Ashwagandha Benefits – The ashwagandha is an herbal plant that has many benefits in developing a healthy body. If you are looking for this herb, this is the right place for you. Here we will discuss about Ashwagandha and its health benefits in curing various diseases.
In fact, the Ashwagandha plant has been used for centuries to promote health. Even in Indian Ayurvedic medicine, Ashwagandha is one of the important herbs whose benefits can relieve stress and increase body strength.
So, talking about this plant, it is not wrong for us to explore further and find some of the properties and benefits behind Ashwagandha so that we can provide benefits to our body. Immediately, we see a review of the benefits of Ashwagandha in the world of ancient and even modern health.
What Is Ashwagandha?
Let’s get to know what the Ashwagandha plant is, in several articles it is mentioned that the name “Ashwagandha” comes from the Sanskrit “Ashwa” and “Gandha”. Ashwa means “horse” and gandha means “smell”. This name is in accordance with the state of the plant where it smells like the smell of a horse, besides its benefits can also give strength to someone like the power of a horse.
Among the benefits of the Ashwagandha plant in the world of health is as a healing drug for physical and mental health and makes a person stay young. This herb is mentioned as a health potion that can make a long life. The Ashwagandha plant contains high levels of phytochemicals which lead to the positive effects of every sip and take.
Quite a lot of people want the health benefits of Ashwagandha because of its ability to rejuvenate the body and mind so that a person can appear always in a youthful state.
In the world of Ayurveda (ancient Indian medicine), every part of the Ashwagandha plant has its benefits and has a positive impact on health. Not only plant roots, but also flowers, leaves, and fruit also have many health benefits.
See too: COFFEE SENNA: Health Benefits, Uses In Ayurveda
Some Uses of Ashwagandha
The roots of the plant are dried and made into powder, and the benefits of Ashwagandha powder are as follows:
- Leucoderma
- Insomnia
- Constipation
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- depression
- Goitre
- Diabetes
- Stress disorders
- Nervous breakdown
- Anxiety
- Fertility issues
Herbal Ashwagandha is rich in iron and you can prepare this herb as a hot tea. Among the benefits of Ashwagandha tea is to relieve swelling, cure fever. Ashwagandha tea is also useful as a natural tonic. If you suffer from anemia or red blood cell deficiency disease, you can drink Ashwagandha leaf juice. Also, the benefit is to restore energy in women who are tired due to facing heavy menstruation.
See: The 8 Best Chamomile Teas You Must Have
While the flowers of the Ashwagandha plant have astringent and diuretic properties, and the seeds are useful for treating problems related to worms and parasites, it is also beneficial for removing dark spots on the cornea of the eye.
There are other uses for consuming Ashwagandha, it can be used as a remedy for hysteria, anxiety, and to prevent memory loss.
If Ashwagandha is mixed with other drugs and produces a kind of paste called lehyam. It is good for weight gain, great for muscle building, and as an excellent dietary supplement.
From some of the benefits and uses of Ashwagandha we can judge that this plant is very useful in improving human welfare. It is a gift from nature for our life. With a little knowledge and experience, humans are expected to be able to take advantage of the Ashwagandha plant as a health herb that can improve their well-being.
Ashwagandha Scientific Name
This herbal plant has the scientific name “Withania Somnifera” which is well known by the name of Indian ginseng, Indian winter cherry, where its health benefits are very much for life. This plant is usually grown as a shrub in India, Africa and in the Middle East.
