ASHWAGANDHA AND IT'S BENEFITS

Ashwagandha is a tiny herbaceous plant that is native to India. This plant is a tiny, tender perennial shrub that grows to a height of 35–75 cm (14–30 in). Radially extending tomentose branches from a main stem. Foliage is pale green, elliptic, and usually reach a length of 10–12 cm (3.9–4.7 in). The roses are tiny, bell-shaped, and green. Orange-red is the color of ripe fruit.

It is found in India, the Middle East, and some regions of Africa. The underlying cause and berry are also used in the preparation of medication. Ashwagandha is sometimes used to alleviate tension. Additionally, it is seen as a “ergogenic aid” for a variety of other disorders, although there is no compelling empirical data to justify these additional applications.

Practitioners use this plant as an all-purpose tonic to increase vitality and alleviate depression and anxiety. Additionally, others suggest that the herb could be useful in the treatment of some tumors, Alzheimer’s disorder, and anxiety. Additional study is required; to date, positive experiments on the health effects of ashwagandha have been conducted primarily on animals.

Health Benefits of Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha has been seen in scientific research to be useful for a variety of conditions. Having said that, researchers know so little about how the herb responds in the human body. The majority of experiments to date have relied on animal or cell specimens, which means that scientists are unsure if the same findings would appear in humans.

However, there is some proof to suggest the following uses of ashwagandha:

Ashwagandha has been seen in animal and human research to alleviate tension and anxiety. Ashwagandha, also known as ‘Withania Somnifera,’ is gaining popularity in the west for its ability to alleviate depression and foster a calmer, healthier state of being. The body of research is accumulating in support of this potent herb’s remarkable array of health benefits. As opposed to the sedative and anxiety treatment lorazepam, ashwagandha can have a soothing impact on anxiety symptoms. However, this analysis was performed on rodents, not humans. In a 2019 study Trusted Source, researchers discovered that taking 240 milligrams (mg) of ashwagandha on a regular basis greatly lowered people’s stress levels as opposed to a placebo. This involved decreased cortisol levels, a stress hormone. Another 2019 research Trusted Source in humans found that taking 250 mg or 600 mg of ashwagandha daily resulted in decreased self-reported stress and cortisol levels. Although this study is encouraging, scientists need far more evidence before prescribing the herb for anxiety treatment.

Assists in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. Ashwagandha’s active ingredients, called withanamides, have been shown to defend against B-amyloid-induced plaques in Alzheimer’s Disease. This is believed to be because ashwagandha contains natural antioxidants that scavenge free radicals to avoid cell damage. Additionally, studies indicate that ashwagandha could have beneficial effects against Parkinson’s Disease.

Ashwagandha has been seen to increase the activation of natural killer cells and decrease inflammatory markers. Numerous animal experiments have shown that ashwagandha contributes to the reduction of inflammation (Journal of Ethnopharmacology 67, no. 1 (1999): 27–35).

Human studies also discovered that it enhances the activity of natural killer cells, which are immune cells that support you remain healthy through fighting infection.

Carcinoma Withaferin, a bioactive compound found in ashwagandha, has been shown in animal and test-tube tests to induce tumor cell death and could be selective against many forms of cancer. Additionally, it inhibits the proliferation of new cancer cells in a variety of respects.

Firstly, withaferin is believed to induce the generation of reactive oxygen species in cancer cells, hampering their activity. Second, it can impair cancer cells’ resistance to apoptosis. Animal studies indicate that it may aid in the treatment of a variety of cancers, including breast, lung, colon, brain, and ovarian. 2011 retrospective Additionally, Trusted Source discusses a few positive findings that indicate ashwagandha could be able to inhibit cell growth in some types of cancer. This involves a decrease in the incidence of lung tumors in animal research.

Cardiovascular Fitness

Certain individuals use ashwagandha to support their cardiovascular wellbeing, including reducing blood pressure, lowering cholesterol, relieving chest pain, and avoiding heart failure. In humans, a 2015 research Trusted Source indicated that ashwagandha root extract can boost cardiorespiratory endurance, which may benefit cardiac health.

Ashwagandha supplements can help people who are chronically depressed to reduce cortisol levels. When cortisol is produced by the adrenal receptors in response to stress and when blood sugar levels are too poor, it is known as the stress hormone. In one study, the cortisol decreases in the ashwagandha supplement were significantly greater than in the control group. On average, those receiving the maximum dosage experienced a 30% decline.

