Ashwagandha: Health Benefits, Side Effects, and How to Use
The Complete Guide to Using Ashwagandha
-
How to use Ashwagandha
-
Benefits of Ashwagandha
-
Side effects
-
Take Away
-
Frequently Asked Questions
-
References
For thousands of years, Ashwagandha Plants were one of the staples of traditional Indian medicine. It is a herb which has been used by people for generations. Among the most important plants used in Ayurvedic medicine. It is commonly referred to as ‘Indian ginseng’ or ‘Indian winter cherry.
Ashwagandha was first introduced as a medicine that can treat any medical condition. Its roots had all the power which was used as a powder in traditional Indian medicine.
It was named Ashwagandha because 'ash' means horse and this herb provides horse-like strength. Back then when no other medicine was introduced people used to rely on these types of natural herbs only. Ashwagandha was a very powerful herb as its small dose can provide a lot of strength and virility. Various parts of this plant are used for different purposes but the roots are used the most.
As this is a very powerful plant so it has some prescribed uses. Not everyone can consume it. Let’s see ashwagandha ke fayde and how we can use Ashwagandha tabs as medicine.
How to use Ashwagandha
There is a lot of active ingredient in Ashwagandha which does several things for our body some are stimulating, and some are more sedating and relaxing. Ashwagandha has a relatively short half-life of 2-4 hours which means that after 12 hours 95% of the active ingredient is excreted from our body. Not then how to use it?
1) Ashwagandha Tabs-
You can take ashwagandha tabs of 300-500mg with your meals. Taking a dose higher than this may not be a good option as it is really strong medicine but lower doses like 50-100 mg have been proven to reduce some tension or pressure. The dosage depends on the condition the patient wants to treat.
2) Ashwagandha Powder-
The herb generally comes in the form of a tab, powder, and liquid extract. All three states have a different amount of ashwagandha in them so before taking any dosage refer to a doctor as taking high doses can cause side effects and can also be fatal.
Benefits of Ashwagandha
- Most of the time ashwagandha is used for treating tension and pressure. It is classified as an adaptogen and a small dose of it can relieve some tension.
- It reduced insomnia, fatigue, and depression as it has a strengthening structure.
- In some cases, it has also been proven to reduce cholesterol and blood pressure levels if taken in the correct dosage. People suffering from diabetes took the supplement for 30 days and were recorded to have lower sugar levels.
- As its name suggests ‘strength of a horse’ has been used to increase energy levels and improve anaemia. It has also improved concentration levels in some people.
- It may have anticancer properties. It has not been proven but a compound in ashwagandha induces apoptosis which is the programmed death of cancer cells. This process also inhibits the development of new cancer cells.
- It increases muscle mass as it increases strength and power output. One of the studies reveals that taking ashwagandha supplements is related to significant improvements in muscle mass and strength, and they suggest that doing so in combination with a resistance training programme might be beneficial.
- It also treats some skin conditions like rashes on some parts of the body and hyperpigmentation too.
- Ashwagandha is an overall pain reliever. It prevents pain signals from travelling along with the nervous system. It has been proven effective in treating arthritis in some people.
- Just because it lowers blood sugar levels and improves cholesterol levels it has been proven effective to boost our heart health.
- In ancient times, people used to take ashwagandha as an anti-ageing herb. It has also been proven to improve sleep quality and mental alertness if taken in small dosages.
- Ashwagandha has an adaptogen which relieves tension and eases pressure which also prevents hair loss. It has worked for a lot of people suffering from hair loss and other hair problems.
- Some athletes and other players take this as a supplement before their tournaments to improve efficiency in the game.
- It has also been proven to improve brain function in people which are being treated for bipolar disorder.
- It has also been proven to improve the performance of men in bed. It has helped to improve erectile problems in men.
- It increases testo and s-perm quality.
- It also reduces cortisol levels which is beneficial in many ways.
Ashwagandha for Hair
Ashwagandha when applied in the form of a paste on the scalp can prevent hair loss and promote hair growth. A lot of men who suffer from alopecia areata take supplements of ashwagandha because they have been proven to induce hair growth and improve hair follicle health. It reduces inflammation in hair roots. It also decreases scalp irritation and can help with dandruff and psoriasis.
Can you take ashwagandha daily?
You should have a prescription before taking this medicine. Research has been done but we still lack a lot of long-term information on this medicine.
If you are dealing with a small issue like tension or pressure then take the medicine in small doses and for bigger issues consult your doctor or specialist first. Children are not allowed to take this medicine and the same for women going through pregnancy. People with autoimmune diseases should also avoid it unless they are recommended by a doctor.
Side effects
1) It is safe if taken for a short period because long-term effects are still not proven.
2) It can cause stomach problems in some people if they are taking large doses.
3) Diarrhea and vomiting are other common side effects.
Take Away
As we mentioned above, Ashwagandha is the king of Ayurvedic herbs. Ashwagandha tabs function admirably for diminishing pressure and uneasiness. It might also improve strength, and performance, and increment testo levels. Ashwagandha tabs can also function well as testo boosters for men. You can take one Ashwagandha tab in the morning, which will ensure that you have an energy-filled day. You can take another Ashwagandha tab with a glass of milk at night, just before going to bed.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does ashwagandha work immediately?
Unlike a lot of other supplements and medicines, ashwagandha doesn't work right away. It can take from a few days to a few weeks before you start to feel better.
2. Who shouldn't take ashwagandha?
Those who are pregnant or nursing, as well as those with medical issues such as diabetes, high or low blood pressure, stomach ulcers, autoimmune illness, or thyroid abnormalities, should avoid taking ashwagandha.
3. Will ashwagandha make you sleepy?
No, it does not cause sleepiness but helps in improving sleep quality.
References:
- Ashwagandha - Uses, Side Effects, and More - WebMD
- Sachin Wankhede, Deepak Langade, Kedar Joshi, Shymal R. Sinha, and Sauvik Bhattacharyya, Nov 2015
- Kae Ling Cheah, Mohd Noor Norhayati, Lili Husniati Yaacob, Razlina Abdul Rahman, Sep 2021