Ashwagandha & Its Benefits
1 Nov 2022 HYN Himalayan Yoga Academy
Ashwagandha, clad by the vernacular name Indian ginseng, Indian winter cherry, or poison gooseberry is a powerful remedy for bolstering immunity. This herb is a potent adaptogen i.e., it is a non-toxic herb that helps to normalize all bodily functions, by working on the HPA axis and the neuroendocrine system.
What is Ashwagandha?
There are many types of Ashwagandha in different countries, but to identify the real Ashwagandha its plants smell like horse urine when mashed. This smell is stronger in the fresh root of Ashwagandha. Ashwagandha grown through farming is of better quality than plants found in the forest. Ashwagandha plant found in forests is considered good for extracting oil. It has two types –
Small Ashwagandha
Due to its small shrub, it is called a small Ashwagandha, but its root is large. It is found very much in Nagauri, Rajasthan and it is particularly influential because of the climate there. That is why it is also called Nagauri Ashwagandha.
Big Ashwagandha
Its shrub is large, but the roots are small and thin. It is commonly found in gardens, fields, and hilly places. Due to the predominance of kabj qualities and its smell resembling a horse’s urine, it has been named in Sanskrit as Baji or horse.
Health benefits of Ashwagandha
Historically, the roots of Ashwagandha have been used to treat arthritis, constipation, Insomnia, skin conditions, stress, gastrointestinal issues, diabetes, nervous breakdowns, fevers, snake bites, memory loss, and various other conditions. The leaves, seeds, and even fruits have been used to treat various conditions. Let’s look at them one by one.
Benefits of Ashwagandha
1. For Anxiety –
Ashwagandha is classified as an adaptogen, which helps the body adapt to stress. It can boost brain function and help fight symptoms of anxiety and depression. Several controlled human studies have shown that this herb can reduce symptoms in people with stress and anxiety disorders. In a 60-day study with people with chronic stress, those in the group supplemented with ashwagandha reported a 69% reduction in anxiety and insomnia, compared with 11% in the placebo group.
If you experience stress in your day-to-day life, you can use a traditional Ayurvedic oil to massage your body with Ashwagandha as one of the key ingredients. Recommended in the ancient Ayurvedic text of Sahastrayogam, Ayurvedic Sugandhadi Oil is one such ingredient that alleviates stress, exhaustion, tension, and body ache.
2. For Inflammation –
Inflammation is the body’s normal response to conditions such as infection, toxins, and trauma. Under normal conditions, the body will produce an anti-inflammatory response to restore balance. In cases of chronic pain, however, the body is not able to regulate the inflammatory response. The result is chronic imbalance and chronic pain.
Many Ayurvedic herbs address ongoing, excess inflammation. Ashwagandha is one such herb that has proven to be effective in reducing inflammation. Ashwagandha herbal tea prepared from leaves helps relieve inflammation.
3. For Preventing and Healing Acne :
Ashwagandha root has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, protecting the skin from infections or acne. It also boosts the collagen in the skin which prevents it from aging. If you suffer from acne, you should try natural face packs with Ashwagandha powder. Kama Ayurveda’s Nimrah Face Pack has Ashwagandha as one of the key Ayurvedic key ingredients. This anti-acne treatment heals pimples and blackheads, reduces scars, improves skin tone, and repairs inflammation.
4. For Heart :
Ashwagandha has a variety of benefits to the heart, including providing treatment for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, chest pain, and various other heart diseases. Including Ashwagandha powder in your diet helps in maintaining a healthy heart.
5. For fighting infections and boosting immunity
Did you know that Ashwagandha is one of the 15 ingredients of the famous Lakshadi Thailam that is popular for fighting infections, healing fever, and boosting immunity? Lakshadi Thailam is used as a Body Massage Oil for babies due to its numerous benefits for skin and health. Ashwagandha soothes and calms inflamed or sensitive skin. Hence, it’s ideal for the sensitive skin of babies. You can even use Natural Soap for your baby with Ashwagandha as one of the key ingredients.
6. For Cancer :
Certain studies have found that withaferin, which is a compound in ashwagandha, helps induce apoptosis, which is the programmed death of cancer cells.
It also prevents the growth of new cancer cells in several ways. Withaferin is believed to promote the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) inside cancer cells, thereby disrupting their function.
Studies also suggest that it may help treat various types of cancer, including breast, lung, colon, brain, and ovarian cancer. In one such study, rats with ovarian tumors treated with withaferin alone or in combination with an anti-cancer drug showed a significant reduction in tumor growth. The treatment is also believed to prevent the spread of cancer to other organs.
