How Does Ashwagandha Help with Stress? Here's the Science: A Blog Focusing on Ashwagandha, Stress Relief, and Related Health Benefits.
Ashwagandha is a reserve herb that is used in various Ayurvedic formulations. The powder, or ashwagandha extract, is used both internally as well as externally. It is considered to be one of the best remedies for people suffering from stress-related disorders, and it can be taken to help people with high blood pressure and anxiety. Ashwagandha may also be good for people who have difficulty sleeping because of stress.
It is believed that Ashwagandha has a positive effect on the immune system, which helps boost your stamina and energy levels, which in turn makes you more productive and more capable of handling stress. Ashwagandha also provides relief from general fatigue and helps improve physical strength.
The use of Ashwagandha for external applications can be traced back to ancient cultures, where it was applied to heal wounds or relieve inflammation of the skin. Today, it is used in a lot of cosmetics because it has been found to have anti-aging properties.
For the past few years, Ashwagandha has become a much talked-about herb in wellness circles. This ancient herb is revered in the Ayurvedic tradition and has been used by Indian people for thousands of years as a way to strengthen the immune system and fight off stress and anxiety.
What exactly is Ashwagandha, and how does it work? We’ll explore these questions in this article. Let’s take a closer look at what Ashwagandha is, how it helps with stress relief, and why you should consider adding it to your daily routine.
What Does Ashwagandha Do?
It’s amazing how many of our modern herbal remedies have their beginnings thousands of years ago in traditional healing systems like Ayurveda. One of the most popular herbs found in Ayurveda is Ashwagandha. In Ayurveda, this herb was known to be an adaptogen—a term that refers to any substance that helps the body adapt to stressors or changes in the environment. In other words, adaptogens help us cope with physical and emotional stress.
What is Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha is an evergreen shrub that grows in India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. Its roots and orange-red fruit have been used for hundreds of years for medicinal purposes. The herb is classified as an "adaptogen," meaning that it can help your body manage stress.
The science behind ashwagandha explains how it does this: It enables the body to deal with stress by regulating hormones and altering brain chemistry.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a perennial plant and a member of the Solanaceae, or nightshade family, with small green-yellow flowers and bright red fruit grown throughout India and North America. In Ayurveda, it is known as Indian Ginseng or Winter Cherry. This herb has been used for over 3,000 years as a general tonic in wellness support, with an impressive array of health benefits.
Ashwagandha, also known as Indian ginseng, is an Ayurvedic herb that's been used for thousands of years. It's called an adaptogen because it helps the body cope with physiological and psychological stress. Here are five key ways ashwagandha can help improve your health.
The Advantages of Ashwagandha Root Powder
The benefits of ashwagandha root powder are many! Let’s take a look at some of the most important ones:
1. Ashwagandha helps fight stress:
Stress is a normal part of life, but when it becomes chronic, it can lead to a host of mental and physical problems. Here are two ways ashwagandha can help fight stress. Ashwagandha has been used for centuries as an anti-anxiety remedy. Studies have shown that it reduces anxiety in people who suffer from chronic stress by balancing cortisol levels (the stress hormone).
2. It boosts the Immune System:
When you're stressed out, your immune system is compromised, making it harder for your body to fight off infections and other health problems. Ashwagandha has been shown in several studies to increase the number of natural killer (NK) cells in the body and boost the overall immune response.
3.Ashwagandha improves sleep quality:
Sleep deprivation and insomnia are common issues in people who experience stress. According to one study, taking 600 mg of ashwagandha extract daily improved sleep quality by 50% after two weeks. Another study found that taking 300 mg of ashwagandha extract along with a mild
4. It has anti-inflammatory properties:
Ashwagandha is an adaptogen that helps the body deal with stress while also reducing inflammation. It's not just the stress-reducing benefits that make Ashwagandha a powerful addition to any supplement regimen. Ashwagandha also has a number of anti-inflammatory properties that lend themselves to helping with a wide variety of symptoms.
In addition to being able to help reduce inflammation in chronic conditions like arthritis, it may also help prevent asthma and ease the symptoms of allergies.
It can also help with skin conditions like eczema, which are often triggered by inflammation throughout the body.
5. Ashwagandha can reduce cortisol levels:
Cortisol is a hormone that’s released in response to stress. It plays an important role in the body, but chronically high levels have been linked to several disorders and diseases, including obesity and various mental health problems. It has been shown to reduce inflammation by decreasing cortisol levels.
How to Use Ashwagandha Powder?
Using Ashwagandha powder is simple. Just add a half or full teaspoon of powder to a glass of milk or water and have it once or twice per day. While consuming, mix the ashwagandha well so that it dissolves completely. You can also mix ashwagandha with honey and ghee and consume it daily.
