Ashwagandha Powder 1 oz

Description

What is ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha is a small evergreen shrub that originates from parts of India, the Middle East and Africa.

Its unusual name relates to the way it smells – ashwagandha roots smell like a horse, with ‘ashwa’ meaning horse. These tube-like roots are harvested, dried and ground down into a powder.

The ashwagandha plant is renowned for being one of the most powerful herbs, which spans back thousands of years.

As well as being an ancient herb, it’s also known for being an adaptogen – it contains a mix of amino acids, herbs and vitamins that can help the body manage stress. 

Ashwagandha is frequently referred to as ‘Indian ginseng’ because of its rejuvenating properties, even though botanically, ginseng and ashwagandha aren’t connected to each other.

 

Ashwagandha uses

Ashwagandha has been used for many things over the last 3,000 years.

This includes relieving stress, aiding sleep, increasing energy levels and improving concentration.

Overall, it’s earned itself somewhat of a big reputation over the years for coping with stress (thanks to the adaptogens) and improving thinking ability (e.g. attention and concentration levels).

It’s been used in India for almost 5,000 years for conditions, such as rheumatism, constipation,

insomnia, inflamed joints, chronic stress, parasites and hormone imbalances.

It’s widely recognised for being a herbal medicine, as well as increasing energy levels and creating a general sense of wellbeing. As a result, its use extends far beyond India for issues, including:

• Stress
• Fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating
• Poor memory
• Trouble sleeping
• Low libido
• Frequent illness or disease
• Anxiety
• Low endurance (mentally or physically)
• Joint pain
• Neurological condition

Summary

Ashwagandha is an adaptogen, a natural agent that reportedly helps the body cope with stress. It’s widely recognized for being a herbal medicine, as well as increasing energy levels and creating a general sense of wellbeing.

Ashwagandha benefits for men

• It can support muscle growth and strength

Ashwagandha has been linked to increasing muscle mass and strength in men. In a study of 57 men, ashwagandha significantly increased their muscle mass and strength.

It also more than doubled their reductions in body fat percentage compared to the placebo group.

Meanwhile, a separate study found that men who took around 1g of ashwagandha a day saw their muscle strength improve after 30 days.

• It can support brain function and memory

Ashwagandha’s ability to generate antioxidant activity helps protect nerve cells from free radical damage, enhancing brain function and memory.

Adults who took 300mg of ashwagandha root extract twice a day reported a significant improvement in their general memory, task performance and attention span.

Meanwhile, further research of healthy men, reported that the supplement significantly improved reaction time and task performance.

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• It can increase sperm count and sperm mobility

Ashwagandha is widely recognised for its fertility-enhancing qualities across multiple studies.

A study of 75 infertile men found that those who supplemented with 5g of ashwagandha a day reported an increase in sperm count and motility.

Ashwagandha benefits for women

• It can help improve sexual activity

Studies have found that ashwagandha can help with female sexual dysfunction. ¹²

According to a 2015 study, women who took concentrated oral doses of ashwagandha reported having more orgasms and overall more satisfying sex—likely due to the supplement’s stress-reducing effects.

• It can help prevent menopause-related issues

The menopause can cause hormonal imbalances in some women, which can result in them experiencing hot flushes, depression, sleeping issues and anxiety.

Ashwagandha may help as it balances the secretion of hormones, which can help alleviate many menopause-related symptoms.