Learn How Ashwagandha Can Improve Your Mood, Stress, And Cognitive Function
The Indian ginseng or the Indian winter cherry, commonly known as ashwagandha, is an ancient ayurvedic herb used for thousands of years for its numerous therapeutic properties. Due to its powerful rejuvenation attributes, ashwagandha is considered a miracle herb.
Known for its physical and mental health benefits, Ashwagandha is a suitable medicine for the old, young, and kids. The herb extracts from the roots, leaves, and fruits of ashwagandha are used for medicinal purposes in different forms such as powder, tablet, and syrups. It has a rich composition of phytochemicals that contribute to its therapeutic properties. Some of the main phytochemicals present in ashwagandha include witanolides, alkaloids, flavonoids, and steroidal saponins.
This herb has strong anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. Since inflammation is an underlying cause of many health problems, ashwagandha has a defensive action against several health issues. It is known to be beneficial in alleviating symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, pain, exhaustion, diabetes, arthritis, and neurodegenerative disorders (such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease). In this article, we will discuss the mental health benefits of ashwagandha. Read on.
How Ashwagandha Helps to Release Stress and Elevate Mood?
Stress is the body’s biological response to internal or external stressor. A stressor is anything that causes a state of tension or pressure. The response elicited from stress is called stress response and depends upon factors such as type of stress, its intensity, frequency, and duration. Stress not only aggravates the symptoms of many diseases, but in fact, it can also be their root cause.
Ashwagandha is an adaptogen - a substance that reduces stress and anxiety by restoring the body’s natural chemical balance, especially when you are burdened. Its anxiolytic effect helps you to cope in rough situations.
When you encounter a physical or mental stressor, your body moves through a 3-stage response, known as general adaptation syndrome (GAS). These 3 stages include alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. Ashwagandha has a stimulating effect that helps you to stay in the resistance phase for a longer time. It gives you the physical and mental energy to carry on and prevents or delays exhaustion.
This anxiolytic property of ashwagandha has been backed by several clinical trials. Several studies have shown that people who took ashwagandha reported positive effects on anxiety, stress, depression, and lower stress-related food cravings when compared to the placebo group. The former also had lower cortisol levels.
Additionally, ashwagandha is also proven to improve sleep quality, energy levels, and overall mental function. Its effects on anxiety and depression are comparable to drugs lorazepam and imipramine, respectively. In clinical conditions of anxiety and depression, ashwagandha can suitably be used as a mood stabilizer.
Impact of Ashwagandha on Cognitive Function
In Ayurveda, ashwagandha is considered a medhyarasayana. Medhya refers to the intellect or cognitive power. Being a medharasayana, ashwagandha stimulates cognitive function and promotes memory.
Studies have demonstrated that ashwagandha can significantly improve memory, focus and information-processing speed. It also retards cognitive decline due to aging and slows, reverses or stops neuritic atrophy (degeneration and shrinkage of nerve cells).
Ashwagandha exhibits strong antioxidant and neuroprotective properties. Clinical studies have shown that the bioactive compounds in ashwagandha scavenge the free radicals produced during the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s.
Ashwagandha slows down, halts, reverses or eliminates degeneration and shrinkage of nerve cells and synaptic loss. Thus, it is protective against these neurodegenerative diseases. It can be used as a treatment during any stage of these diseases. It is proven that if the disease has not yet been clinically diagnosed and the person is experiencing mild amnesia and other symptoms then the use of ashwagandha can significantly stop or even reverse cognitive decline.
Conclusion
Ashwagandha is an excellent natural remedy for present-day common problems such as anxiety, stress, depression, and insomnia. It is also an effective and safe treatment option for neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Side effects from ashwagandha are rare. However the dose and duration of ashwagandha treatment matters. Usually, it is advised to be taken for not more than three months.
For more information about ashwagandha and how to use it to get the maximum benefits of this wonder herb, Ask an Ayurveda Specialist online at Ask a Doctor 24x7.
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Disclaimer: Information provided on this page is not intended to substitute for proper medical advice provided by your healthcare professional. This is only for informational purposes.
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