Ashwagandha helps you adjust to emotionally stressful situations. It has been shown to rival the effects of the anti-anxiety drug lorazepam (Ativan®), and the antidepressant effects similar to those of the prescription antidepressant drug imipramine (Tofranil®), only, of course, Ashwagandha works naturally and is much safer.

Ashwagandha promotes health in the following ways:

• Promotes a healthy nervous system*
• Fights the psychological causes of ED, depression and anxiety
• Controls cortisol levels and boosts the immune system
• Promotes healthy heart & arteries
• Balances hormones and cancels excessive estrogen
• Protects against autoimmune diseases
• Relieves and protects the kidney from inflammation-induced fibrosis
• Has antimicrobial properties that fight bacterial and viral disease
• Protects against DNA damage and cancer
• Has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
• Helps cancel excessive estrogen
• Improves sperm count
• Supports a healthy libido

Promotes a healthy nervous system

Researchers have showed that Ashwagandha supports the regeneration of axons and dendrites of nerve cells. Axons and dendrites allow nerve cells to send and receive signals from other nerve cells. Further, they discovered that it encourages the creation of new nerve cells, both healthy cells, and, more importantly, replaced damaged cells. Finally, it supports the reconstruction of synapses, the junctions where communication between cells takes place. This is a big deal for people with brain damage or neurodegenerative diseases, such as MS or dementia.

This herb has many benefits for the nervous system. Scientists have identified a neurotransmitter that for most of us is necessary for learning and memory functions, but for people with MS, Huntington’s disease, stroke, head trauma, and neuro degenerative disease it can be dangerous, especially if their cells produce more than is needed. The chemical is glutamate, a form of glutamic acid. One of the roles of Glutamate is to attach to nerve cells in the brain to signal excitement. Once attached to a cell, glutamate sends ions into the cell to increase the voltage, which excites the cell. However, if there is too much glutamate it can cause the voltage to go so high it kills the cell. Also, in some conditions, Huntington’s for example, the cells are too sensitive to the glutamate and even normal glutamate excitement kills them. Scientists from India, Japan, and Brazil, working together, have shown that Ashwagandha prevented this from happening to human brain cells in the test tube. They also found that Ashwagandha reverted damaged cells back to health. In addition, their research showed that pretreatment with Ashwagandha prevented cell damage from glutamate. 

Controls cortisol levels and boosts the immune system

Ashwagandha boosts your immune system by reducing cortisol compounds and providing antioxidant protection. It has been shown to up-regulate the IL-7 gene, which stimulates the differentiation of stem cells into immune system T, B, and natural killer cells.  

Researchers have suggested that this is behind some of Ashwagandha’s anticancer properties, too.

It has also been shown to be a strong antimicrobial, killing serious diseases such as salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus (SA), Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and some strep infections at safe concentrations.

Heart & artery health

Ashwagandha’s strong antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties also protect and strengthen the heart and help heal and repair the blood vessels. 

Ashwagandha and arjuna work in synergistic way to protect your heart and arteries. Both herbs work better when taken together and are often combined to improve strength and stamina.

Researchers at Hindustan Antibiotics Limited in India tested Ashwagandha for its ability to protect the cardiovascular system. In animal tests, they found that the herb increased stamina, protected the heart from toxins, increased heart and liver muscle and weight, and increased the duration of heart contraction. It also slowed coagulation time, an important benefit for those who are in danger of stroke. The researchers concluded with, “On the basis of these observations, it was concluded that Ashwagandha possesses adaptogenic, cardiotropic, cardioprotective, and anticoagulant properties.”

Balances hormones and cancels excessive estrogen

Having too much estrogen is a dangerous situation to be in. It can cause breast and uterine cancer, osteoporosis, and uterine fibroids. 

For women who understand herbs, those are dangers that simply don’t need to be tolerated. Ashwagandha is among the several herbs that balance the hormones and get rid of excessive estrogen.

Men, too, can benefit hormonally by supplementing with Ashwagandha. Our modern world is afloat in artificial chemicals that either promote the production of or are chemical substitutes for estrogen. Many pesticides contain estrogen. Bisphenol A (BPA), an artificial estrogen, is in the plastics that line our food cans, carry our drinking water, and are an integral part of our lives. Advertisers for erectile dysfunction supplements (which are harmful, by the way) tout their ability to destroy the loose, floppy fat that lines men’s stomachs and gives them, “manboobs” by stopping the damage done to men by excessive estrogen.

While most of those supplements don’t work, are dangerous, or destroy a man’s ability to have an erection naturally, they are right about the estrogen. It is everywhere, and it is dangerous in excessive quantities.

Ashwagandha is known to regulate the amount of estrogen in our bodies. It protects against bone loss, fights estrogen-induced cancers, and promotes hormonal balance.  

Protects against DNA damage and fights cancer

Ashwagandha’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties are well known by researchers. It is among the most studied herbs in India and other countries for its natural abilities to prevent and cure disease, and in Western countries for the potential to derive drugs from its natural disease fighting compounds.

