A powerful adaptogen and aphrodisiac.
The use of Ashwagandha, commonly known as Indian ginseng, dates back thousands of years to ancient India. The Sanskrit word "ashwagandha" means "that which smells like a horse," alluding to its smell and the idea that consuming it would give the individual the strength and power of a wild horse. The plants are small, evergreen shrubs that are native to India, northern Africa and the Middle East.
Ashwagandha has been cultivated and used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years and continues to be used now, along with other “adaptogenic” herbs.
An adapto-what?
We all deal with stress everyday and our body continuously strives to adapt to this stress and maintain balance. Adaptogens are a category of herbs that help the body adapt to stress, support normal metabolic processes, and restore balance. They work to increase our body’s resistance to external and internal stressors while promoting overall wellness.
How can Ashwagandha heal me?
Ayurveda classifies Ashwagandha as a “rasayana”, which are used to maintain overall mind-body wellness. Ashwagandha has a plethora of traditional medicinal uses and its health-promoting qualities continue to be studied today.
Anti-anxiety alternative - without the side effects.
Adaptogens are herbs that help us adapt and manage our stress and Ashwagandha has proven extremely effective in combating anxiety, fatigue, cloudy thinking, and stress-induced insomnia.
Workplace stress has risen almost 20% in the past three decades and General Anxiety Disorer (GAD) rates continue to rise, especially among the younger population. Furthermore, stress has increased significantly due to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and social justice movement. There has been a 15% rise in antidepressant use since 2015, and a 38% rise in antidepressant use by adolescents since 2015.
As Big Pharma’s corruption becomes exposed and side effects of pharmaceutical medications disrupt our lives, many of us are turning towards natural and plant-based solutions to help support our mental health. Adaptogenic supplementation offers a natural and side-effect free alternative to pharmaceutical treatment, and has been shown to be effective in reducing anxiety.
Thyroid support through balanced cortisol.
The thyroid is a small yet important gland located in your neck. It plays a major role in metabolism and the development of the body along with regulating body functions. When our thyroid is unbalanced, it can lead to many problems including: weight gain, hair loss, and brain fog. Many people who have an unbalanced thyroid can benefit from the herbs such as ashwagandha, which support the body’s proper functioning.
In recent studies, it has been shown that ashwagandha may be helpful in managing hypothyroidism, due to its ability to lower cortisol levels in the body. Chronic stress increases cortisol levels, which in turn lowers levels of thyroid hormones. As Ashwagandha works its magic on our endocrine system, our body begins to produce more thyroid hormones and decrease levels of cortisol, bringing us back to balance.
Mood stabilizer and focus enhancer.
It is important, more than ever, to take our mental health into our own hands.
More than 16 million adults each year are affected by depression, making this mental imbalance the leading cause of disability for those 15-44 years old. Although Ashwagandha is still being researched on its ability to alleviate depression, there have been studies that reveal it can improve the ability to deal with stress and improve overall mood.
Cognitive functioning is another aspect of mental health we should be working proactively to support. Alzheimer’s disease is a fatal brain disorder and the 6th leading cause of death in the US. Although Ashwagandha is still being researched on its ability to alleviate cognitive symptoms, there have been some promising results. In a 2017 study, Ashwagandha was shown to improve overall memory, brain function, attention span, and a feeling of calm in individuals with cognitive challenges.
Immune booster and Anti-Inflammatory
Inflammation is the body’s response to infection, toxins, and trauma. However, in cases of chronic pain, the body is not always able to regulate inflammatory responses, leading to chronic inflammation - a major cause of a variety of health conditions.
Ashwagandha has been shown to increase the activity of anti-inflammatory and disease-fighting immune cells to help ward off disease and decrease inflammation.
Adaptogenic aphrodisiac.
A healthy sex life is important for your overall being. There can be multiple barriers to sexual pleasure, but one of the top reasons for reduced sex drive is stress. Because Ashwagandha helps lower cortisol and maintain overall balance, it can help us reduce our stress and heighten libido.
For men specifically, Ashwagandha can naturally boost testosterone, which is the primary male sex hormone that improves quality and quantity of sperm and increases libido.
Find Ashwagandha and 9 other powerful intellect herbs and adaptogens in our Focus + Balance capsules.