Ashwagandha Rasayana Benefits, Dosages & Side Effects [REVIEW]

Ashwagandha Rasayana refers to a preparation of this herb with others herbal extracts and spices in a base of milk, sesame oil, lukewarm water, honey, rice syrup, or ghee (clarified butter).

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an herb used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine to make general tonics for treating a wide variety of ailments and disorders.

Cultivated throughout the Middle East and India, Ashwagandha is a small, evergreen shrub with lengthy, tuberous roots. It is said to have invigorating properties and to act as an adaptogen, bringing balance to the body.

Ayurvedic practitioners utilize the roots of the bush by drying and pulverizing them into a fine powder for use in dietary supplements and, more traditionally, in tonics. [1]

Sometimes referred to as Indian ginseng, Ashwagandha is sold as a dietary supplement in capsule form in the U.S. Ashwagandha Rasayana is a “Nervine Tonic” that is typically sold as a “food jam”.

It is usually sweetened with honey and consumed on its own or by mixing it into beverages. Consumers can also make a rasayana at home with bulk Ashwagandha powder.

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 Rasayana in Ayurvedic Medicine

An ancient medical system, Ayurveda remains one of India’s most culturally relevant health care systems, promoting the use of herbs and special dietary practices to cure many diseases and disorders. [2]

Ashwagandha is an integral part of Ayurvedic medicine and prescribed by practitioners for the following uses:

• Reducing Vata Dosha
• Weakness/tiredness/severe fatigue
• Anxiety/stress
• Memory/cognition difficulties
• Inflammatory disorders
• Reduced immune system functioning/frequent infections
• Vitality and Aging
• Muscle rension, workout recovery and healthy body fat

Ashwagandha Rasayana is also thought to improve mood, work as an anti-aging antioxidant to reduce oxidative stress on the body and increase physical and sexual stamina.

Some of the purported benefits of this product have been demonstrated in research studies, but others have not. According to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, this supplement is rated Possibly Effective for improving symptoms of perceived stress.

However, NMCD states that there is insufficient reliable evidence to rate its efficacy for anxiety, infertility, cerebellar ataxia, chemotherapy-related fatigue, hypercholesterolemia, Parkinson’s disease, Osteoarthritis, bipolar disorder, ADHD or Antipsychotic-induced metabolic side effects.

When Ashwagandha Churna is used in India, the powder is mixed with fluids easily digestible, such as milk or warm water. A Rasayana tonic can be made by mixing it with sesame oil or Ghee (Indian butter), which is then eaten as a paste. [3]

One manufacturer describes this product by saying, “Ashwagandha Rasayana has a softening, soothing harmonizing effect which can help dispel rigidity in the body and help calm the nerves in Air-type persons. It may help invigorate the body by rejuvenating the lower chakra energies, just as a tree is invigorated by feeding the roots.” [12]

This supplement is purported to have a revitalizing yet soothing effect for supporting both mental and physical performance. According to the manufacturer “it may give your body an instant charge of long-lasting energy without the use of stimulants.” [12]

They provide an Ashwagandha rasayana which contains 38 other nutritive herbs, including Shilajit, Velvet Bean Sea, Shatavari Root, Haritaki Fruit, Arjuna bark, Licorice Root, Fo-Ti Leaf, Maca Root, Cinnamon bark, Turmeric Root, Ginger Root and more. [12]

According to the product directions, this jam can be eaten directly from the jar or dissolved into warm water and consumed on an empty stomach. They recommend taking this supplement “throughout life to maintain a balanced body, mind and spirit.” [12]

Active Chemical Constituents

Medicinal effects of Ashwagandha come from several phytochemicals found in the leaves and roots. Some of the active constituents found in this herb are structurally similar to ginsenosides from the Panax ginseng plant.

Steroidal lactones, saponins and the alkaloids isopelletierineand anaferine work together to act like cyclooxygenase inhibitors for reducing inflammation and pain while acylsterylglucosides and sitoindosides provide anti-stress and anxiety properties. [4].

Two of the best-studied groups of compounds from this plant are the withanolides and withaferins. Preliminary in vitro studies suggest that these compounds have cytotoxic effects in cancer cells.

Other phytochemicals and constituents comprising withania somnifera support immune system functioning to reduce the risk of recurring illness and improve overall health. [5]

According to NMCD, this herb exhibits analgesic, antioxidant, anxiolytic, immunologic, and sedative effects. It also appears to stimulate the synthesis and secretion of thyroid hormones, such as T4.

Uses and Benefits

Brain Health: Ashwagandha rasayana is purported to have benefits for memory, cognitive function and concentration.

Synaptic loss and neuronal atrophy are considered the primary clinical issues behind the severe cognitive impairment seen in patients suffering Huntington’s, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.

