For centuries, ashwagandha has served as a calming tonic that helps the body cope with stress. In India, it has been used for 5,000 years for growth difficulties in children, weakness and weakness, rheumatism, constipation, insomnia, nervous conditions, goiter, arthritis and hormone imbalances in the elderly. A paste made from ashwagandha root can help with burns, ulcers and other skin infections.
Ashwagandha is also recognized for supporting the immune system in people recovering from illness, chemotherapy or surgery. It may also help with anxiety and stress by lowering cortisol levels.
Ashwagandha is often called “Indian ginseng” because of its rejuvenating effects. In Sanskrit, its name means “the smell of a horse,” reflecting the idea that the plant can provide the vigor and strength of a stallion. This plant belongs to the tomato family and has oval leaves and yellow flowers. It produces raisin-sized fruits. It is native to the dry regions of India, North Africa and the Middle East, but it now grows in more temperate climates, including the USA.
Other known names:
- Ajagandha
- Ayurvedic ginseng
- Indian ginseng
- Ghoda asoda
- Winter cherry
- Vajigandha
- Withania somnifera
Ashwagandha benefits
Ashwagandha contains many beneficial compounds, including alkaloids, choline, fatty acids, amino acids and various sugars. The leaves and fruits also have healing properties, but the root remains one of the most widely used herbal sources in Western medicine.
Researchers have studied ashwagandha for years with strong interest. More than 200 studies have examined the healing benefits of this herb. Some key examples of ashwagandha’s effects are listed below:
Lowers blood sugar
Ashwagandha can be an effective option for lowering high blood sugar. It appears especially useful in people with insulin resistance, type-2 diabetes, overweight and metabolic syndrome.
Studies show that ashwagandha can reverse insulin resistance (1). It is also considered highly effective at lowering average blood sugar in healthy and diabetic individuals (2).
Some studies even suggest that ashwagandha use works as well as drugs containing the active ingredient “Glibenclamide” in the sulfonure group used by type-2 diabetes patients (3). This highlights how effective ashwagandha can be for blood sugar control.
Can help treat cancer
- Normal cells divide as part of life. If this process gets out of control, the cell starts multiplying abnormally and becomes cancerous.
- One of the main principles in cancer treatment is triggering the “apoptosis-suicide” process, the cell’s self-destruction mechanism.
- Ashwagandha activates this programmed death mechanism in tumor cells, which may reduce cancer cells (4). Ashwagandha most often,
Chest, Column, Brain, Lungs, used in cancers.
There is an important issue here. The studies conducted generally use animal subjects. So human research is still needed for a final conclusion.
Reduces stress and anxiety
- One of the biggest problems today is severe stress. Nearly everyone experiences stress in some form, and lowering it can greatly improve quality of life. Ashwagandha helps people relax by reducing stress signals in the brain.
- One study shows that people with chronic stress who use ashwagandha (69%) feel more comfortable and have less sleeplessness than those who do not (5%) (5).
- The effect is strong enough to influence cortisol hormone levels released during stress (6). Lower cortisol means less stress-related overeating and improved body and blood values. Most stress-related side effects are tied to high cortisol levels.
Ashwagandha may also be used in the treatment of depression as well as stress. It is so effective in this area that it can be added to treatment for many patients with serious depression.
The most important point to understand is that ashwagandha has a synergistic effect with many antidepressants.
For that reason, people taking antidepressants must consult their physician before using ashwagandha.
Reduces inflammation
- Inflammation raises the risk of many diseases, especially when it is continuous and intense.
- Ashwagandha is well known for its strong anti-inflammatory properties. Studies show that using ashwagandha lowers CRP levels (7).
Cholesterol and triglyceride levels decrease
- Ashwagandha can help control LDL and triglyceride levels, which are known as bad cholesterol (8).
Memory and neuroprotective effect
- Ashwagandha may protect brain tissue. It reduces oxygen radical levels and chronic inflammation. Studies also indicate that ashwagandha can improve memory (9).
- Another clinical study found that it significantly improved mental health, concentration, energy levels, social functionality, vitality and overall well-being in workers with moderate to severe anxiety. (10)
Increases testosterone levels
- Ashwagandha can also be used to raise testosterone levels, which are very important for men. In addition, ashwagandha can increase sperm quality and number (11,12).
Ashwagandha is a useful energy source for bodybuilders and athletes. It may support better oxygen flow to muscles and cells. It helps increase strength and endurance during exercise. This can allow the athlete to gain more lean muscle than is normally possible. It can also reduce the effect of stress hormones and lactic acid buildup.
Ashwagandha is an antioxidant.
When a foreign invader enters the body, white blood cell levels increase. This helps the body make antigens against different infections and allergies. Ashwagandha is rich in antioxidants like catalase, glutathione, and superoxide dismutase. These compounds help protect strong free radical warriors and cells from oxidation.
Who can use Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha is a very effective herbal supplement. Because of that, use it with care.
Especially,
- Pregnant women and nursing mothers,
- Those with autoimmune disease (thyroid, lupus, type-1 diabetes),
- Those with low blood sugar
- Suffering from high blood sugar (type-2 diabetic or insulin resistant),
- Cancer treatment (especially chest, lung, colon),
- Suffering from intense stress,
- Testosterone levels are low can be listed as.
In addition, the use of Ashwagandha in all individuals should be examined and made under the supervision of a physician.
Ashwagandha plant content
Anaferine (alkaloid), anahygrine (alkaloid), beta-cysterol, chlorogenic acid (only in Ashwagandha leaf), cysteine (in Ashwagandha fruit), cuscohygrine (alkaloid), iron, pseudotropine (alkaloid), scocopoletin, somniferin (alkaloid), somniferin ), tropanol (alkaloid), withaferin A (steroid lactone), withanine (alkaloid), withananine (alkaloid) and withanolides AY (steroid lactones).
At the roots of the ashwagandha plant other alkaloids include somniferin, somnine, somniferinine, withananine, pseudo-withanine, tropine, pseudo-tropine, 3-a-gloyloxytropane, choline, cuscohygrine, isopelletierine, anapherine and anahydrine.
Referance:
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25796090/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23125505/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19564954/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24046237/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23439798/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23439798/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26989739/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16713218/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27037574/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19718255/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19501822/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23796876/
