For thousands of years, Ashwagandha has been used as Ayurvedic medicine. And, it has derived from the Sanskrit word ashwa means “horse” and gandha means “smell”. This is because the root of Ashwagandha smells like the sweat of a horse. Ashwagandha is a shrub that develops in India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. In This Blog You Can Read Ashwagandha benefits and side effects.
Its root and berries are utilized to make medicine to cure various health problems. Let’s get started to know more about Ashwagandha:
What is Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha is an evergreen shrub that is also known by its other names Indian ginseng and winter cherry that grows in warm climates. According to Ayurveda, this plant has enormous uses, and its roots have various medicinal properties. It is used to cure anemia, stress, impotency, anxiety, and diabetes as well.
When it is used regularly, it helps to improve immune power and vigor. It grows up to 3 feet, and its leaves are yellow-green, long, and elliptical. Its flowers are small bell-shaped and have bright orange-red berries.
Ashwagandha is native to Indian subcontinents, especially the drier area of India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. It also grows in various parts of Africa and grows in warm climates, including Western North Carolina where the Gaia herb is found.
How to Grow Ashwagandha?
Many people search for “how to grow Ashwagandha,” and here is the answer. And, you’ll be glad to know that Ashwagandha benefits does require a little maintenance for best and healthy growth.
- Choose an area where your plant can receive direct sunlight. Make use of well-drained sandy, clay soil that has an acidic or neutral pH level. For best results, try to choose soil with nutrient-rich, dry, and stony qualities.
- Planting the seeds in early spring. You can also opt for a medium-sized container or plant the seeds directly in the ground. If you are sowing more than one seed, then try to maintain a difference between each seed at least 24 inches. Dig the soil and place the seed around 3-8 inches below the surface of the soil.
- Make the soil moist, but not waterlogged during the development period of Ashwagandha. Ashwagandha takes 2 to 3 weeks to grow. Once developed, enable the soil to dry between watering. Make sure to water the plant when shady such as near sunset or sunrise.
What is Ashwagandha Used for?
Many questions arise when it comes to Ashwagandha, such as what is Ashwagandha good for, what does Ashwagandha do, and what is Ashwagandha used for, and many more.
Everyone knows the properties of Ashwagandha, and it is known as an essential herb in Ayurvedic medicine. Ashwagandha is considered Rasayan in Ayurvedic medicine. If you want to know what Ashwagandha is good for, then take a look at the below health problems that can be cured by Ashwagandha:
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Fatigue
- Skin conditions
- Pain
- Epilepsy
- Arthritis
- Diabetes
To treat different diseases, different parts of the plant are used, such as seeds, leaves, and fruit.
Health Benefits of Ashwagandha
The following list will show you Ashwagandha benefits to your health:
Treats Anxiety & Stress
As compared to other modern medicines, Ashwagandha is better to treat anxiety. Ashwagandha is good for treating anxiety and stress symptoms as it helps to boost Mental Health. According to several human studies, Ashwagandha helps to reduce the symptoms of stress and anxiety, and improves general well-being.
Treats Inflammation
Inflammation is the body’s response to toxins, infections, and trauma. The body will generate an anti-inflammatory response to restore balance followed by normal conditions. In chronic pain, the body may not regulate or control the inflammatory response. As a result, it leads to chronic pain and imbalance.
Ashwagandha is an herb that helps to reduce inflammation. Herbal tea can be prepared from the leaves of Ashwagandha to relieve inflammation.
Boost Heart Health
Ashwagandha benefits heart problems, including offering treatment for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, chest pain, and other heart diseases. To maintain heart health, try to add Ashwagandha powder to your diet.
Curing Asthma
As you know, asthma is a respiratory disorder that leads to coughing, breathing problem, and chest congestion. If you are an asthma patient, then Ashwagandha can cure this problem. Many elements can trigger asthma-like stress, dust, pollution, anxiety, etc. When you intake Ashwagandha roots regularly, it can reduce the stress that in turn helps to overcome respiratory diseases such as asthma.
