Ashwagandha – Best herbal remedy for stress relief

Ashwagandha – Best herbal remedy for stress relief

Ashwagandha, scientifically known as Withania somnifera, is popular as Indian ginseng or Indian winter cherry. This wonderful medicinal herb has a profound, nourishing effect on the nervous system and is potentially beneficial for counteracting anxiety and stress. It has been revered by Ayurveda practitioners and herbalists for a long time. Historically in India it has always been well accepted by the traditional healthcare system in a holistic manner. The benefits of this wonderful herb have also been illustrated in ancient wise books such as Charak Samhita, Susruta Samhita and Ashtaang Samagraha.

Ashwagandha, an all-purpose Ayurvedic herb, is like a divine gift from God that not only makes life long but also promises a healthy life. Literally meaning "sweat of a horse", it symbolizes the dynamic youth and vivacity of a horse and also resembles the smell of the root like that of a horse.

Availability

The vast area of ​​the Indian subcontinent is blessed with the natural production of this amazing herb. It is usually grown in areas with moderate to warm atmospheric conditions. This bushy, mid-elevation herb is most commonly found at elevations of 1,000 to 5,000 feet.

Chemical structure

The main ingredient of ashwagandha is withanolide A. It is also combined with withanone and a certain amount of withaferin A, withanolide I, II, III, A, B, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, P, S and WS-I. The root is rich in alkaloid property. There are other important ingredients that play an effective role in improving our body system. These are saponins, pyrazole alkaloids and steroid lactones.

From an Ayurvedic perspective it consists of:laghu(light) as wellSnap(mild) properties. It consists of three flavors viztikta(sharp),katu(strong andmadhur(sweet). It is identified as havingUshan(hot andvirya(Energy) properties.

Medical benefits

Particularly in the study of Ayurveda, Ashwagandha is widely known for its ability to improve the health and vitality of a being. It is also recognized as an adaptogen for its non-toxic content, which has the ability to normalize physiological functions. It has a profound effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and particularly the neuroendocrine system. Since it is essentially paradoxical from the perspective of herbalists, on the one hand it is anti-inflammatory, but on the other hand it still has nutritional properties, which is in great contradiction to the rest of the herbs that belong to the same plant family such as belladonna and henbane.

Ashwagandha has anti-arthritic, anti-anxiety, sedative and aphrodisiac properties. Several beneficial ingredients make the herb so valuable for various therapeutic approaches.

Some researchers also believe it may have antioxidant properties that help reduce the symptoms of aging. It is believed to have the ability to control the damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are particularly detrimental to the normal aging process, and free radicals also have a profound effect on various other neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and epilepsy.

It also helps in strengthening a being's immune system, particularly by increasing the number of white blood cells. It is really beneficial for fighting chronic diseases like asthma, bronchitis as well as cough. It has also been found to be helpful in chronic gynecological problems, male impotence and infertility, arthritic inflammation, nervousness, anxiety, depression, insomnia and it has also been shown to be beneficial in immunocompromised diseases such as AIDS and TB and degenerative diseases such as aging, childhood maldevelopment and low libido.

However, Ashwagandha's extensive properties and mechanisms are not yet fully understood, but it has proven to be a true holistic approach to various diseases. It has always been found to be effective in relieving inflammation associated with rheumatological diseases such as arthritis. It helps reduce stress by increasing endurance, and research shows that the possible reason for endurance may be its ability to produce carbohydrate supplementation. Apart from that, it has a lasting effect to increase sexual performance and optimally rejuvenate the life cycle.

Overall, Ashwagandha affects our digestive system, cardiovascular system, respiratory system, nervous system, endocrine system, reproductive system, excretory system, and skin.