Ashwagandha is one of the most prominent herbs in the Ayurveda system of medicine. The ancient herb has been around since the beginning of ayurveda. People have known and received benefits of ashwagandha for years. Now that ayurveda is surfacing again, people are keen to get the essential benefits of ashwagandha.
Let’s dive into some history of ashwagandha and how and why it came into use.
History of Ashwagandha:
- The history of ashwagandha can be traced back to 6000 BC; therefore, its existence is associated with the inception of the ayurvedic medicine system itself. Ayurveda recognises ashwagandha as an adaptogen and is used as a rasayana to promote longevity and vitality.
- Ashwagandha is derived from the Sanskrit words “ashwa” meaning horse and “gandha” meaning smell. So, ashwagandha basically means ‘smell of horse’. Whereas scientifically it is known as Withania Somnifera.
- Ashwagandha is widely found in dry regions like India, Middle east and some parts of Africa. It is known as Indian ginseng because India is the largest producer of ashwagandha in the world.
- Historically, ashwagandha has been used for various medicinal purposes. The herb is widely used in the field of medicine because of the multiple benefits of ashwagandha. It has been serving as an adaptogen, an aphrodisiac, tonic, and stimulant to provide health benefits.
Health benefits of Ashwagandha:
Ashwagandha is widely used for medicinal purposes because it provides multiple health benefits. Here are a few health benefits of consuming ashwagandha:
Beneficial in reducing stress and anxiety:
One of the benefits of ashwagandha is helping to manage stress and anxiety. Ashwagandha helps to control the stress hormone cortisol that is one of the major mediators of stress. It also helps to reduce the activity of the HPA axis (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) that regulates stress response in the body.
Beneficial in improving strength:
Athletes use ashwagandha as a supplement to enhance their performance and strength. It helps to improve physical performance including strength and respiratory endurance while exercising. Ashwagandha got its name from horse which means “ashwa” in Sanskrit and horse is associated with strength. Hence, one of the benefits of ashwagandha is to enhance strength and endurance.
Beneficial for heart health:
Our heart needs maximum oxygen especially when undergoing vigorous physical activity. The maximum amount of oxygen intake is referred to as VO2 max. Ashwagandha may also enhance the maximum oxygen intake by your body, eventually improving your heart and lung health. This also leads to an improved physical performance.
Beneficial for mental health:
Ashwagandha is considered as an adaptogen that calms your mind which makes you feel relaxed. If your mind is relaxed you will experience a reduction in symptoms of depression and anxiety. Hence, consuming ashwagandha helps reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression because it has stress relieving properties.
Beneficial to improve fertility and testosterone levels:
Couples are facing infertility issues due to various reasons and one of them could be hormonal imbalance. Luteinizing hormones are responsible for supporting pregnancy in women which can be increased by consuming ashwagandha. Ashwagandha can also help to curb iron deficiency which is another reason for infertility in women.
Not only ashwagandha is considered to be beneficial for women’s fertility but also for men. Ashwagandha helps to rebalance reproductive hormones in men by improving the quality of sperm.
Beneficial to reduce blood sugar levels:
Ashwagandha is also considered to be helpful for reducing blood sugar levels. Controlling blood sugar level will help in preventing diabetes. A diabetic person should always consider a doctor’s advice before adding ashwagandha to their diet.
Beneficial for skin:
Ashwagandha is beneficial for skin as it has anti-inflammatory properties and anti-oxidative properties that help your skin to heal and repair. Antioxidants can cause damage to your skin and inflammation can cause skin infections, allergies and other issues related to skin. Ashwagandha can help you curb skin related issues.
You can use skin products with ashwagandha content in it. Or use ashwagandha powder to make a mask and apply it on your face.
Beneficial for hair:
One of the benefits of ashwagandha for hair is that it reduces stress. Issues related to hair can be attributed to stress. Ashwagandha is responsible for controlling the stress hormones like cortisol. This helps to control follicular damage caused by stress. Ashwagandha also helps to eliminate free radicals from your scalp and hair follicles because of its anti-oxidizing properties.
You can use an ashwagandha mask for your hair to reduce scalp damage. Add 2-3 spoons of ashwagandha powder in warm water and apply the paste to your scalp. Wash your hair with a suitable shampoo after 30 minutes of application of the ashwagandha paste.
FAQs
Q. Why does ashwagandha make me sleepy?
Ans. Ashwagandha has relaxing properties and is considered an adaptogen. It relaxes your mind which eventually leads to a good quality and quantity of sleep. Consuming ashwagandha before 30-60 minutes of going to bed works best in calming your mind, helping you feel sleepy.
Q. Is ashwagandha beneficial for skin?
Ans. Yes, ashwagandha is beneficial for skin as it has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidising properties which helps in repairing the damaged skin and prevents skin infections and allergies.
Q. What do ashwagandha gummies do?
Ans. Ashwagandha gummies are a form of a supplement that you can take once or twice a day as prescribed by medical professionals. You can get the benefits of ashwagandha like improvement in heart health, physical strength, fertility and testosterone levels. It also helps to reduce stress and anxiety and calms your mind.
Q. Should I take ashwagandha powder with milk?
Ans. Ashwagandha can be consumed in the form of supplement tablets that are available in the market or in the form of powder. You can take ashwagandha powder with warm milk 30-60 minutes before going to bed.
Q. Does ashwagandha help in hair growth?
Ans. Ashwagandha may help in hair growth. Ashwagandha promotes hair growth by repairing hair follicles that may be impacted by stress. The herb is an adaptogen that calms our mind hence reducing stress and controls follicular damage.