Email
PrintAshwaganda
istockphoto.com
Recently, I was with some of my dearest friends discussing one of my favorite herbs, Ashwagandha. We had such a good conversation about it that my friend suggested I do a story on this ancient herb. So here I sit, hoping to enlighten your mind a wee bit about Ashwagandha.
Ashwagandha is a plant that grows in India, Africa and the Middle East. Some people know it by the name Winter Cherry or Indian Ginseng. This herb has been used for hundreds of years and has many applications. It has been used to reduce inflammation and fevers and to protect against illness. It has also been used widely as a herb to boost the immune system. This shrub’s roots are a favorite among Ayurvedic healers as well.
Many modern studies have shown this herb to also reduce stress and increase mental clarity. Researchers from the University of Texas Health Center looked into the effects of Ashwagandha in reducing stress and found that it has similar effects as gaba. What’s gaba, you ask? It’s made in the brain cells from glutamate, which basically blocks the nerve impulses. Glutamate, when bound to adjacent cells, says: “Hey! It’s time to fire! Let’s get these nerve impulses flowing!” Gaba does just the opposite, saying: ”Wait a minute! No firing! No impulse.” Without gaba, nerve cells fire too often. The University of Texas researches found that Ashwagandha does the same sort of thing, supporting mind, memory and mood.
Ashwagandha is also known to support… let’s just say… natural sexual enhancement. Of course all individuals vary, but feedback appears to show very satisfied people who use this herb for this purpose. It has even been mentioned in Kama Sutra as the herb to use for heightening the sexual experience.
As if that weren’t enough, Ashwagandha also has antibacterial effects. You might be thinking: sheesh, what doesn’t this herb do? Well, it does have quite a reputation. A few years back, Ashwagandha was used to treat human tumor cell lines. Ashwagandha leaves. were used to treat the cancer and inflammation in many Asian countries. They found a 50 percent inhibition in growth of tumors by using the leaves! Using Ashwagandha in the diet may decrease growth of tumors in humans.
What else? It has been used to combat diabetes, as a diuretic, for heart health and more. The list of its benefits goes on and on. This is one pretty potent herb!
.png){kind=small}
