By Jacob Wonn
Ashwagandha (scientific name Withania somnifera) is an herb indigenous to India which has long been a centerpiece of Ayurvedic healing. The roots and berries of this herb are ground to a powder which can be steeped as a tea or ingested in capsules. Ashwagandha is now available around the globe and has been the subject of extensive scientific research regarding its healing properties.
1. Stress-relief: Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb (similar to Tulsi); this means that it helps to facilitate the body's natural adaptation to stress. Ashwagandha has experimentally-validated anxiolytic properties, and with daily use has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression at a level that is comparable to commonly-prescribed pharmaceuticals (Bhattacharya SK et. al., 2000).
2. Anti-aging: Premature aging is theorized to be the result of oxidative stress related to chronic nervous tension. Ashwagandha has been demonstrated to possess incredibly powerful anti-oxidant properties, as shown by a reduction in measures of oxidative stress after consumption of Ashwagandha (Bhattacharya A et.al., 2001). It thus seems plausible that Ashwagandha acts as a factor which promotes longevity by combating the effects of aging, environmental toxins, and poor nutrition.
3. Hormone regulation: Ashwagandha has been shown to regulate thyroid and adrenal hormones toward healthy levels. With regard to thyroid hormones, Ashwagandha has demonstrated a remarkable potential to counteract the effects of both over-active AND under-active thyroid glands (Panda and Kar, 1999). It has also been shown to restore adrenal hormone levels to a healthy range, thereby countering the endocrine dysfunction caused by chronic stress; this is likely to be the mechanism by which Ashwagandha exerts its anti-aging and anxiolytic properties (Kalani et. al., 2012).
4. Neuro-protective: Ashwagandha extract has been experimentally demonstrated to promote healthy brain function and prevent deterioration. Studies have shown that consumption of Ashwagandha promotes the healing of damaged neural synapses (the junctions between nerve cells which are essential to healthy brain function). Ashwagandha has been suggested as a potential treatment for neuro-degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's (Kuboyama T et. al., 2005). It seems that consumption of Ashwagandha may serve to prevent these kinds of neuro-degenerative diseases as well.
5. Anti-cancer: Ashwagandha has been shown to combat the growth of numerous types of cancer, including colon, breast, and lung cancer. The anti-cancer properties of Ashwagandha have demonstrated efficacy comparable to commonly-prescribed chemotherapy drugs (Jayaprakasam B et. al., 2003). Ashwagandha has also been shown to reduce the immune-suppressant effects of chemotherapy treatment (Davis L and Kuttan G, 1999). It stands to sense that Ashwagandha may also be an effective preventative measure against cancer.
Note: As always, this article is not meant to constitute medical advice. You are free to experiment with health-promoting herbs as you desire, but please see a doctor for any medical concerns.
References:
Bhattacharya A, Ghosal S, Bhattacharya SK. Antioxidant effect of Withania somnifera glycowithanolides in chronic footshock stress-induced perturbations of oxidative free radical scavenging enzymes and lipid peroxidation in rat frontal cortex and striatum. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2001 Jan;74(1):1-6.
Bhattacharya SK, Bhattacharya A, Sairam K, Ghosal S. Anxiolytic-antidepressant activity of Withania somnifera glycowithanolides: an experimental study. Phytomedicine. 2000 Dec;7(6):463-9.
Davis L, Kuttan G. Effect of Withania somnifera on cytokine production in normal and cyclophosphamide treated mice. Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology. 1999 Nov;21(4):695-703.
Jayaprakasam B, Zhang Y, Seeram NP, Nair MG. Growth inhibition of human tumor cell lines by withanolides from Withania somnifera leaves. Life Sciences. 2003 Nov 21;74(1):125-32.
Kalani A, Bahtiyar G, Sacerdote A. Ashwagandha root in the treatment of non-classical adrenal hyperplasia. British Medical Journal Case Reports. 2012, 10(1136).
Kuboyama T, Tohda C, Komatsu K. Neuritic regeneration and synaptic reconstruction induced by withanolide A. British Journal of Pharmacology. 2005 Apr;144(7):961-71.
Panda S, Kar A. Withania somnifera and Bauhinia purpurea in the regulation of circulating thyroid hormone concentrations in female mice. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 1999, 67(2):233-9.
