Overview Of Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is a shrub of the evergreen variant that grows in the Middle East, India, and parts of Africa. The fruit and roots of the shrub have both been used for centuries for multiple medicinal purposes. As of the current day, ashwagandha is marketed and sold in the United States as a herbal health supplement. Ashwagandha is not regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration and does not have to meet the same standards as food producers or pharmaceutical companies. While ashwagandha's health benefits and healing properties have been studied to an extent, the herb is not well known in the general population. Those who are aware of ashwagandha may refer to it as Indian ginseng.

Many individuals will take ashwagandha capsules, though ashwagandha extract is also available. This herb is a popular natural remedy for anxiety and stress, and some individuals even take ashwagandha for hair benefits. However, for safety and to ensure that they get the best ashwagandha supplement for their needs, individuals must understand how it works first.

How It Works

Ashwagandha is an effective nerve tonic. This means that it reduces the activity of an individual's nerves. Any nerve tonic helps restore normal activity to an individual's nerves. Ashwagandha is thought to work by allowing the body to properly adapt to numerous different physical and emotional stressors that produce adverse symptoms. Ashwagandha is thought to produce an action that closely mimics the activity of a critical neurotransmitter referred to as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which helps block impulses from moving from one nerve to the next in the brain.

In addition to these mechanisms, ashwagandha is thought to help protect an individual's immune system function, ensuring it is operating at an optimal level. Ashwagandha is known to combat the natural processes of inflammation in the body tissues. It helps reduce the concentration of lipids in an individual's bloodstream. The medicinal chemicals that produce such actions contained within ashwagandha include alkaloids, fatty acids, amino acids, withanolides, choline, and numerous sugar compounds.

Read about how ashwagandha is taken next.

Ways It Is Taken

The classic way ashwagandha is taken is through a fine powder mixed or blended with honey or ghee. Another administration method is through the consumption of a hot cup of tea or milk with a teaspoon of finely powdered ashwagandha. Many individuals take it through a capsule. Root extract from the ashwagandha plant may be placed and taken in a capsule as a supplement at a dosage of 450 to five hundred milligrams per day. Ashwagandha powder may also be placed into a capsule and taken as a supplement.

Many individuals use ashwagandha to make cookies and other baked goods as a way to take the supplement. Another method that can be used is putting a teaspoon of the fine powder in a smoothie before blending. Some individuals prefer to take ashwagandha as a tincture placed into a capsule or by swallowing it like liquid medication. Ashwagandha is often mixed with different products used for the skin to help conditions like psoriasis and acne.

Keep reading to discover the reported health benefits next.

Reported Health Benefits

Individuals have taken ashwagandha for centuries for the relief of numerous different ailments. Some of the most common symptoms individuals take it for include stress, poor memory, low libido, anxiety problems, joint pain, fatigue, sluggishness, difficulty concentrating, problems sleeping, frequent bouts of illness, low mental and physical endurance, and neurological abnormalities. Ashwagandha has been used to help with diagnosing failure to thrive in children.

It is also reported to be beneficial for patients who have problems with frequent constipation, goiter, intestinal parasites, hormone imbalances, general weakness, and disability in old age. This herb also helps insomnia, nerve conditions, high cholesterol, sexual dysfunction, tumors, and difficulty managing blood sugar. Individuals who may have problems with learning, reaction time, and memory often take this herb as well. It has also been used to help with conditions that cause the progressive degeneration of brain cells and cognitive function decline.

Get familiar with the potential side effects next.

Potential Side Effects

Individuals report that this herb is well-tolerated when it is used in reasonable and proper doses. However, there has been no concrete evidence from clinical studies to support this. Like any other health or nutritional supplement, ashwagandha has a slight risk of causing adverse side effects in individuals who take it. The most prevalent adverse side effects include nausea, gastritis, and headaches.

Pregnant women are advised not to take ashwagandha because evidence indicates it may induce premature labor and cause early delivery. There is also evidence that this herb can cause miscarriages. It is not known whether or not ashwagandha is safe to use while breastfeeding. This herb is known to cause a decrease in blood sugar, which may interfere with the mechanism of some types of drugs used to treat diabetes. It has also been reported to cause a drop in blood pressure that may be dangerous for individuals who already have a condition that causes hypotension.

Read about the medication interactions next.

