Ashwagandha is in the tomato family and it is grown in India and North America. The roots of the Ashwagandha shrub have been used for thousands of years for medicinal purposes.
Ashwagandha is known by many other names such as Indian ginseng, winter cherry, and many more. Many of the names are regional and some are chosen because they represent certain images.
In fact, Ashwagandha itself means the smell of a horse because it represents because it provides the energy and power of a stallion. Read on to learn about the nutrition provided by this plant and its other uses.
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The Practical Uses of Ashwagandha Ashwagandha has many practical uses. Since ancient times Ashwagandha has been used to provide energy and vitality to those who took it. Today, it is still widely valued for its energizing properties. Ashwagandha contains alkaloids, steroidal lactones, ... more
Ashwagandha has many practical uses. Since ancient times Ashwagandha has been used to provide energy and vitality to those who took it. Today, it is still widely valued for its energizing properties.
Ashwagandha contains alkaloids, steroidal lactones, saponins and withanolides. Alkaloids are amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein. They allow energy to metabolize, which boosts muscle growth and prevents muscle degradation that occurs as you age.
Steroidal lactones are another amino acid. Steroidal lactones provide immunosuppressive effects on human B cells and T cells. This may seem like a bad thing, but it isn’t. The immunosuppressive effect prevents the body from rejecting new organs when a transplant occurs. The good news is that it doesn’t cause immunosuppressive effect on the whole body, just on those two cell groups.
The reason this is necessary is that when the body detects something that it doesn’t recognize, such as an alien organ, it will work to reject that organ and heal the body. Even though the organ is good for you, it wasn’t yours to start with so your body doesn’t recognize. If given enough time, you body will accept the organ, but the immunosuppressive effect has to occur for some time. Ashwagandha can aid with that process.
Saponins, simply put, are amino acids that reduce blood cholesterol levels. This means that your overall cholesterol score will lower when taking Ashwagandha.
Withanolides are currently being study. Preliminary results show promise in the field of neuron rejuvenation. There is hope that they will aid in preventing diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. In addition, it is believed that they will slow down the progression of degenerative diseases like these.
Ashwagandha is also and anti-inflammatory and works to prevent cancer cell growth because it suppresses free radicals. That is because it is full of antioxidants, a proven element for reducing your risk of developing cancer.
Ashwagandha also offer a boost to the immune system. This allows you to fight off common ailments, such as coughs and colds, with ease. Taking Ashwagandha is akin to taking vitamin C in this respect.
Diabetics may find that Ashwagandha is a valuable resource for them. Ashwagandha can help to balance out sugar levels in the body. What’s more, Ashwagandha seems to have an affect on hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia and insulin sensitivity. The latter, especially, may reduce the need for dialysis in patients who become insulin sensitive or intolerant.
Some supplements suggest that Ashwagandha also enhances sexual potency. Like many supplements, there are no studies to back up this claim. However, many users claim that they have seen increased potency.
Several studies have been conducted on Ashwagandha and there are several clinical studies being conducted at this time. Some past studies include determining the efficacy of Ashwagandha and whether it:
All of the studies in these areas either showed conclusive evidence of its efficacy or a promise of benefit that warranted further study!
One of the newest studies of Ashwagandha shows great promise for fighting osteoarthritis damage. Although studies are still ongoing, results currently indicate great promise for use in this area.
Lastly, Ashwagandha is being tested for use for mental disorders. It already shows that it reduces anxiety without causing depression. Some scientists hypothesize that the next logical step for Ashwagandha is for use for certain mental conditions. Only time will tell, of course.
Some of the side effects of Ashwagandha are related to stomach issues. If you take large doses of Ashwagandha, you could face upset stomach, vomiting and gas. Other, more serious side effects are quite rare. They include abnormal heart rate, breathing difficulties, behaving and appearing to be sedated, low blood pressure and kidney damage.
Most of the stomach related side effects are mild; however, if you experience extreme discomfort, you should discontinue use immediately. In addition, if you experience any of the rarer side effects, you should call your doctor immediately and seek medical attention.
You should not use Ashwagandha if you are taking any medication, especially:
If you have HIV or AIDS, you should not take Ashwagandha because it does suppress part of the immune system. If you want to know how it will affect you, ask your doctor. In fact, if you have any medical conditions, you should speak to your doctor before starting a supplemental regimen that includes Ashwagandha.
Lastly, Ashwagandha may induce labor or cause spontaneous abortion. If you are pregnant, don’t take Ashwagandha for any reason. If you are taking other supplements, check the ingredient list to ensure that Ashwagandha is not among the ingredients. You should speak to your doctor before you take any supplements.
You can purchase Ashwagandha supplements in caplet, capsule, tablet, liquid and powder form. You can also purchase Ashwagandha tea if you prefer to take your Ashwagandha in a more pleasant form.
The cost of Ashwagandha starts as low as $4 for a bottle of 100 pills. The cost will vary between brands and quantity. Typically, the more expensive the product is, the better the source is. However, don’t simply buy the most expensive option. Simply put, some products are better than others and going with the lowest price product may provide you with a less efficient or effective form or Ashwagandha.
You can purchase pure Ashwagandha or you can purchase Ashwagandha mixed with a myriad of other ingredients to provide different benefits. In most cases, you will get excellent benefits from Ashwagandha if you choose a product with at least 15% Ashwagandha. However, the purer the product, the faster you will see the benefits.
Because Ashwagandha can offer so many benefits, you should talk to your doctor to find out from what type of Ashwagandha supplement they recommend. Many doctors will recommend Ashwagandha; however, if your doctor isn’t among them then you can also seek the advice of a dietician.
There is also online help, just be wary of sites that are selling a specific product that tell you that the product that they are selling is the only best option. Instead, search around and seek the advice of people who use forums. Keep an eye out for outrageous claims or claims that say the product does something it is not indicated for. You can also find dietician sites online that may help you choose the best Ashwagandha for you.
Don’t forget about local sources, such as your pharmacist. Pharmacists are aware of nearly every product on he shelves in their store and yours should be able to help you make an educated choice about your Ashwagandha purchase.
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| Vomiting |
| Nausea |
| Abnormal Heart Rate |
| Breathing Difficulty |
| Kidney Damage |
| Low Blood Pressure |
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| Alzheimer's |
| Cancer |
| Cholesterol |
| Diabetes |
| Immunity |
| Muscle Function |
| Organ Transplants |