Ashwagandha health benefits

Ashwagandha is an incredibly healthy medicinal herb. It is classified as an “adaptogen,” meaning that it can help your body manage stress. Aswhagandha also provides all sorts of other benefits for your body and brain. For example, it can lower blood sugar levels, reduce cortisol, boost brain function and help fight symptoms of anxiety and depression.

It’s an Ancient Medicinal Herb

Ashwagandha is one of the most important herbs in Ayurveda, a form of alternative medicine based on Indian principles of natural healing. It has been used for over 3,000 years to relieve stress, increase energy levels and improve concentration (1).

“Ashwagandha” is Sanskrit for “smell of the horse,” which refers to both its unique smell and ability to increase strength. Its botanical name is Withania somnifera, and it is also known by several other names, including Indian ginseng and winter cherry.

This is what the ashwagandha plant looks like:

The ashwagandha plant is a small shrub with yellow flowers that’s native to India and North Africa. Extracts or powder from the plant’s root or leaves are used to treat a variety of conditions. Many of its health benefits are attributed to the high concentration of withanolides, which have been shown to fight inflammation and tumor growth (1).

Bottom Line: Ashwagandha is a prominent herb in Indian Ayurvedic medicine and has become a popular supplement due to its health benefits.

Ashwagandha is Safe for Most People and Widely Available

Ashwagandha appears to be a safe supplement for most people. However, certain individuals should not take it, including pregnant and breastfeeding women. People with autoimmune diseases should also avoid ashwagandha unless authorized by a doctor. This includes people with conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and type 1 diabetes.

Ashwagandha dosages in studies typically ranged from 125–1,250 mg daily. In studies where different dosages were taken, the higher dosage usually produced the most dramatic improvements.

If you want to supplement with ashwagandha, look for root extract or powder and take it once or twice per day.

Bottom Line: Although ashwagandha is safe for most people, certain individuals shouldn’t use it unless authorized by their doctor. The recommended dosage is 200–300 mg once or twice per day.

Total Body Shine products like ASC (Adipo Stress Complex) and Total Beauty Complex contain KSM-66 World’s Best Ashwagandha, what we consider to be the finest Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root extract in the world. This whole ashwagandha root extract sets the high bar for traceability, manufacturing excellence, superior composition, and clinical studies.

KSM-66 which has been evaluated in 13 “Gold Standard” human clinical trials. For a herb to operate at a systemic level, it needs a complex blend of phytochemicals with a wide range of actions on the human body. Ashwagandha is one of the very few herbs in the world with a complex blend of this type.