes, and maybe help treat Alzheimer’s disease, though the more human evidence is needed before supplementation can be recommended specifically for Alzheimer’s. More research is also needed to determine ashwagandha main mechanism of action.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is traditionally recommended for cancer patients, but although it has shown anti-cancer activity in cultured cancer cells and specific animal models, there is no human evidence that it can treat cancer. It may, however, reduce chemotherapy-induced immunosuppression, and by reducing stress and fatigue, it can ease the pain of chemotherapy. In other words, ashwagandha should not be used for cancer treatment, but it may help as adjuvant therapy. Below links takes you to get more information regarding Ashwagandha.

Ashwagandha Supplement: A Stress-Free Solution

This article explains you to about the stress condition which triggers a special biological acknowledgment. Stress and the adrenal glands are inextricably linked. The adrenal glands generate cortisol, a stress hormone that is active to release than the more physically detectable stress hormones such as adrenaline. Ashwagandha boosts the adrenals by supporting normal HPA Axis function — meaning, it eases the hypothalamic, pituitary, and adrenal glands communicate effectively.

What Are The Health Benefits Of Ashwagandha?

This above link takes you to know about benefits of Ashwagandha. In Ayurvedic medicine, one of the primary uses of ashwagandha root extract is to enhance memory and improve brain function. One of the mechanisms responsible for this effect is ashwagandha antioxidant action. Since oxidative stress contributes to neurodegenerative disorders, lessening oxidative damage may offer neuroprotection. As you all know that ashwagandha has neuroprotective properties, a root extract found that it may prevent some instances of memory impairment and oxidative stress on the brain.

Does Ashwagandha Increase Testosterone?

The above link will help you know the benefits of Ashwagandha for men’s health. Traditional Indian medicine utilizes ashwagandha for many things, including sexual dysfunction and also infertility. The plant’s roots and berries are used to make teas, extracts, and ashwagandha capsules. One latest study looked at 46 infertile males and compared their sperm changes after taking Ashwagandha. Men who took ashwagandha saw: Increased sperm concentrations, an enhanced volume of ejaculate, increased serum testosterone levels, improved sperm motility.

What Does Ashwagandha Do For Your Health?

This link gives you complete information about Ashwagandha. While the Ashwagandha Ayurvedic herb do wonder in every health benefit but each person should keep in mind that the effect varies with the person. No two persons will get the same results with the same herb. You need to analyze the underlying cause of overweight and then use the herb accordingly. And the best way for that, visit a qualified Ayurvedic professional and seek help.

Know The History Of Ashwagandha

Drying regions of India is native. It is also the native of Australia, E. Asia, and Africa. This herb is used for 4000 years plus in India. It is an essential herb in Ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicine. Ashwagandha in Sanskrit means “horse’s smell,” probably originating from the odor of its root which resembles that of sweaty horse. The species name somnifera means “sleep-bearing” in Latin. Traditional uses of Ashwagandha among tribal peoples in Africa include fevers and inflammatory conditions. The use of Ashwagandha in Ayurvedic medicine expands back over 3000 to 4000 years to the teachings of an esteemed rishi (sage) Punarvasu Atriya. It has been defined in the sacred texts of Ayurveda, including the Charaka and Sushruta Samhitas. Ashwagandha grows prolifically in India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

Cultivation

Withania somnifera require full sun to partial shade with a well-drained slightly alkaline soil mix. Plants do best when the soil pH is 7.5-8.0. The plants are allowed to dry completely in between watering. Plants are fertilized once during the year with a balanced fertilizer diluted to ½ the strength recommended on the label. Division, cuttings or seed propagate it. The fresh root of one-year-old plants are harvested from January to March. It is either dried whole or cut in short transverse pieces and dried directly in the sun. Seed is the best way to propagate them. Seed sown on moist sand will germinate in 14-21 days.

Parts Used

The roots, Bitter leaves and the seeds of the fruits are used for varied purposes. Medicinal Uses Of Ashwagandha: Ashwagandha is an adaptogen, meaning it can be utilized to provide reduced cellular sensitivity to stress, anxiety, and neurosis by acting like gamma-Aminobutyric acid, or the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter in the whole central nervous system. Its anti-anxiety effects work in tandem with the anti-anxiety effects that alcohol gives, and releases insomnia and stress-induced depression by dropping cortisol concentrations. As such, it is utilized in few tranquilizers and anti-depressant drugs. Ashwagandha can also contribute much-required energy for both inactive people and people on the go, for example, athletes. It can also decrease bad cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein or LDL) levels in the body. Ashwagandha improves sexual stamina, which manages to increased sexual performance, especially in men. It also increases male libido and increases sperm count. Ashwagandha is fully loaded with antioxidants that kill free radicals in the body that cause tumor development and promote the influx of debilitating diseases. Ashwagandha contains anti-inflammatory properties that make it good for treating osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Ashwagandha is a good option for the skin. It can defeat aging symptoms such as dark spots, blemishes, fine lines, and wrinkles. It also gives relief to wounds and minor cuts. Ashwagandha is best for the hair. It regulates hair fall and hinders the loss of melanin in the hair to stop premature graying. It can do so as it includes vast amounts of tyrosine, an amino acid that encourages melanin production in the body. Ashwagandha is typically suggested to relieve the stress and fatigue levels of cancer patients as it aids to deal with the pain of chemotherapy. It is necessary to note, however, that ashwagandha is not used for cancer treatment, and must be used alongside other doctor-prescribed medicine. However, conflicting studies show that ashwagandha herb also has the potential to discourage the growth of cancer cells by hindering them from forming new blood vessels, which are essential for their continued growth. Body systems maintained by ashwagandha Due to ashwagandha being an active adaptogen agent, it can normalize psychological functions, thereby easing control the proper operation of the neuroendocrine system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Ashwagandha is one of the right herbs or the nervous system. It helps in the reconstruction of synapses, which are the junctions where the nerve cells transfer messages to other cells. It is said to be a catalyst of best memory and thereby is sometimes used to manage Alzheimer’s disease.

Ways To Utilize Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is mostly recognized for its medicinal uses. It is now available in capsules and powder and can be bought in health stores all over the world. However, ashwagandha can also be combined with other plants – like cannabis, eucalyptus, gingko biloba, ginseng, goji berry, licorice, Rhodiola, thyme, Tribulus, and even turmeric – to grasp its full medicinal effects. For best results, do not take more than two cups of ashwagandha infusion or decoction per day. Reference Links: https://www.swansonvitamins.com/blog/health-news-and-opinion/ashwagandha-origin-benefits https://www.agrifarming.in/ashwagandha-cultivation/