Ashwagandha: Health Benefits, Side Effects, and How to Use

For thousands of years Ashwagandha plants have been a staple of traditional Indian medicine. It is an herb that has been used by people for generations. Among the most important plants used in Ayurvedic medicine. It is commonly called “Indian ginseng” or “Indian winter cherry”.

Ashwagandha was first introduced as a medicine that could treat any medical condition. Its roots had all the power which was used in powder form in traditional Indian medicine.

It was named Ashwagandha because ‘ash’ means horse and this grass gives strength to a horse. Back when no other medicines were introduced, people relied only on these types of natural herbs. Ashwagandha was a very potent herb as its small dose can bring a lot of strength and virility. Various parts of this plant are used for different purposes, but the roots are used the most.

As it is a very potent herb, so it has prescribed uses. Not everyone can eat it. let’s see ashwagandha ke fayde and how we can use Ashwagandha tablets as medicine.

How to use Ashwagandha

There are many active ingredients in Ashwagandha that do 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. No so how to use it?

1) Ashwagandha tabs-

You can take ashwagandha tabs 300 to 500 mg with your meals. Taking a higher dose than this may not be a good option as it is a very potent drug, but lower doses such as 50-100mg have been proven to reduce some tension or pressures. The dosage depends on the condition the patient wishes to treat.

2) Ashwagandha powder-

The herb usually comes in the form of a tab, a powder, and a liquid extract. The three states contain a different amount of ashwagandha, so before taking a dose consult 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 to treat tension and pressure. It is classified as a adaptogen and a small dose can relieve some tension.
It reduced insomnia, fatigue and depression because it has a reinforcing structure.
In some cases, it has also been shown to reduce cholesterol levels and blood pressure if taken in the right dose. People with diabetes took the supplement for 30 days and were recorded to have lower sugar levels.
As the name suggests, the “strength of a horse” has been used to increase energy levels and improve anemia. It also improved concentration levels in some people.
It may have anticancer properties. This 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 linked to significant improvements in muscle mass and strength, and they suggest that doing so in combination with a resistance training program could be beneficial.
It also treats certain skin conditions such as rashes on certain parts of the body and hyperpigmentation.
Ashwagandha is an overall pain reliever. It prevents pain signals from traveling with the nervous system. It has been shown to be effective in treating arthritis in some people.
Simply because it lowers blood sugar levels and improves cholesterol levels, it has been shown to be effective in improving our heart health.
In ancient times, people took ashwagandha as an anti-aging herb. He was also proven to improve sleep quality and mental alertness if taken in small doses.
Ashwagandha has an adaptogen that relieves tension and eases pressure, which also prevents hair loss. It has worked for many people with hair loss and other hair issues.
Some athletes and other players take it as a supplement before their tournaments to improve their efficiency in the game.
It has also been shown to improve brain function in people being treated for bipolar disorder.
It has also been proven to improve men’s performance in bed. It has helped 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 as a paste to the scalp can prevent hair loss and promote hair growth. Many men who suffer from alopecia areata take ashwagandha supplements as they have been shown to induce hair growth and improve hair follicle health. It reduces inflammation of hair roots. It also decreases scalp irritation and can help with dandruff and psoriasis.

Can you take ashwagandha daily?

You must have a prescription before taking this medicine. Research has been done but we still lack a lot of long term information on this drug.

If you are dealing with a small problem like tension or pressure, take the medicine in small doses and for bigger problems consult your doctor or specialist first. Children are not allowed to take this medicine and the same applies to pregnant women. People with autoimmune conditions should also avoid it unless recommended by a doctor.

Side effects

1) It is safe if taken for a short time as long term effects are still unproven.

2) It can cause stomach problems in some people if they take high 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 work admirably to lessen pressure and discomfort. It could also improve strength and performance, and increase test levels. Ashwagandha tabs can also work well as testo boosters for men. You can take one Ashwagandha tablet in the morning which will ensure you have an energized day. You can take another Ashwagandha tablet with a glass of milk in the evening, just before going to bed.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does ashwagandha work immediately?

Unlike many other supplements and medications, ashwagandha does not work right away. It may take a few days to a few weeks before you start to feel better.

2. Who should not take ashwagandha?

Pregnant or nursing women, as well as people with medical conditions such as diabetes, high or low blood pressure, stomach ulcers, autoimmune diseases or thyroid abnormalities, should avoid taking ashwagandha.

3. Will ashwagandha make you sleepy?

No, it does not cause drowsiness but helps improve sleep quality.

The references:

Ashwagandha – Uses, Side Effects and More – WebMD
Sachin Wankhede, Deepak Langade, Kedar Joshi, Shymal R. Sinha and Sauvik Bhattacharyya, November 2015

Examination of the effect of Withania somnifera supplementation on muscle strength and recovery: a randomized controlled trial