Ashwagandha - How Well Do You Know This Herb?

Call us at +91 9713171999

Write to us at support@amrutam.co.in

Join our WhatsApp Channel

Ingredient: Ashwagandha

Scientific Name: Withania somnifera 

Common Name: Indian Winter cherry, sometimes called Indian ginseng.

Family: Solanaceae

Parts Used: Root

Description:

Ashwagandha literally means ‘Ashwa-horse’ and ‘Gandha-smell’ in Sanskrit. It confers the strength and virility of a horse. It is a widely acclaimed Ayurvedic drug for people of all ages, that provides all sorts of other benefits for your body and brain. The plant is a short, tender, perennial shrub and a member of the nightshade family of plants.

Nutrient Profile

Ashwagandha is classified as an adaptogen and is a tonic. The root and leaf contain the highest number of steroidal compounds that includes the lactones WithaferinA, and carbon-27-glycowithanolides, collectively known as Withanolides. It also consists of alkaloids [tropine, pseudotropine, isopelletrine, anaferine] and saponins. The root is an important herb in Ayurvedic medicine, used for around 3000 years.

Ayurvedic perspective:

Ashwagandha is a prominent herb and widely used in Ayurvedic medicine. Ayurveda recognizes the herb particularly for its building, strengthening and nourishing nature. It balances Vata and Kapha in excess. Due to Ashwagandha’s heating, unctuous, building nature; it can imbalance Pitta and worsen ama too. It is also referred to as ‘balya’ in Ayurveda meaning giving strength. It’s known to improve energy, increase stamina and endurance.

Health Benefits:

Ashwagandha has lots of uses as the adaptogenic herb helps to promote balance in key systems of the body that includes the endocrine, reproductive, immune systems and overall energy metabolism. It’s known to enhance thyroid functions. Ashwagandha is especially useful in fighting fatigue associated with stress. It is also applied to the skin for treating wounds.

We at Amrutam made use of such a powerful therapeutic herb to create some Ayurvedic formulations B.feral Gold Malt and Brainkey Gold Malt

  1. It reduces blood sugar levels through its effects on insulin secretion and sensitivity. It is also known to reduce fat and sugar levels in the blood.
  2. It has anti-cancer properties. Ashwagandha helps reduce apoptosis and also impedes the growth of new cancer cells; thereby it helps in treating several types of cancers – breast, lung, colon, brain & ovarian cancer.
  3. It is a stress-busting herbal adaptogen that help lowers the stress hormone ‘Cortisol’ levels.
  4. It is used in tranquillizers and anti-depressant drugs as it helps overcome depression and relieve physical and mental stress.
  5. It’s an aphrodisiac and supports sexual health. It helps increase testosterone levels and significantly boosts sperm quality & fertility in men. Ashwagandha has positive effects on your libido, sexual performance and fertility. It is also known to improve semen quality in infertile men.  
  6. It can improve body composition, increase muscle mass, reduce body fat and increase strength in men.
  7. It may help decrease inflammation. It has anti-inflammatory properties that relieve joint inflammation and inhibits inflammatory enzymes, which makes it useful in managing inflammatory diseases.
  8. It lowers cholesterol and triglycerides, thereby improves heart health. Studies suggest it helps in reducing fasting blood sugar, LDL, very-LDL, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides.
  9. It also improves brain function, memory, reaction times and the ability to perform tasks. The withanamides in the herb exerts neuroprotective effects. These active constituents can cross the blood-brain barrier, hence being studied for stress-induced neurological disorders.
  10. It improves thyroid functions. The herb helps to support normal energy metabolism and thyroid health. It increases T4 (Thyroxine) in serum that supports thyroid functions, thereby promoting mood and immune functions.

 

 References:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/withania-somnifera

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3252722/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3336880/

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242151370_A_Standardized_Withania_Somnifera_Extract_Significantly_Reduces_Stress-Related_Parameters_in_Chronically_Stressed_Humans_A_Double-Blind_Randomized_Placebo-Controlled_Study

RELATED ARTICLES

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published

Talk to an Ayurvedic Expert!

Imbalances are unique to each person and require customised treatment plans to curb the issue from the root cause fully. Book your consultation - download our app now!

Amrutam Face Clean Up Reviews

Currently on my second bottle and happy with how this product has kept acne & breakouts in check. It doesn't leave the skin too dry and also doubles as a face mask.

Juhi Bhatt

Amrutam face clean up works great on any skin type, it has helped me keep my skin inflammation in check, helps with acne and clear the open pores. Continuous usage has helped lighten the pigmentation and scars as well. I have recommended the face clean up to many people and they have all loved it!!

Sakshi Dobhal

This really changed the game of how to maintain skin soft supple and glowing! I’m using it since few weeks and see hell lot of difference in the skin I had before and now. I don’t need any makeup or foundation to cover my skin imperfections since now they are slowly fading away after I started using this! I would say this product doesn’t need any kind of review because it’s above par than expected. It’s a blind buy honestly . I’m looking forward to buy more products and repeat this regularly henceforth.

Shruthu Nayak

Learn all about Ayurvedic Lifestyle