Ashwagandha Plant – Top 7 Medicinal Uses

Ashwagandha is a plant that flourishes in India and North America.

The name Ashwagandha (also known as Indian ginseng) originates from the Sanskrit language and is a combination of the word ashva, meaning horse, and gandha, meaning smell, which explains why users describe the scent as “horse-like.”

Ashwagandha has been used as an herbal remedy for hundreds of years. It can also help boost the immune system, improve memory and enhance good health.

The Ashwagandha plant contains chemicals that have been known to help calm the brain, reduce swelling or inflammation, decreasing and relieving stress, lower blood pressure and aid the immune system.

Ashwagandha

Adaptogen

Stress

Mood

Sleep

How It Works:

• Reduces stress and anxiety
• Improves concentration, fatigue & sleep
• Protects against oxidative stress

Dosage:

Between 300 - 1000 mg per day

Safety:

Rated Possibly Safe

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Ashwagandha Plant Benefits

Additional benefits people may experience with ashwagandha:

Reduces Signs of Aging: Aging is greatly affected by stress. When we experience stress, it causes levels of cortisol to increase in the body.

Cortisol is a hormone that can cause muscle loss and weakness, wrinkles and cognitive impairment. Ashwagandha improves resistance to stress, which may lead to a reduction of cortisol.

Menopausal Support: Ashwagandha plant extracts affects the endocrine system positively by encouraging hormone balance. This herb can help reduce symptoms such as hot flashes, mood swings and anxiety.

Improved Sexual Health: Ashwagandha is mentioned in the The Kama Sutra, one of the oldest surviving texts on human sexuality, as a powerful sexual stimulant. The herb aids sexual health and vitality by reducing body tension and increasing blood flow, sexual desire and satisfaction.

Memory Enhancement: Ashwagandha may protect the brain from the oxidative stress that leads to neurodegeneration. It also improves long-term visual memory, due to its stress-fighting effects that aids in relaxation.

Increased Energy: Another benefit many individuals report after taking this herb is improved energy while reducing stress-related disorders.

Mood Balancer: Ashwagandha is known as the mood-boosting herb, and the therapeutic plant may play an important role in fighting mood imbalance connected to depression, anxiety and difficulty focusing.

How Should the Ashwagandha Plant Be Used?

The roots, leaves and fruit of the ashwagandha plant are used medicinally. It is classified as an adaptogenic herb.  This type of herb that may help restore normal bodily function and resist the damage from stress.

Ashwagandha plants are grown best in a full, hot sun. The leaves and root can usually be harvested the first year. When purchasing the herb in capsule form, it’s best to purchase from a reputable, well-established seller.

The typical safe dosage is 1-2 grams three times a day. Due to various potential side effects, a person should consult a healthcare provider before using ashwagandha, especially if they have a pre-existing condition.

You should let your doctor or medical practitioner know all the medication and supplements you are currently taking to avoid serious interactions between them.

Side Effects of Using Ashwagandha Plants

Ashwagandha appears to have very few side effects in moderate doses. Although safe when taken orally in the short-term, the long-term safety of ashwagandha is unknown. It may enhance the effects of sedative and anti-anxiety medications and herbs, including herbal St. John’s wort. It can also increase the effects of alcohol.

People with bleeding issues or an upcoming surgery shouldn’t use this product. Ashwagandha users need to be cautious when applying the plant matter directly on the skin.

People with certain diseases or medical conditions should seek medical advice or be cautious about using ashwagandha. In some cases, it has been known to cause:

Miscarriage: Do not use ashwagandha if you are pregnant as it has been shown to cause miscarriages. The safety of using ashwagandha plant products during breast-feeding has not been consistently verified so it’s best to avoid use.

Low blood sugar: Diabetics should avoid use or closely monitor their blood sugar to make sure their blood sugar levels don’t get too low.

Drop or rise in blood pressure: Ashwagandha could cause blood pressure to go to low in people with low blood pressure. It might also interfere with medications used to treat high blood pressure. It should also be used cautiously by individuals taking medications for high or low blood pressure.

Gastrointestinal disorders: People with a stomach ulcer should not use this plant. It has been shown to irritate the gastrointestinal (GI) tract or cause diarrhea, nausea and abdominal pain.

Auto-immune diseases: Ashwagandha could increase the symptoms of auto-immune diseases. People with conditions such as hypo or hyper thyroid, multiple sclerosis (MS) or lupus should avoid using ashwagandha.

Elevated Thyroid Hormone Levels: Ashwagandha plant extracts might increase thyroid hormone levels so it’s best avoided if you have a thyroid condition or take thyroid hormone medications. It could also flare symptoms in people who have MS or lupus.

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