Build a Healthier Mind: the Benefits of Ashwagandha
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Being overwhelmed by stress and anxiety are common traits of the fast-paced society we live in. Sometimes, it’s difficult to slow down and be present in the moment. Life requires balance, and one option to balance life's everyday stressors is through a holistic approach. Holistic health focuses on the relationship between the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of a person and one key system that utilizes this holistic approach is ayurvedic medicine.
Ayurveda: The Science of Life
Ayurveda, meaning “the science of life” in Sanskrit, is an ancient Indian healing system that focuses on balancing the body's inner elements—known as doshas—comprising water, fire, and air. By restoring balance to these doshas, Ayurveda helps improve overall well-being, reducing stress and anxiety. This natural system of healing relies on plants and herbs to promote health, one of the most notable being Ashwagandha.
What is Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha is an herb native to India, but can also be found in northern Africa and the Middle East. This plant grows as an evergreen shrub and its flowers are green and yellow, leading to its nicknames of Indian ginseng and winter cherry. However, Ashwagandha’s name translates to “like a horse.” The name is Sanskrit and refers to the herb’s ability to revive physical and mental vitality like that of a horse. The taste of Ashwagandha is said to be earthy and bitter, so it may take time to get accustomed to this herb’s unique flavor. Ashwagandha root is often ground into a powder and utilized in various forms, such as tonics, topicals, and herbal supplements.
Benefits of Ashwagandha
When it comes to Holistic healing modalities, Ashwagandha has proved its prowess as a natural remedy for enhancing physical and mental well-being. Ashwagandha has a myriad of holistic benefits to improve your mood, sleep quality, cognitive abilities, skin, and many soon-to-be mothers are utilizing the restorative and healing properties of this perennial herb before and after child-birth.
Improved Mental Health
One of the most prominent uses of Ashwagandha is improving mental health issues like sadness, mild depression, and, as mentioned earlier, anxiety and stress. Although Ashwagandha in holistic health is often attributed to the spiritual, there have been scientific studies performed on the plant to better understand its healing and restorative properties.
According to the National Health Institutes (NIH), extensive studies on this adaptogenic herb have shown to be effective as an anti-stress agent. The NIH goes into detail about one such study, performed in India, where 491 adults who suffered from high stress, anxiety, as well as several with diagnosed anxiety disorders, were either given six to eight weeks worth of Ashwagandha (in a dosage ranging from 240 to 1,250 mg a day of extract, 12,000 mg a day of whole root granules, or 6,000 mg of root powder) or a placebo. The study found that the participants that took Ashwagandha retained reduced stress and anxiety levels, as well as felt more energized and less fatigued.
Ashwagandha also may block nervous system activity due to its ability to reduce cortisol levels, as well as regulate neurotransmitters. In turn, taking Ashwagandha may result in feeling more at ease and relaxed. Although an acquired taste, it may be worth trying the botanical for its soothing effects.
Increased Cognitive Function
Antioxidants are key when it comes to Ashwagandha for brain fog. Studies have demonstrated that the antioxidants Ashwagandha contains may decrease inflammation resulting in enhanced cognition, improved episodic memory, as well as improved memory reaction times. This works similarly to how the perennial helps calm the mind. When you feel calmer, it might be easier to focus, react to situations accordingly, and remember life’s most cherished moments.
Ashwagandha Benefits for Skin
So far, this ayurvedic superstar has proven to have many coveted natural characteristics, but does Ashwagandha clear skin? According to Learn Canyon, an online learning platform for organic skincare, Ashwagandha’s bioactive ingredients like withanolides and alkaloids help cleanse and moisturize skin. This herb reduces oily skin due to its natural oil inhibiting properties, brightens skin, and increases skin’s cellular energy thanks to being made up of, again, antioxidants.
Deeper More Restful Sleep
Just as it may help calm your anxieties, Ashwagandha might also help you sleep better. The herb can improve sleep efficiency as well as regulate your sleep cycle. This goes hand in hand with the way in which it reduces your stress levels as it lowers cortisol levels. Ashwagandha and melatonin are often used together because both assist with regulating sleep patterns, improve sleep quality, and even reduce insomnia.
Childbirth
Childbirth comes with its own set of stresses, which this ancient root botanical might resolve. Those wishing to conceive may take Ashwagandha daily to improve reproductive tissue health. Many soon-to-be mothers in India take the herb to reduce fatigue while increasing their energy and strength. When it comes to postpartum, Asghawandha is taken not only for stress, but for its relaxing properties that have the capacity to reduce depression and sadness.
How Long Will Ashwagandha Stay in Your System?
Ashwagandha can remain in your system for up to thirty days, but the water-soluble compounds typically break down within two to three days.
Where to Buy the Best Ashwagandha Supplement?
Soultrum offers two different types of supplements, both containing Ashwagandha. Soultrum daily contains 120 mg of organic Ashwagandha root intended to provide stress and anxiety relief, as well as improve brain function. Soultrum PM, our nighttime supplement, also contains 120 mg of Ashwagandha as well as 3mg of melatonin. The nighttime supplement supports sleep, helping you rest longer and wake up feeling refreshed. Whether these are the best supplements containing Ashwagandha is for you to decide. Try Soultrum and Soultrum PM today for enhanced mood and a more restful sleep.
Conclusion
When it comes to holistic health and ayurvedic medicine, Ashwagandha is a game changer. This bitter herbs bolsters strength and vitality while also helping with overall well-being through its reduction of stress and anxiety, and impacts on sleep and inflammation. Many studies are being done on the herb to better understand its potential impacts on the body. If you’re curious about where to buy ayurvedic products, you can always try Soultrum herbal supplements, which contain organic Ashwagandha root. Feel better, feel well.
*This article is for informational purposes only and not intended to be used as a substitute for medical or mental care.
References:
https://www.ayurvedacollege.net/blogs/difference-between-ayurveda-and-naturopathy
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vata-dosha-pitta-dosha-kapha-dosha
https://www.mofga.org/resources/herbs/ashwagandha/
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20240610/Ashwagandha-boosts-memory-and-mood-in-clinical-trial.aspx
https://learncanyon.com/ingredients/ashwagandha-extract/
https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-ashwagandha