Strong Like Bull...I mean horse...

If you’ve ever had a conversation with me about healing, nutrition, herbalism, and my love for plants...then I guarantee I have told you about my favorite plant, Ashwagandha. Usually, people say, “ashwa-what?” upon hearing this funny sounding name that actually translates into “strength of a horse” (or “smell of a horse” depending on the translation) (Singh, 2011). I learned of the power of this healing plant first hand when I was attempting to heal from Chronic Lyme Disease. At that time I was 30 years old and I had been through a decade of antibiotics, including months of IV therapy, pain medication and trying everything under the sun to feel somewhat like my “old” self again, and not like the 80-year old I had felt like throughout my entire 20’s. While I am not making any claims that ashwagandha can heal anyone from Lyme disease, treatment for Lyme disease is like a fingerprint and different for each individual; I will say that the building nature of this plant was the pivotal piece that I personally needed to help me get my life back.

Botanical drawing of the Ashwagandha plant.

Botanical drawing of the Ashwagandha plant.

So let me tell you a little about why I am straight up obsessed with this gift from Mama Earth.

Ashwagandha also known as Withania Somnifera, Indian Ginseng, Winter Cherry, and Ajagandha, is a native plant of India that has been used for over three thousand years for it’s healing properties, is what is called an adaptogenic plant. This is a category of majorly powerful plants that helps to normalize the body’s stress response, therefore helping you to adapt to stress, which lessens the burden on the body’s HPA axis (the body's stress response)...which in turn helps support the healing process overall. Presently it is becoming more regarded for its healing benefits due to the Western world’s recognition of it’s anti-cancer, anti-tumor, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties (Singh, 2011).

Here’s a breakdown of just some of the benefits that this funnily named plant can bring:

  • Supports healthy and balanced HPA axis (normalizes stress response)

  • Increases longevity, vitality, endurance and physical stamina

  • Supports healthy thyroid function

  • Supports better mood/reduces anxiety 

  • Supports better sleep, as it is a calming adaptogen

  • Balances hormones in both men and women

  • Known as the Ayurvedic “viagra” for BOTH men and women (woohoo!!)

  • Anti-inflammatory

  • Antitumor/Cytotoxic

  • Improves insulin sensitivity

  • Increases red blood cell count, white blood cell count, platelet count

  • Lowers blood pressure

  • Potent antioxidant

  • Supports healthy immune functioning

  • Has been shown to be neuroprotective (meaning protective from Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and other neurodegenerative diseases)

  • Improves cardiorespiratory endurance (VO2 max)

(Chauhan et al., 2014; Halder et al., 2015; Panda & Kar, 1998; Ray et al., 2016; Shenoy et al., 2012; Verma & Kumar, 2011)

I will go into more detail about this plant and the studies that have been performed in future blogs...as there is a wealth of information to be explored. In the meantime, be sure to check out my blog (coming soon) on the HPA axis as a solid understanding of how it functions will help you support your beautiful body in a truly sustainable way.

How To Take It:

Dosing, especially from the perspective of a functional and integrative practitioner, is a completely individual thing...this is what we work on together as practitioner and client. Every individual needs something different, and usually, we would spend a couple weeks finding the “sweet spot” that will work for you, and for your current goals or situation. What I will say is that I have typically seen the best results from this plant when used on a consistent basis over an extended period of time. Especially when healing from anything autoimmune or other chronic conditions, consistency is key. Remember...you are the plant...and the nourishing practices you take on are you “watering” yourself, the plant, so you can flourish.

Ashwagandha can be taken in a variety of ways, teas, capsules, with ghee, putting the root powder in smoothies, and tinctures, to name a few. Personally I capsule the root powder, along with a few other awesome plants, because capsules work best for my lifestyle. Not everyone enjoys that though, so again, it’s about finding what will work best for you. Contact me if you wish to work on this together.

Brands I Love:

As of now, I am not affiliated with any of these brands. They are brands that I happen to love and have used frequently. In the future, I will be making my adaptogenic capsules available for purchase. Stay tuned and check these products out in the meantime.

Contraindications and Safety:

For US standards, should not be used during pregnancy; although is frequently used in India during pregnancy (“Ashwagandha Health Benefits - Ayurvedic Herbs | Banyan Botanicals,” n.d.).

DISCLAIMER:

For educational purposes only. This is NOT medical advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.



References:

Ashwagandha Health Benefits - Ayurvedic Herbs | Banyan Botanicals. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.banyanbotanicals.com/info/ayurvedic-living/living-ayurveda/herbs/ashwagandha

Chauhan, N., Sharma, V., & Thakur, M. (2014). A review on plants used for improvement of sexual performance and virility. BioMed Research International. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4151601/

Halder, B., Singh, S., & Thakur, S. (2015). Withania somnifera root extract has potent cytotoxic effect against human malignant melanoma cells. PLoS One, 10(9). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0137498

Panda, S., & Kar, A. (1998). Changes in thyroid hormone concentrations after administration of ashwagandha root extract to adult male mice. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 50(9), 1065–8.

Ray, A., Gulati, K., & Anand, R. (2016). Stress, Adaptogens and Their Evaluation: An Overview. Journal of Pharmacological Reports, 1(2), 110.

Shenoy, S., Chaskar, U., Sandhu, J., & Paadhi, M. (2012). Effects of eight-week supplementation of Ashwagandha on cardiorespiratory endurance in elite Indian cyclists. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, 3(4), 209–214. https://doi.org/10.4103/0975-9476.104444

Singh, N., Bhalla, M., de Jager, P., Gilca, M. (2011). An Overview on Ashwagandha: A Rasayana (Rejuvenator) of Ayurveda. African Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicines, Vol. 8 (5 supply), p. 208-213. doi: 10.4314/ajtcam.v8i5S.9

Verma, S., & Kumar, A. (2011). Therapeutic uses of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) with a note on withanolides and its pharmacological actions (PDF Download Available). Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research, 4(1), 1–4.

Greta Hotmer