The name Ashwagandha is a Sanskrit word meaning “Scent of the Horse.” Traditional doctors and herbalists have widely used it in India, China, and Africa for its tonic and rejuvenating qualities. For these reasons, some refer to ashwagandha as winter cherry or Indian ginseng.

Ashwagandha is one of the most essential herbs in Ayurvedic medicine. Ayurveda, also known as “The Science of Life,” is one of the world’s oldest medical modalities. It is practiced in India and around the globe. In Ayurveda, ashwagandha is believed to help maintain youth, both physically and mentally.

People take ashwagandha supplements for a variety of conditions, including:

• Stress and anxiety
• Fatigue
• Pain
• Arthritis
• Diabetes
• Epilepsy
• Skin Conditions
• Mild Depression

Ashwagandha has long been valued for its adaptogenic properties. Adaptogens help the body manage stress levels more effectively. Those suffering from chronic stress are more likely to develop various health issues, which may include hormonal imbalances and a weakening of the body’s immune system.

Ashwagandha can help regulate cortisol levels, which can directly affect stress-related hormonal imbalances. A study conducted at the University of Texas at El Paso in 2007 found that ashwagandha has a direct effect on the number of nerve cells that fire within the brain to create an anti-anxiety and mood-enhancing effect in study participants.

It also assists in regulating cortisol levels, which can directly affect stress-related hormonal imbalances. A study conducted at the University of Texas at El Paso in 2007 found that ashwagandha has a direct effect on the number of nerve cells that fire within the brain to create an anti-anxiety and mood-enhancing effect in study participants.

In terms of good cognitive health, ashwagandha has shown great potential for protecting against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress in the brain.

A study conducted in 2000 by the Institute of Medical Sciences at Banaras Hindu University in India also noted the antidepressant and anti-anxiety actions of ashwagandha in study participants and found the results promising.

Inspired by the 2000 study, in 2019, researchers in Mumbai and Australia, in two separate studies, found that ashwagandha also showed considerable promise in slowing neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.

One of the most essential benefits of ashwagandha seems to be its ability to help strengthen the body’s immune system. Over the past several decades, scientists found ashwagandha possesses immunomodulatory properties, which help to regulate the immune response.

It does this by stimulating the production of immune cells, such as lymphocytes and macrophages. The herb appears to increase their effectiveness in combating illness and reducing the risk of infection and by promoting shorter recovery times.

An Indian and Romanian research team of scientists was encouraged not only by ashwagandha’s distinct anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune-boosting properties but also its potential to treat some forms of cancer.

According to an article submitted to the National Institute of Health’s National Library of Medicine in 2011, scientists at the International Institute of Herbal Medicine in Lucknow, India, along with a research fellow from the University of Medicine and Pharmaceutics in Bucharest, Romania, found that some properties within ashwagandha could inhibit further growth in certain types of cancer cells in patients with uterine and lung cancer. The researchers observed that patients taking ashwagandha showed a significant improvement in the white cell counts in their blood. This herb also showed some efficacy in diminishing fibroid tumors.