Ashwagandha
From Wikiwel
Ashwagandha is a plant. The root and berry are used to make medicine. The roots, scientifically referred to as Withania Somnifera, are deeply embedded in ancient Indian Ayurvedic medicine.
Special Precautions of Ashwagandha
- Ashwagandha might cause sleepiness or drowsiness.
- Caution should be taken when combining with sedative medications. Patients who have a history of gastrointestinal ulcers should not take ashwagandha, as it may irritate the gastrointestinal tract.
- The herb may induce abortion when taken in very large doses. Therefore, pregnant women should avoid the use of ashwagandha.
- Ashwagandha may also increase the potency of barbiturates (a class of drugs that depresses the central nervous system).
The benefits of Ashwagandha are
- immunity-boosting : Ashwagandha is regarded as an adaptogen (a type of herb said to strengthen your resistance to stress while enhancing your energy). Often used to boost the immune system after an illness.
- rheumatoid arthritis
- pain
- fatigue : For herbal relief of adrenal fatigue, look to adaptogens. This class of herbs (which includes ginseng, ashwaghandha, rhodiola, Cordyceps) is thought to build your resistance to physical, chemical, and biological stress, as well as boost your energy and vitality.
- gastrointestinal disorders
- skin infections
- epilepsy (Seizure)
- stress : safely reduces cortisol levels up to 26%.
- Cancer : In a 2003 study, tests on human tumor cell lines revealed that ashwagandha may slow the growth of lung, breast, and colon cancer cells.Published in 2007, another study on human cells shows that ashwagandha may inhibit tumor growth without harming normal cells.. In addition, ashwagandha appears to inhibit the growth of supporting blood vessels which supply cancer cells with oxygen and other nutrients to feed on. This means it slows or inhibits the growth of cancerous tumors which begin to thrive and multiply based on this network of supportive blood vessels. Withaferin A is a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels).
- Used in Fu Zheng Therapy
- The herb is also being studied as a potential natural remedy for diseases associated with the degeneration of nerve pathways and brain function such as Alzheimer's, dementia and Parkinson's disease. This is because it has demonstrated an ability to promote the growth of nerve cells.
- Insomnia : Ashwagandha is often overlooked as a natural sleep aid. Adaptogens are herbs that help increase the body's resistance to stress and bring the body back into balance, which is critical to restoring healthy sleep patterns
- Osteoarthritis (OA) : For a 2008 study, scientists tested ashwagandha's effects on human cartilage and found that the herb may help protect against inflammation and cartilage damage associated with osteoarthritis.
- Anxiety : In an animal-based study published in 2000, researchers found that ashwagandha had an anti-anxiety effect similar to that of lorazepam (a medication used to treat anxiety disorders). The herb also appeared to ease depression.
- Type 2 Diabetes : Ashwagandha may help normalize high blood sugar and improve insulin sensitivity, according to preliminary, animal-based research published in 2008.
- Hypothyroidism : ashwagandha can aid normalization of various pathogenic states without overstimulating or under-stimulating hormones, Ayurvedic practitioners use it to treat both hyper- and hypothryoidism.
