Ashwagandha, famous ayurvedic herb: How it helps to improve your health

Have your ever tried ayurvedic herb Ashwagandha? It tastes a little bitter and usually taken in powder form. It has been recommended in many problems associated with growing age. It affected bones health, heart blockages, and growth hormones.

I have taken it personally and have felt the effects both short term and long terms. When I take it it just after 5-10 minutes I feel rejuvenated. It feels like as if all pores my lungs have opened up and suddenly I feel more healthy internally. In long term it has been made me feel more healthy and helped me to stay lean. I don’t know if it has caused any  side effect on me , though I have been using it for last 5 years. Ayurvedic medicine are largely considered safe and without any major side effect. So as far as I am concerned , it has been a great aid to maintaining my health. I know Let us learn a little more about this ancient Indian herb.

Ashwagandha is an Indian ayurvedic medicine used for various purposes. Here is a compilations of some of its interesting usage.The name Ashwagandha is derived from the Sanskrit language and is a combination of the word “Ashva” meaning horse, and “Gandha”, meaning smell. The root has a strong aroma resembling horse like smell, hence the name.

Different names of Ashwagandha::

Ajagandha, Amangura, Amukkirag, Asan, Asana, Asgand, Asgandh, Asgandha, Ashagandha, Ashvagandha, Ashwaganda, Ashwanga, Asoda, Asundha, Asvagandha, Aswagandha, Avarada, Ayurvedic Ginseng, Cerise d’Hiver, Clustered Wintercherry, Ghoda Asoda, Ginseng Ayurvédique, Ginseng Indien, Hayahvaya, Indian Ginseng, Kanaje Hindi, Kuthmithi, Orovale, Peyette, Physalis somnifera, Samm Al Ferakh, Samm Al Rerakh, Sogade-Beru, Strychnos, Turangi-Ghanda, Vajigandha, Winter Cherry, Withania, Withania somnifera.

Benefits of Ashwagandha::

Ashwagandha is traditionally used for various condition like arthritis, anxiety, trouble in sleeping (insomnia), tumors, tuberculosis, asthma, leukoderma (white patches on skin), bronchitis, backache, fibromyalgia, menstrual problems, hiccups, and in treating chronic liver disease.

Ashwagandha is also used to help the body cope up with daily stress, and as used a general tonic as well and hence is said to be a an “adaptogen” .

Ashwagandha is an Adaptogen. It is supplemented primarily for its ability to prevent anxiety. Ashwagandha’s anti-anxiety effect is even synergistic with alcohol. It also shows promise for relieving insomnia and stress-induced depression. Ashwagandha can significantly reduce cortisol concentrations and the immunosuppressive effect of stress.

Beyond reducing stress levels, ashwagandha can improve physical performance in both sedentary people and athletes, as well as reduce Low-density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Ashwagandha can improve the formation of memories, and may be able to treat Alzheimer’s disease, though more human evidence is needed before supplementation can be recommended specifically for Alzheimer’s.

Ashwagandha is also said to be effective in improving thinking ability, alleviating pain and in reducing inflammation/swelling, and acts as an anti-ageing agent. It is also said to help in addressing fertility problems in men and women and also acts as an aphrodisiac.

Ashwagandha is applied topically to skin for treating wounds, backache, and hemiplegia (one sided paralysis).

Ashwagandha contains chemicals that helps calm the brain, reduce swelling, lower blood pressure, and invigorates the immune system

Ashwagandha is traditionally recommended for cancer patients. It is important to note that there is no human evidence for ashwagandha’s ability to treat cancer. It is, however, a great supplement to reduce immunosuppression. It can also ease the pain of chemotherapy treatment by greatly reducing stress and fatigue. Ashwagandha should not be used for cancer treatment, but it makes a great adjuvant therapy, meaning it can and should be taken alongside other treatments.

Ashwagandha Aids Bone Healing::

It has been found that Withaferin A (one of the key constituents of Ashwagandha) is a proteasomal inhibitor that promotes healing after injury and exerts anabolic effect on osteoporotic bone.

Treatment with Ashwagandha ::

Increased osteoprogenitor cells in the bone marrow and increased expression of osteogenic genes.
Improved trabecular micro-architecture of the long bones
Increased biomechanical strength parameters of the vertebra and femur
Decreased bone turnover markers (osteocalcin and TNFα)
Expression of skeletal osteoclastogenic genes
Increased new bone formation and expression of osteogenic genes in the femur bone
Promoted the process of cortical bone regeneration at drill-holes site in the femur bone
Bridged cortical gaps with woven bone

The above findings are in line with what a clinical study, published in 2010 from India’s University of Poona, found:
Researchers gave a combination of Ashwagandha and two other Ayurvedic herbs (Boswellia serrata and Curcuma longa), or a placebo, to 42 patients with osteoarthritis.
After three months of treatment, the herbal treatment group had significantly less pain and better mobility than the placebo group.

Ashwagandha for height gain::

According to medical science or in pathological terms, the Human growth hormone (HGH) is responsible to grow taller and make body fit and balancing. Throughout our life, we constantly generate human growth hormone, HGH is related to pituitary gland that responsible for stimulate the growth of our body. Ashwagandha Maintain proper chemical balance and cell rejuvenation of our body, and generate more human growth hormone.

How to prepare mixture for height growth:

Ashwagandha Root, Sugar, and Milk to Increase Height

Take some fresh and clean Ashwagandha root and make a fine powder by grinding them. Filter this powder and add equal amount of powdered sugar. Now mix well this mixture and store in a glass vessel or jar.

Take 6 grams or 2 tablespoon of this mixture with one glass (200-300 ml) of milk (Cow’s milk is beneficial for this remedy) regularly before sleep at night. Consumed every night for a period of 2 months in order to be effective or to increase height.

Are there safety concerns?

Ashwagandha is presumably safe when taken by mouth for short-term. The long-term safety of Ashwagandha is not ascertained. Large doses of ashwagandha might cause stomach upset, diarrhea, and vomiting.

It’s not known whether it’s safe to apply ashwagandha directly to the skin.

Special Precautions & Warnings::

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Do not use ashwagandha if you are pregnant. It is rated LIKELY UNSAFE during pregnancy. There is some evidence that ashwagandha might cause miscarriages. Not enough is known about the use of ashwagandha during breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs): Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider. Ashwagandha might decrease blood sugar levels. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking ashwagandha along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.

High or low blood pressure: Ashwagandha might decrease blood pressure. This could cause blood pressure to go to low in people with low blood pressure; or interfere with medications used to treat high blood pressure. Ashwagandha should be used cautiously if you have low blood pressure or take medications for your blood pressure.

Stomach ulcers: Ashwagandha can irritate the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Don’t use ashwagandha if you have a stomach ulcer.

“Auto-immune diseases” such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions: Ashwagandha might cause the immune system to become more active, and this could increase the symptoms of auto-immune diseases. If you have one of these conditions, it’s best to avoid using ashwagandha.

Surgery: Ashwagandha may slow down the central nervous system. Healthcare providers worry that anesthesia and other medications during and after surgery might increase this effect. Stop taking ashwagandha at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Thyroid disorders: Ashwagandha might increase thyroid hormone levels. Ashwagandha should be used cautiously or avoided if you have a thyroid condition or take thyroid hormone medications.

Ashwagandha Store (For India)::

Tablet:

Powder:

————————–