In today’s world, our minds and bodies are impacted by stress and anxiety daily (even hourly!).
To defend against all that stress and anxiety, we are always searching for natural defenses that support our bodies and minds. These negative mental and physiological states have long-lasting negative effects on us. It is critical to build up your defenses.
Ashwagandha, a medicinal herb with long-respected history, is one such natural remedy to this modern-day epidemic. Its use is supported by both contemporary scientific research and ancient cultural history.
Read more to find out how Ashwagandha can reduce your stress and anxiety…
In modern America, this Ayurvedic herb has gained scientific recognition for its anxiety reduction and stress restistance.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is categorized as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant herbal supplement. In recent years, more and more scientific studies are exploring its medicinal qualities.
In the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in 2014, a review of human clinical studies concluded that ashwagandha provided a consistent (and often significant) reduction in stress.1 Another study in the Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine found that this ancient herb “safely and effectively improves an individual’s resistance towards stress and thereby improves self-assessed quality of life.”2
Medical researchers have completed more than 200 studies on this botanical, confirming its many health benefits.
In one study, 64 randomized volunteers consumed either ashwaganda or a placebo twice daily for 60 days. The treatment group given the ashwaganda root extract exhibited a significant reduction in anxiety scores after two months relative to the placebo group, without side effects.
Most notably in that study, serum cortisol levels were substantially reduced in the group consuming ashwagandha. Cortisol is the “stress hormone” that goes up when we are stressed out. Cortisol also creates longer term fatigue and mental fogginess, and brain structures for emotion and memory are damaged when cortisol is too high.
Other case studies using ashwaganda also show benefit in stressed women with adrenal hyperplasia (enlarged adrenal glands) showing beneficial changes in cortisol and progesterone.3 Other studies of men with stress-related fertility issues found much healthier sperm when supplemented with ashwaganda.4
Indeed, since ancient times, people have used this potent herb to treat anxiety and low energy.
Ashwagandha has a rich history, used for over 2,000 years. Long before the publication of scientific studies, it had a well-established reputation. It has long been used to help individuals cope with stress.
In Ayurveda, the ancient medicinal treatment in India, Ashwagandha is known as an “adaptogenic herb.” This means that it can modulate your response to stress or a changing environment. Adaptogens help the body cope with external stresses such as toxins in the environment and internal stresses such as anxiety and insomnia.
From past to present, ashwagandha has been celebrated as an ideal natural remedy to our stress and anxiety.
Get a FREE copy of our exclusive eBook Ashwagandha: The 2,000-Year-Old Ayurvedic Herb Backed By Modern Science, and learn about the many powerful benefits of this ancient herb.
References
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4270108
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3573577
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22987912
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19501822
Disclaimer: Despite the references provided, the information on this site is intended for educational purposes only. It is not meant to cover all possible precautions, drug interactions, circumstances or adverse effects. Please refer for advise and treatment by a licensed physician.