Ashwagandha Benefits

There are a number of different Ashwagandha benefits. Ashwagandha originates from India and Africa; it is also referred to as “Indian Ginseng” due to its adaptogenic properties. Herbs with adaptogenic properties repair organs in the body which have been damaged due to stress. The chemicals that give Ashwagandha its medicinal properties are located in the roots of the plant. Before you use any herb for medical reasons it is important that you consult a licensed health care practitioner.

Typically adults should consume 450 to 2000 mg per day; the herb can be drank as a tea and consumed three times per day. There have been no reports of Ashwaghanda having any harsh side effects consult your doctor if you are planning to use it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding

Ashwagandha is well documented for increasing strength in the body and protecting against disease. It is especially known for stimulating the immune system, enhancing memory and reducing inflammation. It is also known to relax the central nervous system and enhances the effects of sedatives when taken at the same time.

The Yoga Journal states that Ashwagandha enhances the levels of semen production; it also replenishes the reproductive system and is used to treat disorders associated with sexual dysfunction.

The American Academy of Dermatologists states that inflammation plays a huge part in the occurrence of acne. The more blocked the pours are the worse the levels of inflammation, the inflammation caused when pimples occur is mild but cysts and nodules cause a deeper level of inflammation. Herbalists have recommended the use of this herb as an acne treatment for many years.

Antibiotics as well as anti bacterial products such as benzoyl peroxide are regularly used in the treatment of acne. Chemicals in Ashwagandha referred to as withanolides are what give the herb its medicinal properties. Studies published in the “Asian Journal if Biotechnology” documented that the herb was a strong antibacterial agent and that it is more than capable of curing disease.

Another of the Ashwagandha benefits is that it is an adaptogen, which means that it provides the body with the capability to adapt to stress. It has a number of different actions that counterbalance stressors and slowly brings about a feeling of well being.

The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre states that Ashwagandha is also used to treat conditions such as rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis which are associated with calcium deficiency symptoms; as it contains a number of biologically active compounds such as steroidal lactones and withanolides; it promotes a reduction of arthritic symptoms by the restriction of an enzyme referred to as cyclo-oxygenase. A relief of arthritic symptoms are also one of the benefits of ginger tea.

There are not a lot of documented studies promoting role of Ashwagandha in the treatment of arthritis. A study published in May of 1991 in the Journal of Ethnopharmachology states that when the herb is used in conjunction with zinc and curcumin there was a large reduction in arthritic pain. In October of 2004 a study published in the “Journal of Clinical Rheumatology” documented that ashwagandha causes a reduction in pain in the knees with patients who were suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. The herb was combined with a number of different substances so it is difficult to judge which herb created the effects.

A March 2005 issue of “Human & Experimental Toxicology” reported that the herb may aid in safeguarding against neuronal injury in Parkinson’s disease. There are a number of beneficial compounds found in the herb such as saponins and alkaloids which give Ashwagandha its therapeutic effect.

There are a limited amount of clinical studies that examine how effective the herb is on Parkinson’s disease so there has been no conclusion drawn as to whether it is a viable treatment. On the other hand there was a study conducted on animals and reported in the Neuroscience Letters journal in 2002 which stated that it helps to enhance balance and the length of one’s stride. There are a host of authors who claim that the herb may aid in the improvement of physiological problems associated with Parkinson’s disease.

Depression is an illness that causes people to feel perpetually sad, worried, angry and frustrated, the cause of the illness is unknown but there are a number of things that can trigger the illness such as stress, social isolation and nutritional deficiencies.

It has been said that Ashwagandha does have positive effects on the condition but there have been few studies to substantiate this. In December 2000 a study published in an issue of “Phytomedicine” discovered that it had antidepressant properties and that its effects on the illness where similar to the prescription drug imipramine.

The authors of the study concluded that the herb is good for mood stabilizing. Another study published in the October 2007 “Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology” agreed  with the previous studies antidepressant effects, the only drawback here is that all studies were carried out on rats, therefore the effects on humans is still to be clarified.

In a study published in 2009 in “PLoS One” patients suffering with severe to moderate depression which is one of the many vitamin B complex side effects where provided with 300 mg of the herb twice a day for three months.

The other patients in the study were provided with psychotherapy, a comparison of the results revealed that the patients that were given Ashwagandha displayed greater improvements and there was a 50 percent reduction in Ashwagangha. An animal study published in 2000 discovered that the herb brought on a calming effect for rats and these benefits were similar to those displayed when administered with the drug lorazepam which is an anti anxiety medication

Another of the Ashwaghanda benefits is that it can help to reduce the occurrence of Obsessive Compulsive disorder otherwise known as OCD. It has been reported that the herb enhances the effects of GABA which is an inhibitory neurotransmitter responsible for suppressing brain activity. It is a fundamental neurotransmitter in the basal ganglia which is a part of the brain that is responsible for motivation, control and reward which is believed to be abnormal with those who suffer with OCD.

Ashwaghanda is also associated with weight loss; it aids in the reduction of cortisol in the body which is a hormone in the body that is asscociated with weight gain. If you want to lose weight increase your intake of ashwaghanda and steer away from diets such as the whey protein weight loss since such diets will only deprive you of a lot of foods that you enjoy eating.