Ashwagandha is a herb predominantly found in India. Its roots have medicinal qualities and are used extensively in Ayurveda to treat numerous conditions. Some of the conditions for which it offers relief are thirst, dehydration, emaciation and constipation. It also helps strengthen loose teeth, weak bones and weak muscles. Ashwagandha is also effective in providing relief in conditions like nervous exhaustion, rheumatism, neurodegenerative disorders and memory loss. Here are a few other health benefits that are offered by ashwagandha:
Providing relief from stress
Ashwagandha extracts are employed by many herbalists as an adaptogen. This is a term that is used to classify herbs that have the ability to improve the body’s resistance to stress. Ashwagandha does this and also reduces fatigue and anxiety levels in the system. When used as an adaptogen, the herb can strengthen your body. Traditionally, ashwagandha is employed to calm the central nervous system. When taken along with prescribed sedatives, the herb is capable of enhancing its effect. This is one of the reasons it is considered one of the top mood enhancers.
Improves the function of the immune system
Another benefit of using the ashwagandha extract is that it can help improve the immune system’s function. This will enable your body to fight disease causing germs and bacteria more effectively. The herb contains a high iron level and owing to this, the supplement can help stimulate the production of healthy red blood cells. One of the most effective forms of the herb is, ashwagandha tea. This can aid in the proliferation of immune cells in your body, as a result of which your body will be better able to deal with pathogens. According to herbalists, ashwagandha is extremely beneficial as an anti-biotic, as it does not lead to the break down of cells when incubated along with erythrocytes.
Anti-inflammatory functions
Ashwagandha contains steroidal constituents called withanolides. These elements can play a crucial role in lowering the level of inflammation in the body. This will then reduce the symptoms like pain and swelling that characterize inflammation. The herb achieves this by acting on the chondroblasts – cells that make up the cartilages. When the chondroblasts undergo degeneration, they cause arthritis, and owing to its effect on these cells, ashwagandha can help alleviate the symptoms associated with the condition.
Other health benefits
* Ashwagandha contains chemicals that act as effective anti-oxidants. Due to this, the herb is used in Ayurveda as a health promoter. Another great product of similar quality is called Qualia. When you use Qualia, you get the advantage of many adaptogens. Qualia is one of the most effective of all nootropics, but Qualia also has side effects that ashwagandha doesn’t have. It is still one of the top nootropics.
* One of the benefits of ashwagandha is that it facilitates cognition. This is enabled by the herb’s ability to increase the levels of acetylcholine receptor activity. The herb is also capable of improving memory and owing to this, ashwagandha is used to treat mental deficits like amnesia in older patients.
* The herb has the ability to limit the growth of certain types of cancerous cells. Its withanolides allow ashwagandha to achieve this.
* Ashwagandha is credited with being capable of acting as a diuretic. It also functions as a hypocholesterolemic agent in that it brings down the levels of serum cholesterol, low density lipoproteins and triglycerides.
* The herb is also effective in controlling the amount of injury caused to the heart following an ischemic attack. This is supported by studies that indicate that ashwagandha is effective as a cardio-protective agent.