Ashwagandha: The Adaptogen That Packs a Punch
Modern life can feel like a never-ending race, leaving us overwhelmed and stressed. In the midst of this chaos, many are turning to ancient remedies for a sense of calm. And why should they not?
Apart from anxiety and stress and burnout and social media comparison and work-life imbalance and information overload, what has this modern life given us? Overwhelming exhaustion (much like reading this sentence).
If you are even remotely in contact with the world of social media, then you would know by now “where there is an adaptogen, there is Ashwagandha” Yes! Adaptogen is the new cool TikTok and Instagram term that has been making rounds and Ashwagandha is taking the lead. The hashtag #ashwagandha has more than 675 million views on Tiktok (and misspelled versions are earning plenty of views too, like #ashwaganda, which has 41 million views).
Adaptogen, living up to its name, helps you to “adapt” to the stresses of life. (The term is so unfamiliar that even Microsoft Word shows a red line underneath it.)
Stress and Anxiety are abstract which means they don’t have a physical existence but can only be felt. This is the reason why most studies that investigate the effect of Ashwagandha are often complex and complicated. To ease things off, the results of studies are primarily expressed on the stress rating scales filled by participants and cortisol (stress hormone) levels in body.
Few studies that have emerged, paint a promising picture of ashwagandha’s impact on stress. One particularly intriguing trial conducted in sunny Florida involved participants, averaging 34 years old, all grappling with perceived stress. For 30 days, they took capsules containing either 225 mg or 400 mg of a special ashwagandha root and leaf extract, or a placebo (a substance or treatment that has no therapeutic effect).
The results were nothing short of fascinating! Those taking ashwagandha reported noticeable improvements in stress, anxiety, depression, and even cravings for food, as measured by validated scales. What’s more, participants on the 225 mg dose showed lower levels of cortisol—the stress hormone—in their saliva compared to those on the placebo. This suggests that ashwagandha is the natural secret to tackling stress and boosting overall well-being, offering a glimmer of hope for those looking to regain their balance in a hectic world.
Ashwagandha is believed to have an effect on the GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), a primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. It helps to calm neuronal activity and promotes relaxation. Low GABA levels can lead to increased excitability in the nervous system, which can manifest as anxiety, restlessness, and tension. Ashwagandha may help enhance GABA’s function or mimic its calming effects, thereby promoting a sense of tranquillity and reducing anxiety.
If you’re convinced to try ashwagandha for your wellness routine and worried about wandering into deep, dark forests or abandoned countryside to find this potent root, fear not! Nutrifactor’s Nurilax makes it easy to incorporate ashwagandha into your diet with convenient capsules. No need for an adventurous trek—just grab a bottle and enjoy the numerous benefits of this ancient adaptogen.
References
https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8762185/
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Ashwagandha-HealthProfessional/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9007714/