Ashwagandha?
If not, it’s time to find out about the herb that can supposedly help cure a number of ailments
shwagandha has been used for centuries in Indian Ayurvedic medicine – one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems. It’s known as an adaptogen, thanks to its ability to adapt to the body’s needs, reducing anxiety and stress, and encouraging a good night’s sleep. Here, our expert Jo Webber, head of herbal education at Pukka Herbs, gives us the low-down
AENCOURAGE CALM
‘Ashwagandha acts as a depressant to the central nervous system, exchanging feelings of anxiety for feelings of calmness,’ says Jo. ‘Stress causes a surge in the hormones adrenaline and cortisol, which increase alertness.’ Ashwagandha acts directly on the trigger of stress by regulating the imbalanced cortisol level and nourishing the adrenal glands.
WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
‘Raised levels of stress hormones over long periods can lead to increased weight gain,’ says Jo. This is because when stressed, your body enters into the ‘fight or flight’ response, producing cortisol, which can increase your appetite. Research* shows that ashwagandha can be used for weight management in adults under chronic ‘According to our circadian clock (the body clock that prepares us for sleep and waking), cortisol should decrease in the early evening in preparation for sleep,’ says Jo. ‘Stress can overrule these rhythms and cortisol can stay elevated into the night.’ Research** shows that ashwagandha controls the production of the stress hormones and allows our body to retain natural sleeping rhythms.
LOWER BLOOD SUGAR
Do you suffer with high blood sugar? Ashwagandha can help to stabilise and lower blood sugar levels in both healthy and diabetic adults, according to research***. A third of adults in the UK have prediabetes, according to the NHS. ‘This is where blood sugar levels are abnormally high, but lower than the threshold for diagnosing diabetes,’ says Jo. ‘It’s estimated that around 5-10% of people with prediabetes will go on to progress to “full-blown” type-2 diabetes.’
BOOST BRAIN FUNCTION
‘Ashwagandha has been used to boost memory in Ayurveda, supported by research showing it promotes antioxidant activity that protects nerve cells from harmful free radicals,’ says Jo. Free radicals are unstable atoms in the body that can cause damage to cells, resulting in ageing and illness.
AID IMMUNITY
‘Ashwagandha is traditionally used to support a weakened immune system, and it has now been shown to encourage anti-inflammatory and disease-fighting immune cells that help to ward off illness,’ says Jo.