I Love Ashwagandha

Here are some of the interesting facts about Ashwagandha:
• It’s often referred to as “Indian ginseng”. This is because of its rejuvenating properties. Botanically, however, ginseng and Ashwagandha are not at all unrelated.
• Ashwagandha belongs to the same family as the tomato. They call it a plump shrub with oval leaves and yellow flowers. It bears red fruit about the size of a raisin.
• It is native to the dry regions of India, Northern Africa, and the Middle East. However, today is also grown in more mild climates, including the United States.
• In India, Ashwagandha is known as the “strength of the stallion” since it has traditionally been used to strengthen the immune system after illness.

Why Use Ashwagandha?
Dr Deepak Chopra lists these benefits:
• Stress
• Fatigue
• Lack of energy
• Difficulty concentrating
He also says that “use of the Ayurvedic herb, Ashwagandha can help alleviate these symptoms and support an energetic and rejuvenating sense of well being”.

Dr Josh Axe tells us that there have been over 200 studies on Ashwagandha’s ability to:
• Improve thyroid function
• Treat adrenal fatigue
• Reduce anxiety and depression
• Combat effects of stress
• Increase stamina and endurance
• Prevent and treat cancer
• Reduce brain cell degeneration
• Stabilize blood sugar
• Lower cholesterol
• Boost immunity

When I looked over this list, the one benefit that resonated is Ashwagandha’s ability to reduce brain cell degeneration. Dr Axe goes on to explain:
“Emotional, physical, and chemical stress can all have damaging effects to the brain and nervous system. Recent research has proven Ashwagandha is more than a stress reliever, it also protects the brain from degeneration and improves symptoms of Alzheimer’s, depression,and anxiety.”
“One of the main reasons ashwagandha is so effective at healing the brain has to do with its powerful antioxidants that destroy free radicals that cause aging. A study published in Phytotherapy Research explains these benefits.”
‘Several studies have revealed that natural antioxidants, such as vitamin E, vitamin C and beta-carotene, may help in scavenging free radicals generated during the initiation and progression of this [Alzheimer’s] disease. But we found Ashwagandha afforded lipid peroxidation inhibitory effects more potent than commercial antioxidants.’
Researchers at the National Brain Research Centre found that mice with Alzheimer’s were unable to retain what they learned, but after 20 days of supplementing with ashwagandha, this improved significantly. The results of the study found a reduction in amyloid plaques (these cause degradation of the brain).
Now, let me share my personal experience – it is just like the mice! I started using Pure Encapsulation’s Ashwagandha – 500 mg 2 x daily. After just a few weeks I noticed that, as I would often do, I tried to recall ‘something’ and I couldn’t remember it! Could have been a name, a place, where I put something etc. Then, just after a few minutes, the correct answer would come to me.
When it first happened, I blew it off as a ‘one time fluke’, but then it started to happen consistently ….aha…. this is really happening …now, I can say without a doubt, that it is happening all the time now. I just give it a few minutes, a sure enough, I remember!
What a pleasure! Instead of getting all concerned that my aging brain is deteriorating
quicker than I would like to admit, I know I’m doing something very beneficial to reverse the process.

FYI – Dr Chopra recommends 600-1000 mg to be taken 2 times daily,. So I’m gong to ‘up the daily dose’ as well and see what happens. I’ll keep you posted.