Can to alleviate depression symptoms. Though not extensively examined, a few studies indicate that ashwagandha can help relieve depression.

For a 60-day controlled study of 64 deprimed adults, 600 mg daily high-concentration ashwagandha extract observed a 79% decrease in severe depression while placebo showed a 10% increase. However, this research included only one person who had a history of depression. As a consequence, the findings’ validity is uncertain.

Increases stamina, electricity, and toughness. Ashwagandha has been shown to improve athletic performance significantly by increasing heart and lung capacity while also increasing energy levels. Not only is this beneficial for exercise, but it is also beneficial for individuals who struggle with their energy levels or who suffer from fatigue-related conditions.

In males, it has been seen to improve testosterone and fertility. Ashwagandha contributes to the increase of testosterone levels in men and significantly improves sperm quality and fertility.

Supplements containing ashwagandha can have a significant impact on testosterone levels and reproductive health. In one research, ashwagandha treatment improved sperm count and motility in 75 infertile males. In addition, the therapy led to a significant rise in the amount of testosterone. The researchers also indicated that the herb-consuming population had higher amounts of antioxidants in their blood. Another study found that men who received ashwagandha for stress had increased levels of antioxidants and increased sperm output. Following three months of therapy, 14% of men’s spouses were pregnant.

Ashwagandha's Possible Adverse Consequences

Along with its anxiolytic (anti- anxiety) and anti-inflammatory properties, Withania somnifera can serve as a protective agent against stress- and even aspirin-induced gastric ulcers. However, our gastrointestinal (GI) tracts may become overloaded with ashwagandha.

Constipation and reduced appetite were recorded as side effects in one study (Chandrasekhar, 2012), and excessive quantities can trigger enough gastrointestinal pain to result in ulcers (not the same kind it helps prevent). While several participants in the placebo-controlled trial reported abdominal pain and diarrhea, they were in the placebo party, and their symptoms cannot be due to ashwagandha usage.

May result in premature births or miscarriages. To begin, expectant mothers should always obtain medical guidance from a healthcare provider before beginning any supplement, regardless of its apparent innocuous nature. Though pregnancy may be both joyful and exhausting, ashwagandha is not the best option for stress relief. Despite its numerous benefits, ashwagandha produces compounds that, according to the National Institutes of Health, may induce miscarriage, premature pregnancy, or uterine contractions (NIH, 2020.). If you’re stressed out, speak with the healthcare professional about possible recovery options.

Blood sugar levels can be lowered. Though additional study is necessary in this field, several studies conducted on rats have shown that ashwagandha can help lower blood sugar (Noshahr, 2014). For instance, one study found that supplementation with ashwagandha extract improved both glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in diabetic rats (Anwer, 2008). However, human testing is currently minimal. One research (Andallu, 2000) in humans have shown that the Ayurvedic herb had blood sugar-lowering effects; nevertheless, the study sample size was very limited, and therefore the true effects cannot be determined.

Potentially enhances thyroid function. This could sound like good news for others, such as those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s disease, but it may be harmful for those with already elevated thyroid levels, or hyperthyroidism. The researchers suspect this impact is attributed to ashwagandha’s cortisol-lowering effect, but further research is needed to validate this.

It could be beneficial in the treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism, a condition in which thyroid activity is depressed but not to the degree required for true hypothyroidism but still causes lethargy, weight gain, and hair loss. However, since people whose thyroids are still functioning overtime are being handled with medication that reduces thyroid hormone synthesis, this ashwagandha side effect may be harmful for them or associate adversely with their medication. Untreated hyperthyroidism can progress to a dangerous disorder called thyrotoxicosis, which can result in a variety of complications, including heart failure.

May lower blood pressure. Although certain individuals would accept the addition of a blood pressure-lowering additive to their regimen, this side effect of Withania somnifera may be harmful for others. Many patients who have hypertension, or elevated blood pressure, are taking a prescribed drug with the supervision of a primary care provider. This Ayurvedic herb can impair the activities of these medications in the body. Alternatively, individuals who naturally have low blood pressure run the risk of pushing it too low with this supplement. That is why, before introducing something different to your routine, you can still obtain medical advice. Can irritate the gastrointestinal tract.

Ashwagandha is adaptogen, which means that it acts like a Swiss Army knife for handling depression in certain people.