Fatigue. Worry. Muscle aches. Insomnia. Low sex drive. You may have experienced these at some point in time, or maybe even all at once. The truth is, all of these signs or symptoms among others may be the result of ongoing stress. Whether mental or physical, stress can impact the body in many ways and have lasting effects on our health.
There are many ways we typically manage stress. This can include working out, having self care days, eating comfort foods. But sometimes the best ways to combat stress are found within the secrets of the past. Enter ashwagandha: a natural herb with a rich history aiding both mind and body in stress relief.
Meet ashwagandha
Withania somnifera or ashwagandha (aash·wuh·gaan·duh) has been used for thousands of years in Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of India. This ancient herb can be traced to 6000 BC and is commonly known as Indian winter cherry or Indian ginseng. It benefits the body in many ways and has supported humans psychologically and physically throughout time. Along with traditional Indian medicine, ashwagandha can be traced to Ancient Greece and Persia during medieval times for its stress relief support.
Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb, which is a natural, nontoxic substance that helps the body adapt to stressors. It helps restore the nervous system to a balanced state and has lasting impacts on the body.
In popular culture, ashwagandha has gone viral taking the internet by storm with millions of users raving about its many benefits, especially its positive impact on mental health and physical support.
How does ashwagandha support the mind?
Mental health
Cortisol is a stress hormone produced by the adrenal glands and is often associated with the fight-or-flight response. Too much cortisol can lead to feeling as though we’re in fight or flight all the time, and take a toll on our physical wellbeing as well. Studies show that ashwagandha may help lower cortisol levels by having a moderating effect on the HPA axis, a crucial part of our body’s stress management process. This ultimately supports stress relief within the body.
Due to its ability to promote feelings of calmness in the body and regulate the nervous system, studies show that ashwagandha can help improve symptoms of depression and anxiety. This herbal remedy is a natural way to improve stress while supporting mental wellbeing.
Sleep
For those of us who struggle with insomnia or the ability to get a good night’s rest, ashwagandha is here to help! Studies prove that ashwagandha can improve quality of sleep, especially in elderly populations. This occurs because as an adaptogen, it helps soothe our nervous system into ‘rest and recovery mode’ when it can often be stuck in fight or flight.
How does ashwagandha support the body?
Athleticism
Ashwagandha can impact our energy levels, having lasting effects on our athletic performance and endurance. This is because ashwagandha can increase the amount of oxygen used during physical activity. This can support heart and lung health and improve blood pressure, allowing you to truly get the most out of your workout.
Muscle strength
When it comes to our physical health, athletic performance isn’t the only thing ashwagandha impacts, it supports strength building too. Studies prove that this natural remedy significantly increases muscle strength and size in resistance training-based programs. This means more gains in the gym during and post workout.
Testosterone
Adequate testosterone levels are important to male health for many reasons. This hormone plays a key role in regulating male sex drive, fat distribution and muscle strength. Ashwagandha can influence male sexual health because it has been shown to increase total testosterone levels in the body.
Libido
Finally, ashwagandha has been known to increase libido due to the positive effects it has on the nervous system and its ability to boost energy levels.
Adding ashwagandha to your everyday routine
If you’re looking for a one-a-day ashwagandha supplement, try CanPrev’s Ashwagandha Body & Mind. This formula is made for anyone who wants natural stress relief both physically and mentally. It can benefit people looking for natural mental health support, those looking to relax and combat daily stress, or those looking for athletic support and muscle recovery. It can also help with improved sexual health and libido enhancement from increased testosterone.
Ashwagandha Body & Mind contains 600mg of KSM-66® Ashwagandha per capsule, the most clinically studied ashwagandha available that’s shown to reduce stress and increase wellbeing. This simple but effective single-ingredient formula is vegan, gluten-free, GMO-free and non-habit forming. Due to the gentle nature of ashwagandha, this formula is well-tolerated by most people including those with digestive sensitivities.
If there’s one thing we know for sure, stress is very much a part of the human experience. Whether physical or mental, we have always been impacted by stress and its lasting implications on our health. we can take a page out of history and combat stress naturally with the help of natural herbs like ashwagandha.
Sources:
Ashwagandha: A Tradition of Rejuvenation
An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract
Effects of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) on Stress and the Stress-Related Neuropsychiatric Disorders Anxiety, Depression, and Insomnia
Effects of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) on Physical Performance: Systematic Review and Bayesian Meta-Analysis
Examining the effect of Withania somnifera supplementation on muscle strength and recovery: a randomized controlled trial
Effect of standardized root extract of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) on well-being and sexual performance in adult males: A randomized controlled trial
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