Ashwagandha is known as the The Indian Ginseng or The Indian winter cherry. Its scientific name is Withania somnifera and it's a shrub whose roots and fruits have been used for its medicinal purposes for centuries.
The name Ashwagandha is derived from the Sanskrit words Ashwa meaning Horse and Gandha meaning odour. The name refers to both the herb's scent and its potential ability to increase strength.
Let us learn some of its important health benefits in both men and women.
Coping up with stress is one of the key benefits of Ashwagandha. It is classified as an adaptogen, a substance which helps the body cope with stress and anxiety.
Due to its ability to control stress mediators, the Ashwagandha supplements have been known to reduce stress and anxiety.
As increasing stress leads to hair loss, ashwagandha being a stress reliever helps reduce hair fall and maintaining good hair
The anti-bacterial properties of Ashwagandha prevent skin from any ailments or infections promoting a healthy skin care routine for women.
It helps correct the hormonal imbalances and helps alleviate menopause related issues as it works on stress which is a major contributor to menopausal discomforts.
Ashwagandha can benefit women experiencing sexual dysfunction. It provides relief from mental stress, improves mood, and increases the blood flow, thereby acting as a sexual stimulant.
Ashwagandha has strong anti-diabetic properties. It may reduce blood sugar levels through its effects on insulin secretion and its ability to stimulate your cells to absorb glucose from the bloodstream.
A compound called withaferin A (WA) present in Ashwagandha reduces the inflammatory markers like the CRP “ C reactive proteins which enables it to reduce inflammation in the body.
Ashwagandha for both men and women has been shown to improve cognition, memory, response time, and focus. The antioxidant properties of Ashwagandha protect brain cells from the damaging effects of free radicals.
VO2 max is the maximum amount of oxygen a person can use. It is a measurement of heart and lung health. Higher VO2 max is associated with a lower risk of heart disease. Ashwagandha increases VO2 max levels, which is the maximum oxygen you take in while physically exerting yourself.
Ashwagandha helps to increase muscle mass and helps significantly reduce body fat percentage and post-workout muscle damage.
Ashwagandha stimulates and regulates the testosterone level in men. It improves sperm quality and helps with stress-related infertility.