Ashwagandha or Indian Ginseng is a small red berry. It is indispensable in Ayurvedic medicine because it is said to have a positive effect on various bodily functions, treating the disease at the core and maintaining body balance. Let’s see what are the benefits of Ashwagandha.
Ashwagandha is one of the most important Ayurvedic plants because it contains numerous alkaloids and withanolides. Alkaloids and Withanolides are said to have a positive effect on the body and brain. They contain special esters that have a calming effect on the body.
What is Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha is a small bush plant with inedible hard red berries. It is primarily a part of Indian Ayurveda but it is not only native to India but also grows in the Mediterranean and Africa. It also contributes to its popularity in various cultures and to the fact that it is used in a wide variety of naturopathic procedures. It is interesting what the different names of the same plant tell us about the effects and areas of application of Ashwagandha.
In the Sanskrit name Ashwagandha, the focus is on the smell and the effect. The word Ashwagandha is formed by combining two words, ‘Ashwa’ meaning ‘horse’, and ‘gandha’ meaning ‘smell’. When translated in English, it means ‘smell of a horse’. Anyone who remembers their first teaspoon of Ashwagandha Churna with hot water or warm milk will quickly find the taste and smell similar to a horse stable.
Ashwagandha is also considered a potent aphrodisiac as illustrated by the freer translation ‘power of the horse’, or paraphrases such as ‘vitality of a horse’. Clinical studies show that taking Ashwagandha can increase sperm count hence increasing fertility, especially in men.
Benefits of Ashwagandha
A plant with specific ingredients is described as an adaptogen, which should help the organism to adapt to the effects of emotional and physical stress. Put simply, adaptogenic herbs can reduce the imbalance in the body that occurs as a result of stress due to the biologically active plant substances it contains.
Our body has wonderfully functioning regulatory processes that ensure that circulation, hormones, body temperature, pH, and so on do their thing harmoniously. If these are in homeostasis, we are fine and healthy.
However, We may not be able to immediately minimize our daily stress factors or banish them entirely from life. Due to this permanent stress, our hormone balance gets mixed up over time, we become more susceptible to diseases. That is what is commonly referred to as ‘Vata Disorder’ in Ayurveda.
In Ayurveda medicine, approximately 80 diseases are attributed to the increase in Vata. Along with ‘Kapha’ and ‘Pitta’, Vata is one of the three main doshas in Ayurveda. ‘Vata’ is the principle of movement and regulates circulation and metabolism, as well as all physical and mental movements. If Vata is out of balance, the other two Doshas Pitta and Kapha also become out of balance. As a result, the body is no longer in balance.
Adaptogenic plants like Ashwagandha support and strengthen homeostasis and thus increase the body’s resistance to stress factors. The resilience is increased so the long-term damage can be contained. The stress-shielding effect occurs specifically because the ‘Withanolides’ and ‘Alkaloids’ contained in ashwagandha, such as somniferous, reduce the release of stress hormones and thus counteract Disinhibited Attachment Disorder (DAD) disorders. At the same time, they promote regeneration. This makes Ashwagandha, a great medicine in today’s stressful and thus ‘Vata-aggravating’ time.
Overall, Ashwagandha is often used for diseases in the ‘Vata’ area of the body, which is the urogenital tract, for sterility, and Involuntary childlessness. Likewise for cramps of all kinds and the associated pain, such as headache or muscle pain. Ashwagandha is especially helpful for menopausal women to alleviate the side effects associated with hormonal change, such as insomnia and imbalance.
Suggested Read: 8 Immunity Boosting Foods That Will Make Your Body Fight Against viruses And Flus
According to Ayurveda, it is the weapon against all evils. Among other things, it helps with sleep disorders, general exhaustion, poor memory, stress, multiple sclerosis, male infertility, hair loss, Parkinson’s, or arthritis. It also lowers the cortisol level because it has a calming effect.
Benefits of Ashwagandha are not limited to what stated above, it is also said to purify the blood, strengthen the heart and calm cardiac arrhythmia, and alleviate edema. A little further down in the body, the berry has positive effects on the digestive tract as it helps alleviate flatulence, nausea, and constipation.
Studies Prove its Effectiveness – Benefits of Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is also helpful for love, it is considered an aphrodisiac and is advertised on various websites as a potential enhancer. This also increases the work of the immune system, which is why regular intake can prevent colds and diseases.
A Japanese university also proved in a study that Ashwagandha was able to repair nerve cells and restore synapses establishing that it can be used as a remedy for dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Suggested Read: Amazing Benefits of Drinking Amla Juice
Dosage of Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha has a calming effect on the body and brain. So comforting that it is sometimes used in high doses as a narcotic or intoxicant. The dosage of ashwagandha must be managed as medicine as in higher dosage, it might cause stomach ache, diarrhea, and vomiting.
There are numerous benefits of Ashwagandha, the herb is very potent, can cure many ailments and boosts immunity. Just be aware about its dosage, since anything taken above moderation is not good for health.