If you’re reading this, you’ve probably heard of the super herb commonly known as Ashwagandha or you're at least curious about this strange sounding super herb. In the wellness space, many people know that Ashwagandha is an amazing health aid to decrease anxiety. However, the adaptogen has a complex and fascinating history and a wide variety of uses that you don’t often hear about. At a|dash, we can’t sing Ashwagandha's praises high enough. As a matter of fact, we love Ashwagandha so much that we infuse our cold brews with it to make the herb and its benefits accessible to y’all! Here 5 things you might not know about our favorite adaptogen, Ashwagandha...
1.) Ashwagandha Originated in Traditional Indian Medicine
Let’s start with a brief history lesson…
Ashwagandha, commonly known as Indian ginseng, has ancient roots in traditional Indian medicine. The herb, particularly its root powder, has been used for thousands of years to help individuals decrease inflammation, insomnia and pain and boost nutrition. Its species name is Withania somnifera, with Withania meaning “the strength of a horse” and somnifera translated from Latin to mean “sleep-inducing.” The ancient people who named it were correct to infer that the herb is powerful and aids in insomnia, but it also finds employment in rejuvenating those who use it! At a|dash, we often refer to Ashwagandha as the “queen fix-it-all.” Because Ashwagandha is an adaptogen, it has the unique ability to “adapt” its function according to the specific needs of the body. Much like the roots of wine vines will twist and turn their way through different soils and terrains to adapt to the environment and establish their life source, Ashwagandha will adapt within your body to help bring it into balance or homeostasis.
2.) Ashwagandha Has SO Many Health Benefits
- First and foremost, Ashwagandha excels in decreasing stress and anxiety. As a byproduct of its stress-relieving properties, Ashwagandha also helps with insomnia.
- Initial research has shown Ashwagandha may help fight specific kinds of cancer. Among these types are breast, lung and brain cancers.
- Ashwagandha has also been shown to decrease swelling, pain and inflammation in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis.
- Ashwagandha is great for cognitive function and may be useful for preventing the kinds of nerve damage that lead to diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s.
- For those of you who love an intensive workout, Ashwagandha may offer exercise performance benefits! Research has shown that individuals who regularly take Ashwagandha have improved oxygen levels, strength and speed during workouts.
3.) There Are Recommended Dosages for Ashwagandha
Depending on what your purpose for using Ashwagandha, recommendations on Ashwagandha dosage varies. In medical studies, the recommended range for daily Ashwagandha intake typically ranges from 100 mg to over 600 mg. The great thing about adaptogens is they are non-toxic, which means you can experiment with the dosage that works best for you!
Like all adaptogens, Ashwagandha requires a loading period, or time to build up in your system before you begin to feel its benefits. The loading period and level of dosage needed to create build-up in your system vary from person to person. We recommend that you experiment with Indian ginseng to determine your personal, ideal amount.
Our adaptogenic cold brew contains 165 mg of Ashwagandha per 8 oz can, so we delivery your daily dash of Ashwagandha in each can. We designed a|dash as a way to fulfil a recommended dosage while onboarding and acclimating those new to Ashwagandha, and to allow those who may already consume it in other forms to enjoy through their coffee, offering convenience and accessibility. If you’re unsure of where to begin with Indian ginseng, we recommend consulting with a natural practitioner or herbalis to get you started. Wellness is personal and individualized, so you do you!
4.) You Can Use Ashwagandha Synergistically
Synergistic is a term that refers to the interaction of two or more substances, like adaptogens, to create a combined effect that is more beneficial than taking one of the substances on its own.
While taking Ashwagandha on its own is beneficial, and it is recommended that you start with one adaptogen at a time to understand how that works best for you and at what dosage level, you can also try a more synergistic approach by pairing the herb with other adaptogens. Complementary adaptogens include Cordyceps, Rhodiola and Schisandra. If you’re unfamiliar with these adaptogens, check out this blog post for a brief rundown of what they’re all about!
To aid in y’all’s synergistic quests, a|dash will be expanding our offering with a new line, which will feature of the aforementioned adaptogens. We've already signed off on the formula, so stay tuned for the official announcement.
5.) Ashwagandha is Universally Good for Health, In Both Men and Women
Indian ginseng helps women and men alike in staving off stress and anxiety. With that being said, Ashwagandha might be slightly more beneficial for women’s health, due to how stress affects hormones. While stress can take a toll on both men’s and women’s hormones, women typically experience a greater fluctuation in their hormone levels when they’re anxious or stressed, especially as it relates to cortisol. These excess stress hormones can cause issues in areas such as appetite, mental health, sleep and digestion.
However, Ashwagandha is phenomenal for men's health. Ashwagandha has been shown to increase testosterone levels and significantly boosts sperm quality and fertility in men.
To recap - because stress causes more hormone imbalance in women than it does in men, Ashwagandha might be a more effective health tool for women. From work to motherhood to making sure things run smoothly at home, women do it all. Ladies, when life gets overwhelming, try Ashwagandha or our cold brew, conveniently infused with Ashwagandha, and put your personal well-being first!
Leave a comment