OVERVIEW
Ashwagandha is a shrub that grows in specific areas of the world, including the Middle East, Africa, and India. The plant has been used for centuries to address all sorts of medical conditions.
Additionally, ashwagandha is a known element in the Ayurvedic medicine system, which is a practice that has existed for over 3,000 years.
In this article, we will cover some of the benefits ashwagandha has to offer, as well as the appropriate dosage of supplementation.
The benefits of Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha showed fantastic results in controlling blood sugar levels.
In a 2015 laboratory study, scientists concluded that this herb promotes the secretion of insulin and increases cellular sensitivity to its action. Interestingly, relative insulin deficiency and cellular resistance to its action are the hallmarks of type II diabetes.
Aside from diabetic patients, scientists conductedstudies on healthy individuals and found similar results.
Ashwagandha has impressive anxiolytic (i.e., anxiety-reducing) properties. In fact, some experts compared its effect to a sedative drug known as lorazepam.
According toone study published in the Journal of Phytomedicine, ashwagandha has similar anxiolytic effects to lorazepam and other sedative drugs (e.g., benzodiazepines).
Withaferin is an active compound in ashwagandha that induces the apoptosis (i.e., programmed cellular death) of cancer cells.
Studies found that ashwagandha may fight cancer in a variety of ways, including:
Note that researchers are still conducting clinical studies to dissect the effects of ashwagandha on cancer cells. Meanwhile, speak with your primary care physician or oncologist before taking any supplements, especially when you are receiving chemotherapy.
Ashwagandha inhibits the transfer of pain signals from the periphery to the brain, which relieves sensations of pain.
Moreover, this herb has anti-inflammatory properties that lower the concentrations of pain-stimulating compounds, such as prostaglandin E.
The collected action of ashwagandha makes it ideal for chronic inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
One study inspected this effect and found that ashwagandha relieves pain and dampens inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Byaddressing cardiovascular risk factors, ashwagandha could potentially lower your risk of strokes and heart attacks.
The main factors targeted by ashwagandha include:
The appropriate dosage of Ashwagandha
The exact dosage of ashwagandha varies in various sources of literature. However, most experts agree that the dosage depends on your goals.
As a general rule of thumb, taking 250–500 mg of ashwagandha per day seems to yield positive results.
Takeaway message
Ashwagandha is a natural herb that carries some great health benefits, including the ones we covered above.
We hope that this article managed to shed some light on the potential health benefits of taking ashwagandha supplements.
Of course, if you have questions or concerns about this compound, please ask us by email at info@energyii.com.