Ashwagandha is an evergreen shrub with yellow flowers, It is one of the most important herbs used in alternative and folk medicine because of its many health benefits and its great positive effect. Ashwagandha falls under the category of adaptogenic herbs that help the body release stress. The Ashwagandha herb has been known since ancient times for its role in reducing levels of anxiety and stress in humans.
The word "ashwagandha" is a Sanskrit word, meaning the smell of horse, so named to denote the ability of this distinctive plant to increase strength and energy. Ashwagandha roots and leaves have been used since ancient times in Indian alternative medicine, as they help combat stress, increase energy levels, and increase concentration. Ashwagandha also has a calming and relaxing effect on the nervous system, aiding sleep.
Some studies related to ashwagandha have shown that it may help improve depression and its symptoms, as it can be used as a mood enhancer for people suffering from depression, as a laboratory study conducted on ashwagandha showed that it has an effectiveness that can be compared to the antidepressant drug imipramine.
Ashwagandha contains chemical compounds known as withanolides, which are natural steroid compounds that help improve cognitive functions, as a laboratory study showed that these compounds help cell growth, and reduce some of the factors that lead to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Ashwagandha also helps improve memory as well as improve attention and mental skills.
This herbal medicine contains many plant compounds that help balance body physiology, the most abundant phytochemicals in ashwagandha are the alkaloids and lactones, which are thought to act as hormonal replacements. Which means that ashwagandha for anxiety will help increase euphoria when activity is low and reduce overstimulation when activity is too high.
In the trials, randomly assigned volunteers, some of whom were asked to take either ashwagandha or a placebo twice daily for 60 days. During the course of the experiment, regular phone calls to the volunteers were used to note any adverse reactions. The experiment showed that the group that took the ashwagandha root extract found a significant decrease in anxiety scores compared to the placebo group.
Notably, blood cortisol levels decreased significantly in the group that took the ashwagandha extract. Cortisol is also known as a stress hormone that rises when we feel anxious and afraid. Cortisol, when it is too high, contributes to feelings of fatigue, malaise, and poor concentration in the long term, and it also has a negative effect on brain cells, memory, and emotion.
Ashwagandha can be obtained from perfumery shops or pharmacies, where extracts of the roots or leaves of the plant are available in the form of pills (food supplements), or in the form of powder, and the roots and leaves can be used to make ashwagandha tea. Care must be taken when buying ashwagandha extracts to read the leaflet well, so that the percentage of withanolides ranges between 1-10%, as these are the best specifications.
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