Ashwagandha Benefits – Three Big Ashwagandha Benefits

Ashwagandha (withania somnifera) is one of the most important herbs in Ayurveda and it has been used for thousands of years as a form of natural medicine. Part of the nightshade family, the ashwagandha plant is a small shrub that has orange flowers. It is native to India and North Africa. Powders and extracts made from the plant’s roots and leaves treat a wide range of ailments. Ashwagandha benefits our health in a number of ways due to high amounts of withanolides, which fight inflammation and tumour growth. [1]

This article will outline:

• Three big ashwagandha benefits
• Ashwagandha precautions and dosage

Ashwagandha benefits Cancer Treatment

Ashwagandha could treat cancer symptoms. Cancer patients reported improved quality of life and more energy when they took an ashwagandha supplement.[2].

Furthermore, combining ashwagandha with chemotherapy was effective against lung cancer in this study [3].

Ashwagandha has shown to effectively fight brain[4], colon[5], and ovarian[6] cancer to name just a few.

Ashwagandha benefits Cortisol Levels

Cortisol is widely recognised as the stress hormone because your adrenal glands release it in response to stress. Cortisol is also released when your blood sugars get too low and when we consume caffeine. It is becoming more and more common for cortisol levels to be permanently high, which can lead to high blood sugar levels and increased fat storage in the abdomen.

Ashwagandha supplements lead to great reductions in cortisol. Participants in this study taking the highest dose had an average of 30% reduction in cortisol levels.(7).

Taking an ashwagandha supplement could help relieve your symptoms of anxiety.

Ashwagandha benefits Sexual Health

Ashwagandha can balance luteinizing hormone in infertile men [8]. The pituitary gland releases luteinising hormone to control the function of the reproductive organs in both men and women.

Also, ashwagandha could play a role in restoring hormone imbalances in polycystic ovary syndrome [9]. What’s more, ashwagandha has proven to relieve symptoms of the menopause[10].

More Ashwagandha Benefits

• Ashwagandha also boosts longevity by protecting against oxidative stress. The leaf extract of the Ashwagandha plant have shown anti-aging properties on cells [11].
• Ashwagandha is useful for children with memory issues and for preventing memory loss in old age [12, 13]. A 600mg daily dose ashwagandha root extract improved the memory of people with mild cognitive impairment [14].

Ashwagandha Precautions and Dosage

While ashwagandha is safe for most people, pregnant women should never take ashwagandha. It is linked with pregnancy loss. Anyone with a thyroid disorder should also be cautious: the above ashwagandha benefits show just how easily ashwagandha affects hormones.

The recommended dose will depend on the type of ashwagandha you are taking, so follow the instructions that come with the product you choose. Ashwagandha is delicate, but powerful, so start on a lower dose and work your way up until you feel comfortable with your dose. Always ensure that you are taking a high-quality supplement to get the best results.

Conclusions

This article outlined a few benefits of ashwagandha. There are many more benefits of this ancient Ayurvedic herb. Used to improve health for thousands of years, there is plenty of research to back up these health claims too. Therefore, incorporating ashwagandha into your supplement routine might be an effective way to benefit your health and quality of life.