Ashwagandha Benefits

Federico Alatorre

Ashwagandha Benefits

What is Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha, also known as Indian winter cherry or Indian ginseng, is a very popular herb in traditional Indian medicine (Ayurveda) dating back to 6000 BC.

This has been used as Rayasana which is one of the most famous herbal preparations as it promotes physical and mental health as well as happiness by relieving stress.

What is Ashwagandha used for?

Ashwagandha is commonly used as an adaptogen, that is, it helps the body to adapt to mental and physical stress, reducing brain fatigue, general weakness and anxiety.

It reduces the activity of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis, which is a system in your body that is responsible for regulating the systemic response to stress.

In addition, this ingredient has been shown to help improve brain function, memory, the nervous system, and the reproductive system. It also improves the body's defenses and cell-mediated immunity. Lastly, it has antioxidant properties which helps protect against cell damage.

Scientific studies show that:

It is a potent anti-stress agent and is used clinically for the prevention of stress-induced diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, premature aging, and arthritis.
It promotes cognition and has been useful in children with memory deficits and in the elderly with memory loss.
It is an effective antioxidant that cleans cellular debris related to Alzheimer's disease in the brain.
It can be used for the treatment of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases in any of their stages as it slows down, stops, reverses and eliminates neuritic atrophy and synaptic loss.
It has been shown to increase performance and oxygen consumption in endurance events such as swimming.
Ashwagandha supplementation has an anabolic effect ; it is associated with increases in muscle mass and strength.

Why should we take Ashwagandha?

Chronic stress can take a big toll on the brain in the long run if left untreated with something like Ashwagandha.

Chronic stress changes neural networks and creates a strong connection between the hippocampus and the amygdala. The amygdala is responsible for our fight or flight reaction. This strengthening of the connection extends and improves this reaction in our lives, which is sometimes not necessary if we are not experiencing a situation of physical danger.

In addition, these new connections prevent contact with the prefrontal cortex, preventing an improvement in learning and memory.

All of this increases the risk of suffering from anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD or PTSD).

It has shown significant benefits in cognitive functions such as executive functioning, attention, reaction time, and performance on cognitive tasks.

Where is Ashwagandha found?

Ashwagandha is a native plant that can be found in Asia and Africa and even in other regions such as America.

The variety of the active ingredient withanolides differs in quantity depending on where it was grown.

How often is Ashwagandha consumed?

The recommended dose of Ashwagandha is between 250 and 1000 mg per day.

The root of this plant, found in a dose of MIND , provides the benefits listed above.

How does Ashwagandha work in the brain?

Ashwagandha exerts its function on the receptors of the neurons and allows the connection between the GABA receptors to improve. These receptors have anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, amnesic, sedative, hypnotic, euphoric, and muscle relaxant properties. This prevents the signals that occur in stressful situations and reduces anxiety.

Laboratory studies have shown that Ashwagandha promotes neuronal growth and protects neurons from damage and oxidative stress, improving cognitive and psychomotor performance of the brain (physical response).

What are the benefits of Ashwagandha?

It has been reported that when taking Ashwagandha there is a rapid improvement in energy, motivation and concentration; it is expressed that it is one of the best antidepressants among users, reducing depressive symptoms by up to 77%.

It is also mentioned that it is a good help against anxiety since self-confidence is restored, speech becomes more fluent and panic attacks are eliminated.

Also, studies suggest that it helps improve cognitive decline in people with bipolar disorder.

It has also been reported that the consumption of this improves the pattern and quality of sleep in certain people.

It should be noted that the effects mentioned above are present for many people until after a few weeks of consumption.

What are the side effects of Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha in moderate doses is not toxic, however a poor consumption of it can cause diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, drowsiness and a slow pulse.

The consumption of this along with other sedatives, antidepressants and anxiolytics, improves the effects of these medications. It also amplifies the effects of immunosuppressants, blood pressure medications, and medications to control blood glucose levels. Finally, Ashwagandha potentiates the effects of alcohol.

This nootropic is not suitable for pregnant women due to its hormonal effects, for people with bleeding problems, thyroid conditions, or people who take thyroid hormone medications. It is also not recommended to consume it prior to surgery.

Ashwaghanda is just one of the eleven ingredients that MIND contains . If you want to know more about the other components, we invite you to click on this link .

References

The information presented is supported by scientific biography and is for informational purposes only, however this is not a substitute for medical advice. Do not use this information as a substitute for a specialist.

Not all possible features, actions and effects are included.

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