A Complete Guide to Ashwagandha

 A healthy diet and lifestyle may include different elements and food habits that you can adopt. After a hectic day at work, stress tends to be at its highest! But do you know an ancient herb that can help reduce discomfort? This popular medicinal herb, known to be highly beneficial and has been used since ancient times, is Ashwagandha!

But does this only reduce stress? Ashwagandha can do much more wonders for your health and well-being. Learn more about this herb and the situations in which it will be helpful!

More about Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is a kind of therapeutic herb which is highly popular and well-known for its beneficial effects on different health conditions. Have you heard of Indian winter cherry or Indian ginseng? Both these are the common names of Ashwagandha and are commonly found in South-East Asia, particularly in India.
For treating different health conditions, the shrub's leaves and roots are generally used in powder form. It is also one of the most widely used components of Ayurvedic medicines. Even science says that adding it as a supplement to your everyday diet can have amazing healing effects on your health!

Amazing Benefits To Expect From Ashwagandha
This herb is recognized for its capabilities in stress reduction and calming down anxiety issues. It can even help alleviate conditions like depression and insomnia.
Are you facing difficulty sleeping or unable to fix your sleep schedule? Try adding Ashwagandha as a supplement to your diet, as it can enhance sleep and fix the cycle! Besides that, it is also known to reduce cholesterol levels and blood sugar. And, for students who find it challenging to stay focused and remember what you studied, try taking Ashwagandha supplements, which are beneficial for the brain too!
Also, it can help you build better immunity and may even help you improve your athletic performance. Apart from these benefits, it aids in enhancing fertility in men while treating certain dysfunctions in women!

Different Sources To Access The Herb
Among its sources, the plant is the most natural and common way to access the herb. In many parts of the globe, people consume different parts of the plant, like leaves, shoots, fruits, or even seeds! With the help of the roots and leaves, you can make tea and even grind it to make a fine powder base. You can add this powder to any food or beverage of your choice!
Ashwagandha is available as a dietary supplement, in which the concentration of the extract is increasingly standardized. Also, the supplements contain around 10x more extract than the entire herb! You can find them on the market in capsule, liquid, or powder form.

Daily Consumption Amount Of Ashwagandha
Are you thinking of adding it to your diet list? Here, you need to learn the appropriate daily intake! Depending on what health benefits you are looking for in Ashwagandha, the quantity will vary.
If you want to consume it to improve your sleep schedule, the practical amount is around 250-600 mg daily. While athletes or sportspersons, who want to enhance their performance, should consume 600-1000 mg daily!
You can divide the intake of extract from the herb's roots twice daily since the dosage ranges from 250 to 600 mg. Taking up to 1000 mg daily is a safe limit for 12 weeks!

Probable Side Effects Of Ashwagandha
Despite being highly beneficial, you cannot ignore the side effects that Ashwagandha may cause you! This herb's most basic side effects are upper and lower digestive upsets, vomiting, gas, nausea, bloating, and even diarrhoea.
However, in certain rare cases, a person may even experience liver problems with regular consumption of Ashwagandha extracts!

Who Should Stay Away From Taking Ashwagandha?

Though it has bunches of benefits, and you might feel like adding them to your list, some restrictions exist! Check out the list of who should not take Ashwagandha:

• Pregnancy: Pregnant women should abstain from consuming it completely, as it may lead to miscarriages!
• Breastfeeding: There is a general lack of research about how safe it is to consume during breastfeeding.
• Thyroid: If you are suffering from conditions like hyperthyroidism or undergoing any thyroid medications, avoid consuming Ashwagandha. Because it has the capability of increasing thyroid hormones, making the situation worse for you!
• Autoimmune Diseases: Avoid consuming Ashwagandha extracts if you already have certain autoimmune disorders, which may worsen the condition.
• Blood Pressure Reducers: Avoid using Ashwagandha together with blood pressure-lowering medicines as it will cause your blood pressure level to drop even further.

Conclusion:
Ashwagandha is the common medicinal herb used in Ayurvedic medicines that helps deal with various health conditions, specifically stress, anxiety, blood sugar, enhancing immunity, and much more. However, avoid taking it if you are already taking certain other medications or are breastfeeding. By consuming the correct dosage and following the correct instructions, your health concerns will magically disappear!
Keep an eye out for more articles about herbal supplements and health related topics.

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