If you’re the anxious or tense kind, you’ve undoubtedly heard someone give you a little lecture about the benefits of ashwagandha.
It can probably do almost anything, including prepare you dinner and put the kids to bed, as they have already informed you. But you’ve probably never looked at ashwagandha if you’re not convinced about herbal remedies. It’s alright. The hard work will be done for you by us.
Describe ashwagandha.
The evergreen plant ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), sometimes referred to as “Indian Winter cherry” or “Indian Ginseng,” is native to India, Africa, and some regions of the Middle East.
What uses does ashwagandha have then?
According to Dr., “Ayurvedic medicine has long used ashwagandha to increase energy, improve overall health, and reduce inflammation, pain, and anxiety.”
She goes on to say that the traditional medical system in India is called Ayurveda. It’s a healing tradition that encourages harmony between the body, mind, spirit, and environment through diet, exercise, mindfulness exercises, and herbal remedies.
For a number of reasons, ashwagandha appears to be a good option for people who like herbal remedies.
There are numerous stressors in today’s world. Furthermore, stress exacerbates both mental and physical illnesses. Your body produces more cortisol during stressful times, which makes your heart beat more quickly and forcefully. For a brief energy boost, your body produces more glucose and you breathe quickly. Your body shifts into fight-or-flight mode, and your mind becomes intensely focused on potential threats. Cortisol levels return to normal after the stressful incident, and the accompanying symptoms go away.
“Unfortunately, the stressful response also becomes chronic when a threat is chronic, whether it be stress from work or finances,” states Dr. “Long-term stress raises the risk of developing chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, cancer, osteoporosis, and fibromyalgia and can eventually lead to persistent inflammation.”
Ashwagandha benefits
So what is the effect of ashwagandha? Studies indicate that it has multiple benefits.
- brings cortisol levels back to normal, which lessens the stress reaction.
- lessens inflammation.
- lowers the risk of cancer.
- Improves memory.
- enhances anti-aging qualities and immune system performance.
- Eases stress and anxiety.
“Those with chronic conditions or those who are stressed or anxious may find that ashwagandha helps relieve their symptoms,” adds Dr.
What is the recommended dosage?
Ashwagandha is available in many different forms. It comes in the form of liquid drops, powders that you may blend into liquids, gummies, and capsules.
So what is the recommended daily dosage of ashwagandha? No matter the form you take, 500 mg twice a day is the standard dosage, according to Dr.
Is ashwagandha safe, though? According to Dr. the quality of the supplements is mostly responsible. She advises searching for supplements that have undergone independent testing and verification by third-party organizations like National Sanitation Foundation International (NSF International), ConsumerLab, or United States Pharmacopeia (USP).
Adverse effects of ashwagandha
Although ashwagandha has very few negative effects, some people may:
- upset stomach.
- a case of diarrhea.
- nausea and vomiting.
- The majority of individuals can use this supplement, but it’s advisable to talk to your doctor about it first.
Dr. highly advises speaking with your doctor before taking ashwagandha if you have any thyroid problems.
“By increasing the conversion of the less potent thyroid hormone, T4, to the more active form of the thyroid hormone, T3, ashwagandha can augment thyroid function,” states Dr. Therefore, it may help certain people’s thyroid function.
However, ashwagandha may cause overthyroidism in people whose thyroid is already on the verge of hyperactivity.
Using ashwagandha while pregnant, nursing, or suffering from an autoimmune disease are additional conditions that call for caution. Dr. suggests speaking with your provider before using any medication in these circumstances. She emphasizes this to expectant mothers because ashwagandha may lead to problems.
In general, ashwagandha can be included in your wellness regimen, but keep in mind that it is not a panacea.
Although taking ashwagandha won’t make the stress go away, it might help manage the symptoms and make the person feel more relaxed, according to Dr. “But in the long run, that will go much further if you take the time to develop coping tools to help manage stress in the future “Advantages of Ashwagandha