Anti-Aging & Life Span
Ashwagandha roots are categorized as Rasayanas that boost health and longevity. It is done by increasing disease defences, terminating the aging process, and rising the feeling of well-being.
Despite this, Ashwagandha roots are an essential part of the plant that has antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-helminthic properties and are used for treating skin problems, diabetes, infertility, and constipation, etc.
Prevent Acne
Ashwagandha root has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties that protect your skin from infections. It also improves the collagen in your skin and prevents your skin from aging. Try to use a natural face pack with Ashwagandha to heal acne, scars, and improves skin tone.
Cure Insomnia
Are you suffering from insomnia? Does it take time to fall asleep at night? If so, then you don’t need to worry about it because Ashwagandha can help you to fall asleep early at night.
FAQ’s: Intake of Ashwagandha Supplements
So many questions arise when it comes to the intake of Ashwagandha supplements. As you know, Ashwagandha comes in various forms like powder, tablets, or capsules. The following section is the answer to your questions. This section will also help you to know how and when to take Ashwagandha. Apart from this, make sure to get help from your doctor before using Ashwagandha supplements:
Q 1: When is the best time to take Ashwagandha?
Basically, it depends on the form of Ashwagandha and the purpose of why you take Ashwagandha. You can take Ashwagandha on an empty stomach in the morning or before going to bed. (Ensure to seek help from your doctor before you start intake of Ashwagandha)
Q 2: What time of the day to take Ashwagandha?
How to take Ashwagandha is equally important as when you take Ashwagandha. Basically, it depends on the condition you are treating with Ashwagandha, you may use it during the day or night or both or as suggested by the doctor.
Q 3: How much Ashwagandha per day?
After taking your meal, you can intake Ashwagandha twice a day. But, make sure to get a consultation from your doctor on dosage. It can be seen that the dosage of Ashwagandha capsules is higher as you can take 2-3 capsules with water each day after a meal or suggested by the doctor.
Q 4: How to make Ashwagandha tea?
Making Ashwagandha tea is one of the easiest methods, and you need to follow the below steps:
- In boiling water, add Ashwagandha powder or some Ashwagandha roots.
- Cover the container or pan with a lid and let it boil for around 10-15 minutes.
- Strain it in the cup and take a slice of lemon and squeeze it. Add honey according to your taste.
Q 5: How long does it take for Ashwagandha to work for anxiety?
500-600 mg intake of Ashwagandha per day for at least 6-12 weeks may minimize anxiety and lower the cause of insomnia with stress and anxiety disorder. Again, it is recommended to seek help from your doctor to get guidance on the intake of Ashwagandha.
Q 6: Where can I buy Ashwagandha?
There are plenty of herbal stores and online stores where you can get Ashwagandha products. It depends on you what method you want to follow, whether you want from an online store or want to buy offline.
Q 7: How to take Ashwagandha powder?
If you want to take it during the day, then you can add honey to the Ashwagandha powder mixture. If you are taking it during the night, then mix the powder with milk and drink it before bed. You can also seek help from a doctor.
Ashwagandha Side Effects
If Ashwagandha serves you various advantages, then the overdose of Ashwagandha can lead to various side effects as well. To avoid side effects, try to intake Ashwagandha in the right way and appropriate quantity.
The Ashwagandha dosage depends on the health condition, so make sure to get a consultation from the doctor before taking it in the day or night. Seek help from a doctor to know how much Ashwagandha to take, and when to take. Overdose of Ashwagandha can damage your kidney functions and thyroid gland’s functioning. If your BP is already low, then it can affect your blood pressure.
Over to You: What’s Your Call?
Ashwagandha comes in a variety of forms and it depends on your health condition what form you need to take. Many studies show the various Ashwagandha benefits, including treating stress, insomnia, anxiety and improve overall health.
As mentioned above, try to get help from your doctor about the dosage of Ashwagandha supplements. Because excess Ashwagandha can lead to various side effects.