Medication Interactions

There are only a few identified interactions between ashwagandha and other medications. This is because little research has been conducted. It has been reported that ashwagandha can cause problems with the way certain thyroid medications work. There is evidence showing that this herb can counteract the mechanism of medications used with autoimmune conditions that reduce the actions of the immune system. Furthermore, ashwagandha is known to produce depressive effects on an individual's central nervous system, making drugs like anesthesia dangerous to use with it.

Manufacturers of Ayurvedic herbs and supplements are not required to adhere to rules set by the United States Food and Drug Administration. This includes those that require warnings associated with potential medication interactions. In addition, these supplements do not have to meet the same standards as food producers and pharmaceutical companies.

Continue reading to learn about dosage recommendations next.

Dosage Recommendations

Individuals can find ashwagandha over-the-counter in a variety of forms and dosages. The forms include liquid extract, powders, and a capsule. Depending on the form, individuals can expect this herb to come in doses of 250 to 1500 milligrams. Most capsules appear to fall between two hundred and six hundred milligrams. Individuals will want to adjust their dose based on why they are taking this herb.

For instance, many studies indicate that patients see success by taking six hundred milligrams daily for stress and anxiety. This is often in two doses of three hundred milligrams each. Some individuals may start seeing benefits in managing their blood sugar with doses as little as 250 milligrams, though they may need more in some cases. Overall, individuals need to talk to a doctor about what the appropriate dosage is for their needs. It is also worth noting that high doses can trigger many side effects.

Get the details on ashwagandha as an adaptogen next.

Ashwagandha As An Adaptogen

The simple definition of adaptogens is that they are a specific category of herbs used in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine. This category involves protecting and restoring the body from issues such as stress. Although other supplements can help with this, adaptogens look at the specific needs of an individual’s body and work to restore its function to normal. For instance, an individual’s endocrine system may be disrupted due to stress, but another individual may have a disrupted nervous system. In both cases, they may take the same adaptogen and see benefits.

This is why many individuals classify ashwagandha as an adaptogen. It adapts to what individuals need to restore their body to normal. It is also worth understanding that ashwagandha is considered to be one of the nightshade adaptogens, which means it is similar to a tomato, which is also part of the nightshade family.

Continue reading to get some advice for taking this herb next.

Advice For Taking It

The first piece of advice for taking ashwagandha is to start with a small dose. This helps individuals adjust to the herbal supplement and its effects on their body. High doses can still cause side effects, but starting low helps minimize this risk. In addition to this, individuals should consider taking ashwagandha with a meal to maximize the benefits and minimize unpleasant effects on their stomach.

In most cases, experts suggest taking this herb with breakfast. Making tea with this herb is popular and can help minimize side effects, though it is still a good idea for individuals to drink it along with a meal. Individuals should only take this herb for a few months before reassessing their situation with a doctor.

Discover some alternatives to this herb next.

Alternatives To Ashwagandha

Many individuals cannot or do not want to take ashwagandha. This is due to several reasons, including the availability of the herb, price of the supplement, as well as side effects and allergies. Thankfully. Individuals have several options for alternatives to ashwagandha. The best choice depends on their specific needs. Rhodiola rosea is one of the options and can be used as a tea or in fruit smoothies. However, it is not commonly available. Thus, many individuals choose to use ginseng instead, which is much more widely available. Ginseng is quite effective at relieving stress and is available in teas and many supplements. Some individuals can even find it fresh and include it in soup. Other alternatives include maca, reishi, and licorice root.

Read about the connection between ashwagandha and allergies next.

Ashwagandha And Allergies

In most cases, ashwagandha is tolerated quite well if individuals follow the proper dosage and other recommendations, both from their doctor and on the label of their chosen supplement. However, some individuals have reported experiencing allergic reactions to this herb. Symptoms of an allergic reaction to this ashwagandha include itchy skin, rashes, and difficulty breathing. The reaction can be due to extra ingredients included in a particular supplement. Thus, individuals may want to find a list of these ingredients.

Of course, they should still talk to their doctor before taking any form of ashwagandha again. This is vital so that they can avoid serious issues. Individuals with an allergy to nightshades, including tomatoes, white potatoes, peppers, and eggplants, may be at a higher risk of an allergic reaction to ashwagandha. This is because it is also considered a nightshade.