The All-Around Benefits of the Adaptogen, Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is the ultimate jack-of-all-trades when it comes to health. It’s another adaptogen found in South and Central Asia that’s been used for centuries as the keystone of Ayurvedic medicine. Also called Indian ginseng (not to be confused with Chinese ginseng!), winter cherry, and Ajagandha, it’s so effective for so many things that traditional practitioners called a preparation of ashwagandha ‘rasayana,’ or an elixir that works in a global fashion to increase health and longevity.

Taking ashwagandha definitely isn’t the mystical Fountain of Youth, but it certainly can help with a variety of physical and cognitive challenges and improve your overall well-being.

Adaptogenic

As an adaptogen, ashwagandha is must-have for helping your body cope with daily stress and inflammation. Adaptogens cause adaptive relation to stress, inflammation and disease and appear to create increased resistance to adverse effects of harmful physical, chemical and biological substances. In general, scientists still aren’t such exactly how they act in the body, but studies have shown that ashwagandha impacts stress and inflammation levels. Through several measurements of stress and inflammation in these studies: size of the adrenal glands, blood urea nitrogen levels, lactic acid, and adrenal hypertrophy, are all stress markers that have been lowered with ashwagandha.

Antioxidant

Regardless of the exact mechanisms that it uses, ashwagandha has an antioxidant effect and has been shown to boost the response of immune cells to foreign bodies in the bloodstream. This antioxidant effect occurs in part because ashwagandha induces the release of enzymes like superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, which help to eliminate toxic free radicals in the system. Since free radical damage has been linked to diseases like epilepsy, Schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, it’s possible that ashwagandha could be used to help treat or prevent those diseases. In addition to diseases, multiple studies have shown ashwagandha can treat tumors, especially when in combination with traditional radiation therapy. In addition, studies have shown that tumors treated with ashwagandha have higher cure rates than those that are not, meaning that ashwagandha-treated tumors are less likely to grow back.

Anti-Inflammatory

Many diseases are fueled by inflammation, which means that reducing inflammation is key for disease prevention and management. Ashwagandha can play a role in that as well. This jack-of-all-trades has been shown to reduce inflammation levels in patients treated with it when compared to a placebo or other anti-inflammatories. One particular study found that treating rates with ashwagandha led to considerable reduction in paw swelling, a form of inflammation. This means that ashwagandha has particular potential as a treatment for osteoarthritis and similar conditions.

Ashwagandha is a potent herb with a variety of medicinal properties; it’s a solid addition to anyone looking to improve their stress tolerance or simply lead a healthier lifestyle. It’s often paired with other adaptogens like ginseng for maximum effect, so be sure to check out potential supplement pairings!

You can also find a daily dose of this super-herb as part of our Chocolate Hustle adaptogenic tea, designed to support the brain naturally through a synergistic blend of yerba mate, cacao, bacopa, tulsi, mint, and of course... ashwagandha.

Sources

Diwanay, S. et al. Studies on the immunomodulatory effects of Ashwagandha. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 1996; 50(2):69-76.

Singh N, Nath R, Lata A, et al. Withania somnifera (ashwagandha), a rejuvenating herbal drug which enhances survival during stress (an adaptogen). International Journal Crude Drug Res 1982;20:29-35.

Somasundaram S, Sadique J, Subramoniam A. Influence of extra-intestinal inflammation on the in vitro absorption of 14C-glucose and the effects of anti-inflammatory drugs in the jejunum of rats. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 1983;10:147-152.

Dadkar VN, Ranadive NU, Dhar HL. Evaluation of antistress (adaptogen) activity of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha). Ind J Clin Biochem 1987,2:101-108.

Grandhi, A. et al. A comparative pharmalogical investigation of Ashwagandha and Ginseng. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 1994; 44(3): 131-135.

Devi, P. et al. Antitumor and radiosensitizing effects of Withania somnifera on a transplantable mouse tumor. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology. 1993: 31(7): 607-611.

Archana R, Namasivayan A. Antistressor effect of Withania somnifera. J Ethnopharmacol 1999;64:91-93.