Ashwagandha Helps In Diabetes Management, Here Are 20 More Benefits

Ashwagandha, one of the most popular Indian botanical plants, has been used in Ayurveda – the 5000-year-old Indian system of medicine, as a rejuvenative, and a daily tonic for many centuries. Ashwagandha embodies the very essence of a preventative and curative approach to health in Ayurveda. Ashwagandha is referred to as the Prince of Herbs in Ayurveda.

Ashwagandha is an evergreen shrub, perennial in nature, that grows to a height of 1.5 metres with small bell shaped yellow flowers and is native to India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Middle East and some parts of Africa. Ashwagandha belongs to the night shade family of plants and is cultivated in drier regions of India, Nepal, and Yemen. The shrub prefers dry stony soil with the sun to partial shade. It can be grown from seed or greenwood cuttings.

# Diabetes Management

Several studies have shown that Ashwagandha can help to lower your blood sugar. This could mean that a regular intake of Ashwagandha could help people with diabetes manage their condition. One study found that taking an Ashwagandha supplement once a day for thirty days could lower fasting blood sugar levels as effectively as other oral diabetes medications.

# It Has Anti-Cancer Properties

Ashwagandha can help induce the programmed death of cancer cells. It can also help to prevent the growth of new cancer cells. This is because the herb is thought to generate reactive oxygen species which don’t harm normal, healthy cells but are toxic to cancer cells. This then causes them to break down and die.

# Reduces Cortisol Levels

Cortisol is often referred to as the “stress hormone”. It’s produced by your adrenal glands in response to stressful triggers. In some cases, your cortisol level can become elevated over a long period of time which can increase blood sugar levels and increase fat storage in your abdomen.

A number of studies have shown that Ashwagandha can help lower your cortisol levels, helping you feel less stressed and reducing the amount of fat stored in your abdomen by helping to keep your blood sugar at a healthy level.

# Reduce Stress and Anxiety

The most well-known health benefit of Ashwagandha is its ability to reduce stress. Research has found that it blocks the stress pathways in the brain and regulates chemical signaling in the brain to prevent your stress and anxiety from becoming overwhelming.

# Reduce Symptoms of Depression

Although not as well evidenced as its effects on stress and anxiety, Ashwagandha may also help to lift depression. Studies found that people who took an Ashwagandha supplement once a day experienced a 79% decrease in severe depression symptoms compared to a 10% increase in people who took a placebo. However, not all the people who took part in this study had a history of depression, making it difficult to determine the relevance of the study.

# Boost Testosterone and Increase Fertility in Men

Ashwagandha supplements are thought to have a potent effect on testosterone levels and male fertility. One study involving 75 infertile men found that their sperm count increased following a period of taking daily Ashwagandha supplements. The same study also found that these men experienced an increase in their testosterone levels and an increased level of antioxidants in their blood.

# Increase Muscle Mass and Strength

Ashwagandha can help to improve body composition and increase strength. Studies have suggested that men who take a daily Ashwagandha supplement over a thirty-day period gained muscle strength and increased the size of their muscles more effectively. It has also been known to more than double the reduction in body fat percentages.

# Reduced Inflammation

Several studies have shown that Ashwagandha helps decrease inflammation within the body. It has specifically been found to help reduce inflammation around the heart which could otherwise increase your risk of heart disease. It works by increasing the activity of immune cells that fight infections to help you stay healthy.

# Lower Cholesterol and Triglycerides

Not only does Indian ginseng have anti-inflammatory effects, but it can also help protect your heart by reducing the level of cholesterol and triglycerides in your body. A number of studies have backed up these effects. Although the impact is small, it does definitely seem to have an effect on the level of fat inside your body. A sixty-day study found that adults taking a high dosage of Ashwagandha supplement experienced a seventeen percent decrease in bad cholesterol and an eleven percent decrease in the level of triglycerides in their bodies.

# Improved Brain Function

Ashwagandha supplements can help to reduce issues with memory and brain function as a result of injury or disease. This is a result of the antioxidant properties of the herb which protects your brain cells from free-radical damage. Ashwagandha has been used to treat memory problems for centuries, although there are few studies which prove his effectiveness.

# Relieves Arthritis Pain

Ashwagandha is often considered a great pain reliever, particularly for the pain caused by arthritis. This is largely because of the herb’s anti-inflammatory qualities which reduce the inflammation around your joints and therefore prevents much of the pain arthritis can cause.

# Promotes Heart Health

Ashwagandha provides a number of health benefits which help to keep your heart healthy. It can help lower your blood pressure, reduce cholesterol, and treat chest pains. This takes much of the pressure off your heart and improves the strength of the muscle.

# Protection for Alzheimer’s

According to the African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, there are a number of studies which have examined Ashwagandha’s ability to slow or prevent the loss of memory in people suffering from Alzheimer’s.

When a person suffers from Alzheimer’s, parts of their brain become damages leading to a loss of memory and brain function. As a result, taking a daily supplement of Ashwagandha could help to slow down the progression of the disease and potentially lower your risk of developing Alzheimer’s in the first place.

# Treating Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

There are some clinical studies that have shown Ashwagandha ability to treat attention and impulse control in young children. As such, it may be useful when treating ADHD and other attention deficit conditions.

# Bipolar Disorder

Taking an Ashwagandha extract for eight weeks is also thought to help relieve the symptoms of people suffering from bipolar disorder. It does this by improving brain functions. While this won’t entirely cure bipolar disorder (as there currently is no cure) it can help to treat the symptoms.

# Treating Cerebellar Ataxia

Early research suggests that Ashwagandha can be used in combination with other remedies to improve the balance of people suffering from cerebellar ataxia. The research is sparse and still in early stages so it’s not yet clear how or why this is effective.

# Reduces Fatigue in People Treated for Cancer

Many people experience fatigue when undergoing chemotherapy to treat cancer. This can make it difficult to carry on with everyday tasks. Early research has indicated that taking an Ashwagandha extract each day during your chemotherapy treatment could help to reduce your feelings of fatigue.

# Improves Weight Management

A great health benefit of Ashwagandha root extract is that it can be used to control and maintain a healthy body weight. In fact, taking 600mg of Ashwagandha each day could help to control food cravings and reactive eating.

# Anti-Bacterial

Ashwagandha has been shown to have effects as an antibacterial agent. As such it can help tackle a number of bacterial infections, including tuberculosis.

# Antiviral

Taking Ashwagandha tablets has indicated an antiviral effect of the herb. One study found that 29 people taking an herbal remedy containing Ashwagandha experienced fewer symptoms and a quicker recovery from viral hepatitis.