For thousands of years, Ayurvedic herbology has been using Ashwagandha to vitalise and support the body’s own powers. The plant is increasingly used because it helps us cope with stress and supports our resistance to stressors (stress triggers) in our fast-paced world. Researchers have also recently shown interest in the winter cherry or sleeping berry, as Ashwagandha has been called. News from science confirms that there is indeed a remedy for stress.
Withania somnifera, the botanical name of Ashwagandha, has been used in India for over 5000 years to support vitality and mental balance. As an adaptogen, it helps people adapt to increased stress situations and those affected by stress obtain more rest and relaxation. A recent study published in Medicine in September 2019 once again confirms that Ashwagandha lives up to its promise. The randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study investigated the stress relieving effect of Ashwagandha extract on healthy subjects. Sixty stressed adults received either a placebo or 240mg of a standardized Ashwagandha extract per day for 60 days. The stress level as well as the emotional and mental balance of the subjects were surveyed using standardised questionnaires (HAM-A and DASS-21). Supplementation with Ashwagandha significantly (HAM-A: p = 0.040) and nearly significantly (DASS-21: p = 0.096) reduced the stress parameters and was well tolerated: all subjects completed the study without experiencing any side effects.
Summary: The results of the recent study confirm that Ashwagandha is a tolerable herbal option for stress sufferers. It can help body adapt in times of increased stress and supports inner balance. According to researchers, further studies with larger numbers of clinically and culturally different subjects as well as graduated doses would be desirable in order to be able to clarify the physiological mechanisms behind the adaptogenic effects of Ashwagandha.
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