Top 10 Health Benefits Of Ashwagandha: Uses, And Side Effects

Ashwagandha is a herb known to be part of Ayurveda for natural healing over 6000 years now help keeps you calm, and has many other benefits.

Shruti Jain

06 Apr, 2023

12 min read

Top 10 Health Benefits Of Ashwagandha: Uses, And Side Effects

Ashwagandha has been known to be part of Ayurveda for over 6000 years now. It is a respected herb and was treated as a Rasayana or tonic in the Ayurvedic system of medicine.

You may have heard stories from your grandmothers about how Ashwagandha was used in the earlier days to calm newborn babies or people who would have sleeping problems.

Ashwagandha had known to have many beautiful properties that can help you in multiple ways.

In this article, let’s look at some of the benefits of using Ashwagandha in our daily lives.

What Is Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha, or the Indian Winter Cherry, is a part of plants known as an adaptogen. These plants are known for their numerous health benefits when consumed in tea, supplements, powders, or raw forms.

In India, it is also referred to as Indian Ginseng and is an herbal shrub whose berries and roots are used because of its medicinal properties.

Ashwagandha has been in the Indian culture, especially Ayurveda, for a very long time for natural healing.

In Sanskrit, Ashwagandha means, “smell of the horse,” It refers to the herb’s scent and fragrance and ability to increase strength.

Ashwagandha plant is a small shrub that grows yellow flowers and is native to India and some other Southeastern Asian countries.

These plants grow in sub-tropical regions such as Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh is the primary producing state of India and has cultivated more than 5000 hectares of the area alone.

Benefits Of Ashwagandha

This ancient Indian herb that has been used for centuries now is said to have many magical health benefits. Here are some of the well-known benefits of using ashwagandha in some or other forms:

#1 Ashwagandha Helps Calm Down

Ashwagandha plant has properties that may help reduce stress and thus make people feel more relaxed and calm. The plant reduces the activity in the human body, which leads to producing stress-related elements.

You get ashwagandha capsules in the market that can be taken to relax your body.

#2 Ashwagandha Increases Strength

The herbal plant has properties that can increase muscle strength and mass. Consumption of ashwagandha also increases stamina, which may help you live a healthy &happy life. ⁽¹⁾.

People who consumed ashwagandha experience significant muscle strength, especially in their arms and chest.

#3 Ashwagandha Sharpens Focus And Memory

Ashwagandha ⁽²⁾ might improve the focus and the ability to perform. It is also helpful in retaining attention, so if you feel tired or want to focus on something important, try using it and see its results for yourself.

You can even use Ashwagandha for your kids especially when they feel it is difficult for them to concentrate and focus on important things during studies.

#4 Ashwagandha Improves Sleep

Many people find it difficult to sleep, and there could be numerous reasons for it. Some may find it hard to sleep after a long day, while others may have a lot going on that may be unavoidable.

Whatever the reason, sleep is very important for your well-being, and ashwagandha has proven effective ⁽³⁾in offering you a good night’s sleep.

The roots of the plant have some excellent properties that help in calming and relaxing the human body, which in turn helps them sleep comfortably.

You can use ashwagandha as powder and mix it in your tea. Drink tea before bed; it will make you forget all the day’s tiredness and help you sleep peacefully.

#6 Ashwagandha Boosts Energy Level

You have read above that ashwagandha helps improve our muscle strength, so if you have strength, you will have additional energy to do your work.

After all, strength and energy are interrelated to each other. It may even help in reducing fatigue that restricts people from doing work.

Since ashwagandha helps improve your sleep pattern, it will indirectly increase your energy levels. If you sleep properly, you will wake up fresh and can do all your work more efficiently.

#7 Ashwagandha Reduces Pain

Ashwagandha has been said to have some components that are effective for treating pain and inflammation in the body. It is believed that these properties help control the inflammation in your body and thus reduce pain, especially muscle pain, and soreness.

Ashwagandha has always been believed to have a lot of medicinal properties and now more and more people are recognizing its benefits.

It has always been known for its anti-inflammatory properties that trigger the production of immune cells that protects the body.

#8 Ashwagandha Enhances Immunity

In our grandmother’s era, nobody used to be dependent on medicines for cold and cough situations. They used to have plenty of herbs growing in their garden or near their house, suitable for solving such problems.

Ashwagandha has properties that can significantly enhance your immunity and help you fight colds and coughs naturally.

You may have also seen multiple advertisements where natural products are promoted, and ashwagandha is highlighted. It is because ashwagandha works as a natural medicine and helps your body fight infections naturally.

You can ask your nani/dadi, and they will happily tell you the lovely advantages of eating ashwagandha.

#9 Aids in Weight Loss

If you are looking for natural ways of losing weight, you should definitely check ashwagandha. Ashwagandha may help you lose weight and body fat in case you are overweight.

If you recall, ashwagandha was one of the elements of the famous chawanprash that was quite popular during the 90s. My mother used to give a teaspoon or more to my siblings and me with milk as an excellent substitute for rotis for breakfast.

It used to make me full for a long. So, ashwagandha has properties that may reduce your cravings and appetite, making you not want to eat. Thus, helping you in lowering your weight.