Preliminary animal research suggests Ashwagandha may delay or reverse the effects of certain neurodegenerative conditions due to rich amounts of sitoindosides VII-X and glycowithanolides withaferin-A contained in the roots of the plant. [6]

In research studies it has been found to promote ” the restoration of pre- and post-synapses in cortical neuron axons and dendrites, increased axonal density, or increased peripheral nervous system myelin.”

Withanolides from this plant may also act as cholinesterase inhibitors, which means that they block the enzyme that breaks down the acetylcholine neurotransmitter. This neurotransmitter is involved in memory consolidation, learning and retrieval.

However, research into the cognitive effects of ashwagandha is preliminary. This supplement has not been approved as a drug for the treatment of cognitive decline or any forms of memory impairment.

Stress and Anxiety: Ashwagandha Rasayana may induce anxiolytic effects similar to the effects of Lorazepam, a commonly prescribed anti-anxiety medication.

In animal studies, rats given Ashwagandha showed decreased anxiety during feeding and maze testing within unfamiliar environments.

In addition, both Lorazepam and Ashwagandha decreased tribulin levels in the brain. Tribulin is an endocoid marker indicating clinical anxiety. Ashwagandha appeared to significantly reduced tribulin in rat brains. [7]

In human research studies, a proprietary ashwagandha root extract supplement called KSM66 was found to improve symptoms of perceived stress by 44% when taken twice daily for 60 days.

The KSM66 supplement was also shown to reduce serum cortisol levels by 27.9%. Cortisol is referred to as the stress hormone; high levels of this hormone are indicative of elevated stress and anxiety.

Arthritic Pain and Inflammation: Ashwagandha rasayana’s anti-inflammatory phytochemicals exerts pain and inflammation-reducing properties similar to those of the steroid hydrocortisone.

One clinical trial found that subjects with rheumatoid arthritis taking three grams of Ashwagandha three times daily experienced a 75 percent reduction in RA symptoms.

Combined with a zinc complex, tumeric and frankincense, Ashwagandha reduced stiffness and pain of subjects with osteoarthritis compared to untreated subjects in a control group. [8]

Cardiovascular Health: Preliminary research seems to suggest Ashwagandha may be useful in supporting heart health and cardiovascular function. It may work by imparting protective, glucose-reducing, anti-inflammatory benefits.

The herb’s anxiolytic phytochemicals may also contribute to improving heart health by regulating stress levels and release of cortisol in the bloodstream. Some studies indicate that Ashwagandha may also have anti-hypertensive effects due to decreasing cholesterol and triglyceride levels. [9]

However, it has not been approved as a drug for the treatment of cardiovascular disease or any medical conditions related to heart health. More research is needed to determine therapeutic efficacy.

Ashwagandha Rasayana Side Effects

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, do not take Ashwagandha Rasayana products. Not enough research has been done to determine if this food product is safe for pregnant or lactating women.

Since Ashwagandha may reduce blood glucose levels, people with diabetes should talk to their doctor first about using this herb. It may interfere with the ability of diabetic medications to regulate blood sugar.

Due to its anti-hypertensive properties, Ashwagandha is likely to reduce blood pressure. In some cases, certain individuals could experience excessively low blood pressure if they are taking blood pressure medications for high blood pressure. Always talk with a physician before taking Ashwagandha to make sure it is safe to combine the herb with any kind of medication.

Ashwagandha Rasayana may irritate the GI tract. Do not use this product if you have been diagnosed with stomach ulcers or other gastrointestinal disorder causing inflammation of the GI tract.

Since Ashwagandha exerts anti-anxiety effects which slows down nervous system functioning, people should not take it before having surgery involving any type of anesthesia. [10]

Ashwagandha Rasayana Dosage

According to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, Ashwagandha has been used safely in clinical studied at dosages between 400 milligrams to one or two grams.

There are no standard dosage guidelines published by the FDA, so you should determine the right amount for you to take in consultation with your physician. Recommended doses can be affected by age, weight, health status and whether you are using other drugs or supplements.

In addition to the Ashwagandha Rasayana form of this tonic, it is also available as a powder (churna), liquid extract or capsule and found in many dietary supplement and health food stores.

Taking more Ashwagandha than recommended will not enhance its health benefits. In studies with mice, at dose of 1750 kg/mg was found to be toxic.

Another study indicated that mice given 100 mg of Ashwagandha daily led to decreases in the thymus, spleen and adrenal glands. However, no hematological or mortality changes occurred. [11]

This supplement has been rated Possibly Safe by NMCD, which means that there is clinical evidence showing that it is safe when used appropriately. It has been well-tolerated in studied of up to 12 weeks.

Potential side effects of Ashwagandha Rasayana can include stomach discomfort, diarrhea, skin itching, flatulence, nausea, and vomiting in rare cases. If you experience these side effects, stop taking this product and check with your doctor.

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