What does Ashwagandha do for you?
Ashwagandha (withania somnifera) is a small shrub from India and North Africa that has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. Extracts from the plant are used to treat a variety of conditions in natural healing.
The three benefits most cited are:
- Stress Relief.
- Increasing Energy Levels.
- Improved Concentration.
The following double-blind and placebo-controlled study showed that the consumption of Ashwagandha extract, “significantly reduces the experiential and bioindicators of stress without adverse effects”. One of the ways in which Ashwagandha does this is by reducing cortisol levels.
Ashwagandha may elevate your natural energy levels.
Ashwagandha possesses anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antistress, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, hemopoietic, and rejuvenating properties. It also appears to exert a positive influence on the endocrine, cardiopulmonary, and central nervous systems.
Ashwagandha may also help in the reduction of anxiety.
Ashwagandha root …. improves an individual’s resistance towards stress and thereby improves self-assessed quality of life.
How much Ashwagandha per day?
Most bottles of ashwagandha contain 1,300mg in a daily dose and supplements that are true extracts, rather than crude powder are more effective.
In a study to determine a safe and effective dosage for ashwagandha, healthy men who took 750–1,250 mg of pulverized ashwagandha root per day gained muscle strength after 30 days.
Ashwagandha should not be taken by breastfeeding or pregnant women.
People with the following conditions should consult their doctor first:
- Autoimmune diseases, with conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and type 1 diabetes.
- Those on medication for thyroid disease
Also, Ashwagandha may also decrease blood sugar and blood pressure levels.
Whilst Ashwagandha is generally safe, it is always a good idea to consult your doctor.
I recommend sourcing an Organic product since this means pesticides were not used. It is also great to get a version with Black Pepper extract to aide absorption.