#10 Ashwagandha Helps Detoxifying

Ashwagandha is believed to have properties that help your body detoxify. Such properties enable the body to function, increasing the activities of detoxifying enzymes. It eventually helps free your body of any toxic (harmful) substances.

#11 Ashwagandha Improves Athletic Performance

It may be evident ⁽⁵⁾ that ashwagandha promotes increased muscle strength and remove fatigue from the body. Moreover, if used in moderate quantities it may even help in improving your athletic performance in a long run.

If you are into sports or bodybuilding, check for ashwagandha supplements that may help you increase your performance. However, please consult the dietician or the doctor before consuming any supplements.

Risk And Side Effects Of Using Ashwagandha

Although ashwagandha is an herbal plant and is non-toxic in nature, it is still recommended to check for the below things before adding it to your diet.

Also, discussing it with your dietician or family doctor before introducing any new ingredient in your lifestyle to check for any possible allergies is recommended.

After all, it is better to be safe than be sorry. For your understanding, here are a few risk factors or precautions you should take before starting with ashwagandha.

1. Refrain From Taking If On Any Other Medicine

There could be a possibility that your existing medicines, when mixed with ashwagandha, may not show the good results that they should.

Since not all ingredients you consume are compatible with all the medicines that doctors may offer you. That is why doctors always check your diet and eating habits.

Therefore, if you wish to start using ashwagandha, don’t forget to keep your doctor in the loop. Check with them and then enjoy the great benefits of ashwagandha on your body.

2. Avoid If You Have Any Premedical Condition

It is believed that people undergoing any surgery, or if they are pregnant or breastfeeding a newborn, should avoid using ashwagandha in their diet.

Also, if you are amongst those who may have grass allergies, you should stay away from consuming ashwagandha or its products as it may cause an adverse reaction to the body.

Additionally, if you have used ashwagandha and have felt nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting, you should immediately contact your doctor. This situation usually happens when using it in more than the required quantities.

How Can You Consume Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha has no specific limit that is suitable for an individual. It may depend on person to person and why they want to include it in their diet.

Ashwagandha comes in the form of capsules, powder, and liquid extract, and you can use it as per your requirement and need.

Furthermore, you can add ashwagandha powder to your tea, coffee, shakes, and smoothies to help you with immunity and relax your body. If you don’t like these beverages, add some ashwagandha powder to a glass of milk and drink it before sleeping.

The only thing to remember with it is not to expose it to heat; instead, mix it right at the end and drink it. You will notice that your gut is healthy and your tummy is happy!

What Does Ashwagandha Do To Your Body?

Ashwagandha has a lot of miraculous benefits ⁽⁶⁾ as an herb plant that can assist you in developing a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.

Ashwagandha is also very effective in managing stress and reducing anxiety levels in an individual. Plus, ashwagandha has been in Indian culture for a long time, and initially, people began using it as a medicine. It is now that science has started to show interest in knowing and understanding the fantastic benefit of this beautiful Indian herb.

The list of ashwagandha benefits is very long, and the positives it does to your body are also many. Ashwagandha is one herb that you can consider for healthy well-being.

What Happen If You Take Ashwagandha Daily?

There is no harm in taking ashwagandha on a daily basis, but you should get yourself consulted for any allergies.

Taking ashwagandha daily may result in a better sleep pattern and immune system, your body may be able to fight infections naturally, and weight loss. You may also feel a significant change in your energy levels.

You may not see the results in one day; you may have to give it a couple of days before you can figure out some significant changes in your body.

To Wrap It Up…..

Ashwagandha has always been considered an effective medicine for treating a lot of diseases. In ancient times, when people had no doctors and used to rely on Ayurveda, herbs such as ashwagandha used to come to their rescue.

Over the years, science has done much research to figure out its benefits, and indeed there are many that can help in improving our health and lifestyle patterns.

It is so important to know about any new herb before beginning to start using it. Interestingly, Ashwagandha is more than just a skin and hair enhancer. It has properties that can leave your body feeling rejuvenated. But remember, do not use anything in excess.

FAQs

1. What are the common benefits of using ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha, as an herb, has many medicinal and other properties that can help you in multiple ways. With the help of it, you may help regulate your sleep patterns, reduce stress and help you feel more relaxed. Ashwagandha can also help you significantly in your weight loss journey.

2. Are there any side effects of ashwagandha?

Although it is a natural and non-toxic herb, people with grass or other allergies may find using it in their daily diet challenging. Moreover, you may also feel nausea or vomiting if taken in excess quantities.

3. When was ashwagandha first used?

Ashwagandha was first used in ancient Indian culture some 6000 years back during the Ayurvedic medicine days. During those days, hers were used to treating a lot of diseases.

4. Does Ashwagandha make you sleepy?

Ashwagandha has specific properties that let your body feel more relaxed and calm. It’s roots have specific components that can help give you great sleep. If you have trouble sleeping, try using it in your diet and see if it makes a difference.

5. Is ashwagandha good for older people?

Ashwagandha is a very safe plant, and there is no restriction on the age of the person who is willing to use it. People of all ages can use it according to their requirements.

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Healthy Eating