What is Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha is an herb that is a member of the tomato family. It looks very much like a plump shrub, mostly, with oval leaves and yellow flowers. The leaves and red fruit may be used for their therapeutic properties, but the root itself is the most commonly used part, whose benefits we will explore further in this article.
Found in the dry regions of India and the Himilayas, northern Africa, and the Middle East, Ashwagandha has been around since ancient times. The word literally translates to “the smell of a horse” or “Indian ginseng.” Other names include Withania Somnifera, Winter Cherry, Dunal, and Solanaceae. It is also grown in the United States.
Ashwaganda Benefits For Men
Men often seek to use Ashwagandha for it’s sexual drive enhancement properties. But these benefits are not unique to men, as they also benefit women.
Benefits
Ashwagandha has many beneficial effects. First, it is often associated with its ayurvedic healing abilities. Ayurveda is a school of thought which states that our bodies are woven from food. The nutrients we ingest are metabolized into the energy and information that form our cells, tissues, and organs. Every day our bodies need essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to maintain our body’s delicate balance.1
1. Restorative Effects
The restorative effects of Ashwagandha are many, and include:
- Fight stress
- Reduce anxiety
- Stabilize blood sugar
- Reduce fatigue and depression (and doesn’t cause drowsiness)
- Lower cholesterol
Adpatogenic
It is adaptogenic, meaning it helps modulate your response to internal and external stressors. Internal stressors like anxiety and insomnia, and external stressors like a change of environment or toxins.
Insomnia
Insomnia sufferers, in particular, tend to find aid from Ashwagandha. In this case, it is recommended to take Ashwagandha powder mixed with warm milk before bed.
Adrenal Fatigue
Ashwagandha is also known to combat adrenal fatigue, a result of the taxation of the adrenal glands, which are stress hormones that release cortisol and adrenaline in the presense stress on the body.
2. Preventative/Protective Effects
Historically Ashwagandha has been used in conjunction with other treatments to assist cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy. While it is not been specifically proven to treat cancer, it’s immuno-protecting properties are what cause it to frequently be used alongside other treatments for cancer sufferers.
In addition, Ashwagandha is anti-inflammatory and anti-malarial and reduces the normal degredation of brain-cells.
3. Enhancement Effects
Beyond it’s restorative and protective effects, Ashwagandha is perhaps most well known for it’s enhancement effects. It is purported that Ashwagandha can provide the supplementer the vigor and strength of a stallion, as well as increases energy and enhances focus. Further, it can strengthen the immune system, improve learning, memory and reaction time, and most enhances the sexual libido in both men and women
What Does It Smell (And Taste) Like?
The root is known to have a distinct “horse-like” smell. Although taking it in cap form diminishes this smell.
You would not commonly be able to taste Ashwagandha, as it is not eaten directly, but…
Dosage
Recommended dosage foor ashwagandha is between 600 to 1,000 mg two times per day.
Ashwagandha Buyer’s Guide
You can buy Ashwagandha in many different forms:
- Capsule form
- Root powder
- Tablets
- Tea
- Oil
Typically, you buy Ashwagandha as a supplement which is derived from an extract produced from the root of the Ashwagandha plant.
If you are using Ashwagandha for its ayurvedic properties, you will be buying an extract from the leaves.
References
http://www.chopra.com/articles/what-is-ashwagandha#sm.0001wjpe9jmvpf0wvj51kbrix2f1j
How do you use Ashwagandha?
Leave a comment below on how you are using Ashwagandha, and how it is helping you.
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