If you are using ashwagandha for weight gain, then you should take the supplement early in the morning on an empty stomach to boost your metabolism. This will help you lose weight quickly.
There are different forms of ashwagandha available, such as tablets, capsules, liquid extracts, and powder form. You can choose any form based on your preference and convenience, but keep in mind that the dosage may vary depending on the form you choose.
Which is the best ashwagandha powder or capsule?
Ashwagandha is an Ayurvedic herb with a lot of health benefits.
Ashwagandha is one of the most commonly used herbs in Ayurveda. It has been used for more than 3000 years to treat various ailments. It is known as Indian ginseng because it cures the same problems as ginseng does.
There are a lot of ashwagandha products available online and offline. There are ashwagandha capsules, tablets, and powder available. So, which one is best?
To answer this question, we have to know how to use ashwagandha powder or capsules effectively. Ashwagandha powder can be mixed with water, milk, or any other liquid for consumption. In the same way, ashwagandha capsules can also be taken with water or milk.
So, which one will be more effective?
Taking Ashwagandha Capsules vs. Taking Ashwagandha Powder
According to Ayurveda, every herb should be consumed in its natural form for maximum benefits. But nowadays, people prefer capsules over natural herbs because they are easy to consume and come in a convenient form.
Can You Take Ashwagandha with Protein Powder?
Ashwagandha is a great adaptogen and has multiple benefits. It can be taken on an empty stomach or with meals. But it does not go well with milk. Milk and ashwagandha may cause neurological problems that could hurt the brain and nerves, so it's important to stay away from both.
Protein powder is a complete protein source and contains all the essential amino acids required for muscle repair, growth, and recovery. If you want to take ashwagandha with your protein shake, then go ahead, but put a little distance between them.
Take the ashwagandha 1-2 hours before your protein shake.
If you are taking a protein powder, then it would be best to consult your doctor before trying Ashwagandha. Ashwagandha is known to increase the blood serum levels of certain hormones, which help in increasing muscle growth. Since protein powders already help in increasing muscle mass and protein synthesis, it would be best to consult your doctor if you can take both these supplements together.
Also Read: Weight Loss: How does the Indian Herb ‘Ashwagandha’ help you Burn Belly Fat?
Does Ashwagandha Powder Increase Heights?
Ashwagandha has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years, and it is believed to improve a person's overall health. However, there are few studies that specifically look at ashwagandha's effects on height.
Some studies say that ashwagandha may help men and women gain muscle, lose weight, and be more strong.
Also, some animal studies have found promising results in its ability to increase bone density.
It's considered a tonic for energy and vitality, as well as an immune system booster. Studies have shown ashwagandha to be effective in helping people gain weight, strengthen bones, and increase height.
Gain weight:
According to a study published in the June 2010 issue of the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, ashwagandha was found to increase muscle mass and strength in people who were underweight. Thirty-six adult participants with low body weight took either 675 mg of ashwagandha root extract or a placebo twice daily for eight weeks. The ashwagandha group experienced increases in muscle size and strength, as well as weight gain. The placebo group did not experience these changes.
Another study published in the July 2008 issue of Phytomedicine showed similar results among men who consumed 300 mg of ashwagandha root extract per day for 90 days. These men also gained muscle mass, increased their antioxidant levels, and improved their overall quality of life. The results of these studies suggest that ashwagandha can help people gain weight by boosting testosterone levels, increasing anabolic activity and improving overall health.
Ashwagandha Extract vs. Root Powder
The root of the ashwagandha plant is what we use to make both extracts and root powder. The difference comes in how they're made.
The process starts with the roots being harvested from mature ashwagandha plants and dried at low temperatures. Then, they're ground into a fine powder.
Extracts are made by soaking this root powder in a solution that allows the active ingredients to separate out, then removing the liquid and evaporating it so that you're left with a concentrated form of those ingredients.
However, if you want to get all the nutrients from the root itself, you need to eat it whole—which means taking root powder rather than extract.
Conclusion:
Ashwagandha continues to gain popularity as a supplement that promotes overall health and well-being, promising to help with anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue, stress, and more. If that's something you're looking for, we encourage you to look at the research behind this supplement—because it seems too good to be true doesn't necessarily mean that it is. In fact, as this post shows, there is plenty of research to support the potential benefits of Ashwagandha. We hope that this post will help you come to your own conclusions about Ashwagandha and decide whether or not it's right for you.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article should not be considered as a substitute for a physician's advice. Please consult with your health care professional before buying this product.
