In many ways, technology has made our lives easier, but our constant reliance on it and our inability to shut it off has caused many people to spiral out of control. We are increasingly under more pressure to do more with less resources which causes more stress, anxiety, and, if left unchecked, burnout.
While some are turning to medication, others are looking for more natural ways to deal with their feeling of overwhelm.
The Ashwagandha herb has been used in India for over 3,000 years and recently it has gained traction in North America as a reliable therapeutic remedy for stress and anxiety. (1)
Ashwagandha, which is also commonly known as Withania somnifera, winter cherry, or Indian ginseng is one of the most important herbs in Ayurveda medicine and used to support overall wellness and cognitive health. (1)
Effect on Stress and Fatigue
Cortisol is a steroid hormone and is produced in the adrenal cortex within the adrenal gland which is highly influential in overall health and psychological balance. (2) When your cortisol levels rise, many people recognize it as a feeling of anxiety and stress. If the unbalance continues for a prolonged period, it can lead to insomnia, chronic stress, or even depression. (2)
Ashwagandha can help improve the release of the cortisol hormone and control blood pressure in the adrenal cortex and nervous system which in turn reduces both short term and long-term stress. (3) Recent studies have shown that taking ashwagandha can assist with other ongoing stress-related issues such as ulcers, anxiety attacks, and chest pains. (5)
For those who aren’t dealing with stress or anxiety, Ashwagandha has also shown to be very beneficial for improving focus and concentration.
Neuroprotection and Cognitive Health
Ashwagandha has a significant effect on protecting the brain and nervous system including improving overall cognitive performance and even helping repair and rebuild damaged neurons. (4)
Recent research shows that ashwagandha not only slows but in some cases stops, and even reverses neurological decline. (7) This has interesting implications especially as we age and experience loss of neuroplasticity and connectivity changes in our brain. Taking Ashwagandha can help improve the quality of lives, especially seniors as they decline and become more at risk for dementia and memory loss. (4)
Ashwagandha is an incredible herb with many health benefits for your body and brain; therefore, it’s important to incorporate it into your daily diet. However, check with your local healthcare practitioner if you are undergoing medical treatment or taking medications.
Our Ashwagandha Alive uses certified organic fermented ashwagandha combined with two other important Ayurvedic herbs —organic Bacopa and organic Turmeric which has many anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties that help with stress, anxiety, and depression. (6) Bacopa is also known to increase neuron firing within the brain improving learning and memory. With all these ingredients in a complete profile of fermentation activated nutrients, Ashwagandha Alive can deliver a complete living food matrix to help you with overall body function and cognitive health. You can find it at your local health food store.
References
1: Mirjalili MH1, Moyano E, Bonfill M, Cusido RM, Palazón J. Steroidal lactones from Withania somnifera, an ancient plant for novel medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19633611
2: Pratte M, Kaushal B. Nanavati, Young V,and Morley C. An Alternative Treatment for Anxiety: A Systematic Review of Human Trial Results Reported for the Ayurvedic Herb Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4270108
3: Gorelick J, Rosenberg R,, Smotrich A,, Hanuš L,, Bernstein N,. Hypoglycemic activity of withanolides and elicitated Withania somnifera. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25796090
4: Faerman, J, Ashwagandha: The Ancient Indian Superherb That Rejuvenates Your Body and Brain From the Inside Out https://www.consciouslifestylemag.com/ashwagandha-benefits-withania
5: Narendra Singh, Mohit Bhalla, Prashanti de Jager, and Marilena Gilca. An Overview on Ashwagandha: A Rasayana (Rejuvenator) of Ayurveda. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3252722/
6: Rinwa P, et al. (2013). Suppression of neuroinflammatory and apoptic signaling cascade by curcumin alone and in combination with piperine in rat model of olfactory bulbectomy induced depression. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0061052
7: Kuboyama T, Tohda C, Komatsu K. Effects of Ashwagandha (roots of Withania somnifera) on neurodegenerative diseases. Biol Pharm Bull. 2014;37(6):892-7 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24882401