Did You Know Ashwagandha Did All This?
Ashwagandha is one of the most powerful herbs in the 4,000-year-old wellness science known as Ayurveda. The word Ayurveda comes from the Sanskrit root words ‘ayur,’ meaning “life” and ‘veda,’ meaning “to know.” Ayurveda literally means "to know life,” or in the language of today, “the science of life.”
We know it’s a funny word, but Ashwagandha’s root and berry are the key parts used to make herbal medicines and formulas that serve to support a variety of different bodily functions, including increased mental clarity. Part of the family of herbs known as adaptogens, Ashwagandha literally works within the body to help it adapt! Adaptogens are powerful herbs that have been part of Ayurveda from the very beginning and as we said, Ashwagandha is one of the most powerful and most favored of the group.
Ashwagandha For… Everything
Stress, fatigue, lack of energy, and difficulty concentrating are common expressions of the body. It’s important to understand that stress is only supposed to exist momentarily, but with the ebbs and flows of our everyday life, it’s no surprise that stress tends to stick around. Stress can also cause a lot of unwanted symptoms that can affect your immune system, skin, sleep, and so much more.
Ashwagandha is an herb that helps support the adrenal glands, which regulate our stress. When stress is always present, the adrenal system is constantly active, which isn’t how it’s meant to work, and it can throw the entire body off balance. This stress can in turn affect energy levels as well as the digestive system. Ashwagandha and other adaptogenic herbs help support the body’s response to ongoing stress.
Ashwagandha for Stress: Ashwagandha is probably best known for its ability to help reduce stress. The powerful properties that Ashwagandha offers to support the adrenal glands as mentioned above do wonders for stress to better deal with those everyday little annoyances. By helping to regulate and support your nervous system, Ashwagandha is pinnacle in providing balance in our lives.
Ashwagandha for Immunity: Ashwagandha improves the body's defense systems by improving cell-mediated immunity. It has potent antioxidant properties that help protect against cellular damage caused by free radicals like smoke, alcohol, or exposure to toxic chemicals.
Ashwagandha for Skin: Stress can show up in a bunch of different ways, but can especially present issues through the skin. This is more common in young adults, but stress-related skin problems can occur at any age. Ashwagandha’s powerful antioxidant properties work to prevent stress and cell breakdown in the skin while actively fending off external stressors, or free radicals, like pollutants and other irritants that can affect your skin’s health.
Ashwagandha for Sleep: As an adaptogen that is best known for supporting stress, it’s no surprise that Ashwagandha can also help support your sleep. Less stress = more balance, which leads to more restful sleep.
Ashwagandha also affects men and women differently. As an ancient wellness herb with multiple health benefits, it can reduce stress, can help lift mood, can boost brain function, and Ashwagandha for men has even been suggested to support libido and reproductive system health and energy. It’s no secret that Ashwagandha’s supportive properties are many.
***article adapted from Himalaya USA health blog