Ashwagandha Nutritional Value
Because it has many important health benefits, we also need to know what the nutritional content of Ashwagandha is. As quoted from several sources, this Indian herbal plant has the following nutrients:
- Alkaloids (anahygrine, isopelletierine, cuseohygrine, anaferine, etc.),
- Anti-stress agents (Sitoindosides and Acylsterylglucosides)
- Saponins
- Steroidal lactones (withanolides, withaferins)
- Withasomniferin-A
- 5-dehydroxy withanolide-R
- Withaferin-A
Ashwagandha Health Benefits
Among some of the important benefits of Ashwagandha for the good of the body are as follows:
- prolong life,
- sharpen memory,
- skin glow,
- Ashwagandha benefits for strength and stamina
- Rich in antioxidants and anti-stress
- Good for immunity
- improve sleep quality,
- boost immunity,
- Cure asthma
- Manage hypothyroidism by increasing thyroid hormone,
- Helps people with type 2 diabetes by producing insulin,
- Improve sexual health, and
- Prevent various types of cancer
The benefits of Ashwagandha against cancer have been studied and have been proven to have the ability to prevent cancer. Some types of cancer that can be treated with this herbal plant are breast, brain, ovarian, colon, and lung cancer. This herb can prevent the growth of cancer cells by way of apoptosis (programmed death of cancer cells).
The benefits of Ashwagandha plant for the body in increasing the supply of oxygen and strength are said to be very good for heart health.
Below we see the 12 health benefits of Ashwagandha you shouldn’t miss. may this post is useful for all of us.
1. Ashwagandha for Weight Loss
Why Ashwagandha can lose weight? It turns out that it works like this. This herb can increase the body’s metabolism so that the burning of calories and fat is faster and bigger. In addition, the benefits of Ashwagandha are preventing and relieving stress thereby preventing a person from snacking at night. This is a powerful method for losing weight. If you snack every night and then the body rests itself, then the body will gain weight because the fat burning process decreases.
Ashwagandha also regulates cortisol and adrenals and this is good for increasing body strength in training sessions. Also, an important benefit of Ashwagandha is that it improves the quality of sleep so that the body becomes fresher and stress free and is far from feeling like snacking at night.
For the purpose of losing weight, you can use Ashwagandha capsules. Take 1-2 capsules daily with milk or as recommended by a nutritionist.
>>Update ashwagandha benefit for men
2. Ashwagandha Benefits for Hair
It turns out that stress does not only increase weight, but also greatly affects hair loss. If stress is the cause of hair loss then Ashwagandha can be a solution. Among the health benefits of Ashwagandha for the prevention of hair loss is that it stimulates melanin production and prevents hair from losing its melanin. When the melanin content in the hair is still sufficient, hair loss will be prevented by itself.
Consuming Ashwagandha is beneficial for stimulating the growth of healthier, stronger hair, preventing irritation of the scalp and being able to stimulate sebum production. It can also give the scalp a chance to clear dandruff, itching and psoriasis.
How to use Ashwagandha to treat hair loss is very easy. You don’t have to consume it, but you can rub it on the scalp to stimulate blood circulation to the hair roots, dissolve Ashwagandha powder with warm water and spread evenly on the scalp, massage gently. You can also apply Ashwagandha tea all over the scalp to get the same benefits in stimulating hair growth and preventing hair loss.
If you don’t like that method, then the easiest way is to mix Ashwagandha powder with your shampoo and then apply it on the scalp.
3. Healthy Skin
Ashwagandha powder also works as a remedy for skin health. The root of the Ashwagandha plant contains anti-bacterial properties so it is very important for the well-being of your skin. Among the benefits of Ashwagandha for the skin include:
- Remove black and white blackheads,
- Protects skin from acne, and infection,
- Nourish the skin and remove scars,
- prevent scaly skin,
- Removes clogged pores and is great for enhancing skin pigmentation,
- Reduces signs of aging,
- Soothes inflamed skin,
- Prevent stretch marks during pregnancy,
- good for skin care with vitiligo,
- Treat cuts and bruises
- Ashwagandha oil is also beneficial in baby skin care.
To get the benefits of Ashwagandha for skin health, mix two tablespoons of Ashwagandha powder with one tablespoon of dry ginger and lemon zest. Then this mixture is boiled with one glass of water, wait until cool and then spread on the skin evenly. This treatment must be done regularly in order to give the expected results.
4. Benefits of Ashwagandha to Increase Height
For those of you who feel shorter than normal human size, you can try Ashwagandha root powder which contains growth hormone.
