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Ashwagandha — Comprehensive Overview of Benefits, Effects, and Side Effects

Updated: Sep 5, 2022


Ashwagandha is one of the most popular herbs in the world. It's been used for thousands of years in traditional Indian medicine and is considered to be one of Ayurveda's "most important herbs."



Ashwagandha has been used in Ayurveda for thousands of years.


Ashwagandha is an adaptogen that has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. It's used to increase energy and stamina, improve memory and concentration, improve sleep quality, reduce stress and anxiety, enhance sexual function, boost immunity, and much more.


Ashwagandha is safe and seems to be very helpful in dealing with health problems such as insomnia, stress, and anxiety.


The overall evidence suggests that ashwagandha is safe and seems to be very helpful in dealing with health problems such as insomnia, stress, and anxiety. It is a natural remedy and the use of this herb can help you maintain your health.


In a study of patients with severe anxiety symptoms, those given ashwagandha had decreased scores on several quality-of-life scores compared to those given a placebo.


Ashwagandha is also an adaptogen, which helps the body adapt to stress. Adaptogens work by balancing the body’s response to stress.

Adaptogens have been used in traditional Indian medicine for thousands of years to treat a wide variety of illnesses and conditions, including stress, anxiety, and insomnia.

In one small study published in Phytomedicine, researchers gave participants either ashwagandha or a placebo daily for eight weeks while they underwent cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for their anxiety issues. Those who received ashwagandha had decreased scores on several quality-of-life measures compared to those who received placebo; these included both physical and mental health domains


Ashwagandha helps improve stress resilience, which means that it can help reduce the effects of stressful situations.


Ashwagandha has been shown to improve the stress resilience of people who take the herb for several months. Stress resilience is the ability to resist stress and other negative effects of external stimuli. It’s thought that ashwagandha helps improve your ability to handle stressful situations by reducing levels of an important stress hormone known as cortisol in your body.

In one study, 300 mg/day of Ashwagandha (as KSM-66®) was given for 30 days to a group of healthy adults aged 18–45 years old who had low levels of antioxidants in their blood. The subjects were divided into two groups: one took KSM-66® with meals, while another took a placebo without meals. At the end of the study period—30 days later—those who took KSM-66® had significantly improved resistance against oxidative damage caused by free radicals compared with those who didn’t take it (0.58 vs 0.57).


One trial found that ashwagandha reduced perceived stress by 44% after two months — and 68% after 60 days.


Ashwagandha is an adaptogen, which means it helps your body adapt to stress. Adaptogens are natural substances that have been shown to help the body reduce stress and anxiety.

When you’re stressed out, your adrenal glands release cortisol in response to the perceived threat. This causes blood sugar levels and blood pressure to rise, as well as increases inflammation in the body. If this continues for an extended period of time (chronic stress), it can lead to a number of health problems including depression and anxiety disorders (1).

Ashwagandha has been shown in several studies on animals and humans to reduce perceived stress after just a few weeks of use — sometimes by more than 50%! One study found that ashwagandha reduced perceived stress by 44% after two months — and 68% after 60 days!


Another study found that ashwagandha significantly lowered cortisol levels in chronically stressed adults after just 30 days.


Cortisol is a hormone that is released by the adrenal glands in response to stress. It helps increase blood sugar, which can lead to weight gain and a weakened immune system.


While there haven't been any human studies on the effect of ashwagandha on sexual function, animal studies show that it increases fertility.


While there haven't been any human studies on the effect of ashwagandha on sexual function, animal studies show that it increases fertility. While more research is needed, ashwagandha seems to be a safe and helpful supplement for improving sexual function in both men and women.

It's also important to note that ashwagandha is a natural remedy—not a drug or medicine—so it doesn't come with the same risks as prescription medications do.



In one study, men who took ashwagandha had improved sperm concentration, motility, and morphology compared to those who didn't take ashwagandha.


In one study, men who took ashwagandha had improved sperm concentration, motility and morphology compared to those who didn't take ashwagandha. These improvements were associated with higher testosterone levels.


In another study, men who took ashwagandha had significantly higher testosterone levels than those who didn't take it.


Testosterone is the main male sex hormone and plays a role in sexual function. It also is important for muscle growth and strength. Testosterone levels decrease with age, so getting more of it can help you build muscle mass if you’re older than 30 years old.

To increase your testosterone levels, consider exercising regularly and eating a diet rich in lean protein, such as fish or poultry (chicken breast), eggs, whey protein supplements (such as whey protein isolate), beans/legumes/nuts/seeds (like almonds), olive oil, avocados, broccoli and leafy green vegetables like spinach.



Although the studies were small, they seem to indicate that ashwagandha might help increase sex drive in both men and women.


Although the studies were small, they seem to indicate that ashwagandha might help increase sex drive in both men and women. It's been used for thousands of years in Ayurveda medicine, which originated in India. In fact, ashwagandha is one of the most popular herbs used in Indian herbal medicine. Ashwagandha has also been shown to be safe and effective as a treatment for other health problems such as insomnia, stress, and anxiety.


Conclusion


In conclusion, ashwagandha is a safe and natural way to treat a variety of health problems. It's also been shown to improve sexual function in men and women. Although the studies were small, they seem to indicate that ashwagandha might help increase sex drive in both men and women.

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