This article was written by Jacob Wonn, a young man with a passionate interest in herbal science. For a list of trusted products click here
Come visit me at magicwonn.com for a personalized herbal consultation, or to learn more about Ashwagandha and other healthy herbal supplements.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jacob_Wonn
Ashwagandha (scientific name Withania somnifera) is an herb indigenous to India which has long been a centerpiece of Ayurvedic healing. The roots and berries of this herb are ground to a powder which can be steeped as a tea or ingested in capsules. Ashwagandha is now available around the globe and has been the subject of extensive scientific research regarding its healing properties.
1. Stress-relief: Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb (similar to Tulsi); this means that it helps to facilitate the body's natural adaptation to stress. Ashwagandha has experimentally-validated anxiolytic properties, and with daily use has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression at a level that is comparable to commonly-prescribed pharmaceuticals (Bhattacharya SK et. al., 2000).
2. Anti-aging: Premature aging is theorized to be the result of oxidative stress related to chronic nervous tension. Ashwagandha has been demonstrated to possess incredibly powerful anti-oxidant properties, as shown by a reduction in measures of oxidative stress after consumption of Ashwagandha (Bhattacharya A et.al., 2001). It thus seems plausible that Ashwagandha acts as a factor which promotes longevity by combating the effects of aging, environmental toxins, and poor nutrition.
3. Hormone regulation: Ashwagandha has been shown to regulate thyroid and adrenal hormones toward healthy levels. With regard to thyroid hormones, Ashwagandha has demonstrated a remarkable potential to counteract the effects of both over-active AND under-active thyroid glands (Panda and Kar, 1999). It has also been shown to restore adrenal hormone levels to a healthy range, thereby countering the endocrine dysfunction caused by chronic stress; this is likely to be the mechanism by which Ashwagandha exerts its anti-aging and anxiolytic properties (Kalani et. al., 2012).
4. Neuro-protective: Ashwagandha extract has been experimentally demonstrated to promote healthy brain function and prevent deterioration. Studies have shown that consumption of Ashwagandha promotes the healing of damaged neural synapses (the junctions between nerve cells which are essential to healthy brain function). Ashwagandha has been suggested as a potential treatment for neuro-degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's (Kuboyama T et. al., 2005). It seems that consumption of Ashwagandha may serve to prevent these kinds of neuro-degenerative diseases as well.
5. Anti-cancer: Ashwagandha has been shown to combat the growth of numerous types of cancer, including colon, breast, and lung cancer. The anti-cancer properties of Ashwagandha have demonstrated efficacy comparable to commonly-prescribed chemotherapy drugs (Jayaprakasam B et. al., 2003). Ashwagandha has also been shown to reduce the immune-suppressant effects of chemotherapy treatment (Davis L and Kuttan G, 1999). It stands to sense that Ashwagandha may also be an effective preventative measure against cancer.
Note: As always, this article is not meant to constitute medical advice. You are free to experiment with health-promoting herbs as you desire, but please see a doctor for any medical concerns.
References:
Bhattacharya A, Ghosal S, Bhattacharya SK. Antioxidant effect of Withania somnifera glycowithanolides in chronic footshock stress-induced perturbations of oxidative free radical scavenging enzymes and lipid peroxidation in rat frontal cortex and striatum. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2001 Jan;74(1):1-6.
Bhattacharya SK, Bhattacharya A, Sairam K, Ghosal S. Anxiolytic-antidepressant activity of Withania somnifera glycowithanolides: an experimental study. Phytomedicine. 2000 Dec;7(6):463-9.
Davis L, Kuttan G. Effect of Withania somnifera on cytokine production in normal and cyclophosphamide treated mice. Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology. 1999 Nov;21(4):695-703.
Jayaprakasam B, Zhang Y, Seeram NP, Nair MG. Growth inhibition of human tumor cell lines by withanolides from Withania somnifera leaves. Life Sciences. 2003 Nov 21;74(1):125-32.
Kalani A, Bahtiyar G, Sacerdote A. Ashwagandha root in the treatment of non-classical adrenal hyperplasia. British Medical Journal Case Reports. 2012, 10(1136).
Kuboyama T, Tohda C, Komatsu K. Neuritic regeneration and synaptic reconstruction induced by withanolide A. British Journal of Pharmacology. 2005 Apr;144(7):961-71.
Panda S, Kar A. Withania somnifera and Bauhinia purpurea in the regulation of circulating thyroid hormone concentrations in female mice. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 1999, 67(2):233-9.
This article was written by Jacob Wonn, a young man with a passionate interest in herbal science. For a list of trusted products click here
Come visit me at magicwonn.com for a personalized herbal consultation, or to learn more about Ashwagandha and other healthy herbal supplements.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jacob_Wonn
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