Did you know?
Ashwagandha is believed to be equally beneficial for hair health. This antioxidant rich herb has stimulating properties; it helps in improving the blood circulation, rejuvenating the scalp and reducing dandruff, thereby strengthening the hair follicles and encouraging healthy hair growth.
What is Ashwagandha?
- Ashwagandha is an evergreen shrub that grows in India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. Every single part of the shrub is immensely usefulin some way or the other.
- The name Ashwagandha is derived from the Sanskrit words “Ashwa”, which means horse and “Gandha”, which means odour. An Ayurvedic Scholar Charaka (100 BC) had quoted – ‘One obtains longevity, regains youth, gets a sharp memory and intellect and freedom from diseases, gets a lustrous complexion, and strength of a horse.’
- According to traditional Indian classification, Ashwagandha is considered a Rasayana which means that it helps in lengthening the lifespan.
- Modern medicine classifies ashwagandha as an adaptogen, which means it helps the body adapt to stress. The herb is most well known for its rejuvenating and therapeutic attributes.
Benefits of Ashwagandha
1. For Anxiety
Ashwagandha is classified as an adaptogen which means that it helps the body to adapt to stress. It can boost brain function and help fight symptoms of anxiety and depression. Several controlled human studies have shown that this herb can reduce symptoms in people with stress and anxiety disorders. In a 60-day study with people with chronic stress, those in the group that supplemented with ashwagandha reported a 69% reduction in anxiety and insomnia, on average, compared with 11% in the placebo group.
2. For Heart health
Ashwagandha has a variety of benefits to the heart, including providing treatment to high cholesterol, high blood pressure, chest pain and various other heart diseases.Certain studies have found that withaferin, which is a compound in ashwagandha, helps induce apoptosis, which is the programmed death of cancer cells and it also suggest that it may help treat various types of cancer, including breast, lung, colon, brain, and ovarian cancer. In one such study, rats with ovarian tumours treated with withaferin alone or in combination with an anti-cancer drug showed a significant reduction in tumour growth. The treatment is also believed to prevent the spread of cancer to other organs.
3. Increasing stamina
In our fast-paced modern lives, it is natural to feel drained out and tired. An unhealthy lifestyle and diet can decrease your stamina and make you feel exhausted. If you are having trouble in coping with your daily tasks or feel like you lack stamina, then ashwagandha must be your go-to solution. Ashwagandha facilitates the body to reserve and sustain vital energy throughout the day to promote sound and peaceful sleep at night. It also increases your overall ability to exercise and work.
This is how Ashwagandha works -
- It moisturizes: Ashwagandha soothes and protects against dry, rough skin.
- It cleanses:The compounds referred to as withanolides help cleanse dirt and impurities, which can prevent clogged pores and acne.
- It heals:A fluid mix of ashwagandha can be applied as a cream to treat cuts, bruises, and skin infection.
- It prevents ageing:Ashwagandha boosts DHEA, which is a precursor to both testosterone and estrogen. It incites the production of vital proteins for healthy skin hydration. DHEA and estrogen help in maintaining the skin youthful by stimulating the collagen generation and increasing the natural skin oils. It also lowers cortisol levels and prevents stress from ageing the skin.