A study at the University of Missouri published in May of 2016 confirmed researchers’ belief that Ashwagandha has both strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Scientists reported that, “Taken together, these results suggest an immunomodulatory role for Ashwagandha and its tamanolides, and their ability to suppress oxidative and inflammatory responses in microglial cells by simultaneously down-regulating the NF-kB and upregulating the Nrf2 pathways.”

Most Ashwagandha research is centered around a group of steroidal lactones known as withanolides. Withanolides have shown biologic activity such as anticonvulsive, antibacterial, antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive. Researchers are especially interested in discovering exactly how withanolides work in the body. They are gaining knowledge that may one day eliminate autoimmune diseases such as asthma, AIDS, and arthritis. They have already identified withanolides that kill cancer. They are working on resolving the mechanics, what they call the “pathway” withanolides use to work their wonders. 

If western pharmaceutical companies do isolate and synthesize the most powerful withanolide, however, it still won’t be as good as the herb itself, because all the chemicals in plants work together to create a synergy that mankind has yet to duplicate.  

This is shown by a cooperative study by scientists from Japan, Indonesia, and Egypt that found the chemical triethylene glycol in Ashwagandha activates tumor suppressor proteins in cancer cells while normal cells are unaffected. They also determined that the genes that initiate and regulate metastasis were down regulated.

While most cancer studies of Ashwagandha concentrate on the ability of withanolides to kill cancer, the study above shows that they are not the only anti-cancer compounds in this amazing herb.

Ashwagandha’s antioxidant properties are enhanced when taken with curcumin (from turmeric) or silymarin (milk thistle).

Relieves and protects kidneys from inflammation-induced fibrosis

As we age, our kidneys are subjected to constant bombardment by oxidants, heavy metals, harmful chemicals and other nasty toxins. This constant stress eventually begins to cause a breakdown of defenses and inflammation develops.

As a result of the inflammation, fibroids begin to clog and plug our kidneys, resulting in kidney disease. Ashwagandha has been shown, independent of dose, to mediate and even help to reverse the formation of fibroids in the kidneys.

A study at the University of Missouri showed that Ashwagandha inhibited the expression of the genes CCL2 and CCL5, which initiate inflammation when stimulated by the immune system.

In a study at the Panjab University in India scientists also showed that Ashwagandha mediated oxidation in the kidneys, which helps protect against DNA damage as a result of reactive oxygen species and other oxidizers filtered from bodily fluids.

Supports a healthy libido 

India’s ayurvedic doctors have long used Ashwagandha to support sexual health, both in men and women. It has two strong antioxidants, which encourage artery health. Also, it contains a compound that cancels estrogen, which can be very helpful for men with too much estrogen and not enough testosterone. It has been shown to improve sperm count, and Indian doctors believe it boosts both the female and male libido.

In a sort of double-proof study done at the C.S.M. Medical University in Lucknow, India, researchers showed that Ashwagandha’s strong antioxidant properties not only reduced stress, but they also improved semen quality in men with stress-induced infertility.

Ashwagandha increases endurance and vitality and balances hormones, giving you a feeling of well-being and improving sexual performance.

Male fertility

While it may not seem important to many of us looking to extend our lives, Ashwagandha’s ability to reverse some forms of male infertility should be mentioned. 

It not only improves sperm motility (the ability of sperm to penetrate the egg), it also increases semen volume and sperm count.

A cooperative study in India gave 23 men with oligospermia (sperm count < 20 million/mL semen) Ashwagandha for ninety days. At the end of the study sperm count had increased by 167%, semen volume had increased by 53%, and sperm motility had increased by 57%. 

Dosage

Take ashwagandha root extract for supplemental purposes. The supplemental dose, is 300-500 mg. per day. This dose is sufficient for most health issues and works well with other adaptogens.

A lower dose of 50-100mg of extract has been used at times. For example, to reduce a suppressed immune system due to stress.

The maximum dose of ashwagandha root powder used for targeted health issues is 6,000 mg a day divided into three doses (2,000mg). Don’t take this dosage with without the guidance of a professional.

Ashwagandha should be taken with meals. If taken once a day, it should be taken with breakfast.

Warnings & side effects

Taking ashwagandha and astragalus together may cause insomnia.

Pregnant women shouldn’t take Ashwagandha because it may cause miscarriages. Also, women who are breast feeding should not take Ashwagandha.

Ashwagandha may enhance the effects of sedatives and anti-anxiety medications and herbs, such as St. John’s Wort and other adaptogens that are strong nerve tonics. Use two such herbs with care.

Ashwagandha may lower blood pressure. If you are already on a blood pressure reducing drug, use Ashwagandha with care. Monitor your blood pressure and stop taking it and consult a physician if it drops to dangerous levels. You may be able to stop the drug and just use Ashwagandha to control your blood pressure.

Ashwagandha may lower blood sugar levels. Again, monitor your blood sugar and contact your doctor if it drops too low.

If you have bleeding ulcers or other problems with bleeding, do not take Ashwagandha. Do not take Ashwagandha within two weeks of surgery.

Ashwagandha may enhance the effects of alcohol. It may also cause diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, drowsiness and slowed pulse.