Ashwagandha plant root extract is not only good for growth but also beneficial in increasing muscle mass. So good for those of you who are developing muscle mass too.
Read more: What Is The Average Female Height Worldwide
How to use Ashwagandha to increase height? You can consume Ashwagandharishta syrup whose benefits are to increase height permanently.
The body will absorb extracts and powders from the Ashwagandha plant to nourish the body and increase height naturally. Consume Ashwagandha powder twice a day, you can mix it with warm water or with milk. Drink after dinner, and in the morning.
5. Ashwagandha for Stress
The herb from the Ashwagandha plant has a positive influence on the heart system, hormonal system, lungs, and nervous system. It is also useful in lowering the stress hormone cortisol.
Ashwagandha is also a body calming herb, it contains a chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). This substance is good for the body and has a calming effect and reduces anxiety and stress. Research shows that Ashwagandha can have an anti-stress effect on the brain and body.
The way to use Ashwagandha to control stress is to massage its Ayurvedic oil onto the head and body, this will relieve stress, headaches and is good for mind comfort too. If you take supplements, then consult a doctor to avoid the risk of side effects.
6. Benefits of Ashwagandha to Improve Sleep
If you are sleep deprived or unable to sleep due to various emotional disturbances and stress, then taking Ashwagandha will provide a solution to your sleep problems. This herbal remedy from India will give you quality sleep, it will also increase the level of alertness when you wake up.
To get benefits for sleep, you can use the leaves of the Ashwagandha plant. The leaves contain triethylene glycol compounds. This compound is said to be able to treat insomnia and improve the quality of your sleep.
See too: 10 Best Tea to Help Sleep
How to drink Ashwagandha for sleep benefits is to boil a glass of milk, add one teaspoon of Ashwagandha powder, one teaspoon of cinnamon powder, one teaspoon of ginger powder, and also add a pinch of nutmeg powder. Then boil again for 5 minutes, add a teaspoon of coconut oil to it, then drink this herb every day.
To add a sweeter taste, you can add honey or maple syrup. This herb is also known as “Moon Milk”. To calm sleep and get a good night’s sleep and quality, you are advised to drink before going to bed at night.
7. Ashwagandha Benefits for Weight Gain
If we say it is useful for increasing weight, it can actually be justified but does not happen directly. Ashwagandha works to relieve stress, improve digestion, and is good at boosting immunity. This is like research which states that the Ashwagandha herb can increase muscle mass. (see too: Average Weight and Height for a 13-Year-Old Boy and Girl)
In Ayurvedic medicine, Ashwagandha lehyam is a fine herb, the main ingredient of which is the Ashwagandha plant. It is useful for treating muscle weakness and loss of body mass. This herb works by strengthening joints, muscles, nerves and tendons.
8. Ashwagandha Benefits for Gut Health
Besides being beneficial for weight loss, Ashwagandha is useful in curing ulcers and can reduce stomach ulcers due to thinning of the intestinal lining.
It will reduce the acidity of the stomach. How to consume it is very easy, you only need to consume one teaspoon of Ashwagandha powder every day in a glass of milk. This will cure gastric problems and improve your digestion.
9. Healthy Heart
Consuming Ashwagandha is also beneficial for better heart health. This is because Ashwagandha can cure several health problems that can lead to heart damage, including curing:
- Lowering high cholesterol,
- Cure chest pain,
- Lowering high blood pressure,
- Lowering blood sugar levels
In the herbal Ashwagandha there are a group of certain compounds that stimulate the body’s cells to take up glucose so they can control blood sugar.
To get the benefits of Ashwagandha for the heart, take 250 to 300 mg of Ashwagandha churna and take it daily or take as directed by a doctor.
10. Some Benefits of Ashwagandha for Women
We often hear that Ashwagandha has many benefits for men. This does not mean this herbal plant is not beneficial for women. Here we will also mention some of the health benefits of Ashwagandha for women.
