Ashwagandha – Stress Relief Herb In Ayurveda

Ashwagandha holds a lot of importance in the world of traditional healthcare and well-being.The product and medicines prepared from the root of this herb / shrub have been known to cure a whole host of health conditions. These range from arthritis, insomnia, diabetes, fever and skin conditions to several gastrointestinal issues, etc. Even the seeds, fruits and the leaves of this plant continue to feature in a variety of ayurvedic preparations.

What Is Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha is an evergreen shrub which grows in various dry regions of Asia, Africa and the Middle East.The word Ashwagandha, in fact, breaks down to mean the smell of a horse.This can be owed to its roots, which smell just like a horse.The name is quite apt, given the belief that this ancient medicinal herb provides the strength and vitality as that of a horse. While the Latin name is Withania somnifera, interestingly people also know it by various other names, including, Ayurvedic Ginseng, Indian Ginseng, Winter Cherry, etc.

Therapeutic Benefits

The herb owes most of its therapeutic properties to the presence of these tiny compounds called Withanoloides. This is because they help fight inflammation, the root cause behind various health conditions. The same compounds also promote the death of cancer cells in your body. The presence of other active constituents such as saponins and alkaloids further makes this herb all the more potent on the health grounds.

Let us now take a look at some of the prominent health benefits of this herb.

Helps You De-Stress

When something around you triggers stress, the adrenal glands in your body release a hormone called cortisol. Also known as the stress hormone, excessive levels of cortisol in your blood is not good for your emotional heath. It can lead to what is called aschronic stress. Ashwagandha serves as an effective herbal adaptogen and provides relief from various signs of stress and anxiety disorders. It has a rather calming effect on the stress patients, when compared to other medications such as sedatives. Including Ashwagandha in your daily diet allows you to combat stress by reducing the levels of cortisol in blood. Also, as per some back to back studies that have been conducted on rats, ashwagandha is also observed to regulate the chemical signalling in their nervous system. It blocks the stress pathways in their brain and also prevents stress from reaching there in the first place.Talking about stress, it is not only the physiological stress that it relieves. It also rids you of the mental stress and fatigue, by adapting to the various needs of the body.

Improves Memory Function

The benefits of ashwagandha, however, do not end with being an adaptogen. There are several other properties that make it a popular diet supplement for the mind and the overall mental balance. An improved memory function and cognitive ability is one of the gains. By increasing acetylcholine levels in the brain, it improves memory, intelligence and brain function. This slow-acting tonic also promotes deep, restful sleep and treats the problem of insomnia. Besides, this brain boosting herb has no side effects, such as drowsiness, which is usually associated with sedatives.

Provides Physical Energy And Rejuvenation

Ashwaganda also restores your energy levels and supports normal energy metabolism in your body. No wonder why, this herb is considered to be a Rasayana in Ayurveda, which mean that it is a natural rejuvenative that keeps you young and fit, not only physically but mentally as well. It also helps fights all the fatigue associated with stress.

And Lastly…

All these benefits together go a long way in improving your health as well as the quality of life and make Ashwagandha a staple natural herb. While it is safe for consumption, the herb is generally consumed with ginger or pepper in order to make it easy on the stomach.

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