7. For Alzheimer’s treatment:
Researchers have found that Ashwagandha inhibits the production of beta-amyloid plaques. These plaques, considered lethal to brain cells, grow in the brains of people with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s.
At the National Brain Research Center (NBRC), scientists conducted tests on mice with Alzheimer’s. After a few days of treatment cognitive performance of the mice improved significantly. At the end of one month, their brain function had returned to normal and the amyloid plaques that had been present in the mice’s brains were reduced.
Studies show that rather than altering brain chemistry directly, ashwagandha boosts a protein in the liver which clears amyloid from the brain.
8. Helps in toning the skin and strengthening muscles of new and expecting mothers:
Ashwagandha is one of the key ingredients in the famous Ayurvedic Bala Oil (also known as Dhanwantaram Thailam). This classic Ayurvedic treatment is meant for expecting and new mothers to relieve pain, and fatigue and boost energy and immunity. It also strengthens the muscles and improves the elasticity of the skin which helps in preventing stretch marks during pregnancy.
9. Treating Insomnia:
Do you lie awake in bed late at night unable to sleep? Does this happen often? If so don’t worry, ashwagandha is the cure for your insomnia. it is known to possess sleep-inducing properties that might seem beneficial to those suffering from sleeplessness. Try a warm cup of ashwagandha powder mixed with milk before you sleep to help to unwind and sleep better.
10. Treating Asthma:
Asthma is a respiratory disorder that may cause shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and chest congestion. If you are suffering from asthma, Ashwagandha can prove to be a natural cure for your condition. There may be many factors that may trigger asthma such as dust, pollen, stress, anxiety, pollution, etc. Various ayurvedic texts have mentioned various cures for asthma in children and adults. It involves using ayurvedic medicines and herbs and also a significant lifestyle change. Ashwagandha roots when consumed regularly, reduce stress which in turn helps with respiratory diseases such as this.
11. Treating ulcers:
Various studies propose that ashwagandha could be a natural remedy for ulcers. Gastric ulcers are ulcers that can develop from damage to the stomach lining. Stress-both psychological and physical can also increase the risk of ulcers. It can not only treat but also reduce the risk of ulcers. The studies also indicate that Ashwagandha by itself, or in combination with other herbs can reduce the levels of gastric acid in the stomach, thereby preventing the formation of painful ulcers.
12. Increasing stamina:
In our fast-paced modern lives, it is natural to feel drained out and tired. An unhealthy lifestyle and diet can decrease your stamina and make you feel exhausted. If you are having trouble coping with your daily tasks or feel like you lack stamina, then ashwagandha must be your go-to solution. Ashwagandha facilitates the body to reserve and sustains vital energy throughout the day to promote sound and peaceful sleep at night. It also increases your overall ability to exercise and work.
13. Cure for Vitiligo:
Vitiligo is a disease that causes the loss of skin color in blotches. It occurs when the pigment-producing cells either die or stop functioning. Medical treatment can help reduce the symptoms, but this condition cannot entirely be cured. It can diminish the condition to a great extent when consumed regularly.
14. Battling diabetes
Battling diabetes is tough as you need to transform your lifestyle and incorporate a new regime of medicines into your everyday routine. The most acute part of it is the side effects of all the tablets you take. But, Ayurvedic medicines are supposed to cure without leaving behind any side effects of their own. They are known to treat the disease completely and give you a healthier body and mind.
In the case of diabetes control, it works by regulating the body’s production of insulin. It stimulates the secretion of insulin in the bloodstream by improving the breakdown of sugars in the blood. This ensures that relatively less harmful sugars are being stored in your body. Thus, blood sugar levels remain low when you consume Ashwagandha extracts over a significant period. Ashwagandha can also affect the overall metabolism of the body for enabling better removal of waste and all-around health. It has proven to be especially effective for people suffering from Type 2 diabetes.
15. Helps in weight loss:
Are you often worried about gaining weight? This powerful herb of Ashwagandha can help you in reducing and maintain your weight. While ashwagandha is also available in capsule form, it’s advised to consume it in powder form made from dried ashwagandha leaves.
This list covered some of the well-known benefits of adding Ashwagandha to your diet and your daily cosmetics. While we’ve talked about many benefits, this list isn’t exhaustive. Next, let’s briefly discuss how Ashwagandha benefits your hair and skin and why it’s useful for men and women alike.
During your yoga teacher training in Nepal with Himalayan Yoga Academy, you will have wonderful sessions of Ayurveda where you will learn the principles of Ayurveda Medicine and as well learn about various miracle herbs like this wonderful herb. You will learn about yourself as well as your surrounding nature and mainly about this universal existence.