- Information from WHO (World Health Organization) states that 40% of pregnant women and 30% of non-pregnant women experience iron deficiency. Ashwagandha is an herb that can solve this problem because it is rich in iron.
- Ashwagandha is an herb that can calm the mind, relieve stress, improve mood, and can cure sleep disorders and this is a health problem that is also experienced by many women.
- Balances hormone levels if consumed regularly
- Ashwagandha is useful for launching menstruation and increasing fertility in women.
- Massaging Ashwagandha oil on the body can relieve fatigue in new mothers and nursing mothers. Ashwagandha herbal powder also prevents stretch marks and makes the skin be elastic.
Ashwagandha Benefits for Men
1. Increase male fertility
Ashwagandha is an important herb for men’s health even in the world of Ayurveda, this plant is said to be beneficial for male fertility. Consuming ashwagandha can increase male testosterone levels and this can help with male infertility problems and deal with stress problems.
Ashwagandha is a powerful antioxidant that can fight free radicals. So by dealing with free radicals, this can reduce damage to male sperm. Recent research on Ashwagandha states that this is an herb that can increase sperm volume and mobility.
2. Improved Endurance in Bed
A study revealed that a group of individuals who were given plant supplements experienced a stronger immune system. After careful scrutiny, it turned out that they were using plant supplements that contained Ashwagandha in them. This is thanks to the anti-inflammatory and anti-stress properties present in the Ashwagandha plant.
3. In Improving Athletic Performance
Based on a finding, plants can increase a person’s physical strength such as increasing strength and oxygen utilization during training sessions so that the exercise is more leverage and quality.
4. In Improving Testosterone
Consuming Ashwagandha is said to increase male desire. In some studies the results show that Ashwagandha has increased the male hormone testosterone and this has also increased his fertility levels.
According to research, those who consume ashwagandha extract for 8 weeks can experience an increase in the hormone testosterone, also experience an increase in vitality and reduce fatigue.
5. In Reducing Blood Sugar Levels
Ahwagandha also provides many benefits for those with high blood sugar levels. Consuming ashwagandha can significantly lower blood sugar levels, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), insulin, blood lipids.
The components in ashwagandha such as withaferin A (WA) are anti-diabetic. This substance pushes the body’s cells glucose in the bloodstream.
6. Increase muscle mass
As per research also shows that ashwagandha is an herb that helps increase strength and muscle mass and this also improves the health of your body.
In the study showed that ashwagandha contains alkaloids, where its function is as a natural strength enhancer and this herb is often used by athletes.
Precautions in Using Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is a known herbal without any side effects that occur. However, caution in treatment is very important. So, we must pay attention to some form of vigilance when using Ashwagandha, both topically and orally, so that no ill effects occur.
- If you suffer from heartburn, consult your doctor before taking Ashwagandha supplements.
- Pregnant women should also avoid this herb as it can cause uterine contractions which can lead to miscarriage.
- What about breastfeeding mothers, even though the benefits have been mentioned, but there is no scientific evidence that Ashwagandha is safe for pregnant women, so consult a doctor before using it.
- Ashwagandha is a diuretic herb, so people with kidney disease should take it according to doctor’s advice.
- When going to use Ashwagandha supplements, then you have to control several things, including thyroid hormone levels, blood pressure and blood sugar.
- Also pay attention not to take Ashwagandha along with sedatives, alcohol, sleeping pills, and Immunomodulatory drugs.
Ashwagandha Side Effects
Well, as we mentioned that Ashwagandha is an herb that is safe for consumption in small to moderate amounts. If you consume excessive amounts, it is feared that some forms of side effects will occur. Ashwagandha side effects vary from person to person. These can take the form of:
- Diarrhea,
- Gag,
- Stomach ache,
- premature birth,
- low blood sugar,
- lowering blood pressure,
- Disrupts thyroid hormone
- Digestive irritation,
- Sedation and liver disorders.
Note: Consuming Ashwagandha is said to be safe for 3 months. If you want to take Ashwagandha herbal medicine for a longer period of time, then you should seek medical advice or a doctor.
