What is Ashwagandha? An Overview of a Powerful Plant

May 29, 2024

In a day and age where more and more people are turning to natural remedies over powerful prescriptions, ashwagandha has become an increasingly popular option. Why? Its benefits extend to multiple areas of health, including sleep, stress, anxiety, brain function and even athletic performance. But what is ashwagandha exactly? Continue reading as we explore this powerful plant:

What is Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha is an evergreen shrub that grows in areas in India, Africa and the Middle East. It’s long been used in Ayurveda, a traditional form of alternative medicine that leans on Indian principles to achieve natural healing. It’s been used for thousands of years in numerous cultures to help with stress, increase energy levels and improve concentration.

Ashwagandha is full of bioactive compounds, including a group known as withanolides, which are believed to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects on the human body. Today, ashwagandha is used in modern-day supplements made from the plant's roots, leaves or combination of both.

A Natural Stress Reliever

Ashwagandha is most commonly known for its beneficial effects on stress, which commonly wreaks havoc on the body. It belongs to a group known as adaptogens, which are substances that help the body deal with stress. Research has shown it to be effective to treat stress. Many people who take ashwagandha supplements report it also helps with anxiety, although more research is needed in that aspect.

It’s believed to help control mediators of stress, like heat shock proteins, cortisol and stress-activated c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase. In addition, it lessens the activity on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis which is responsible for regulating your body’s response to stress.

Effects on Sleep

Many people who struggle to get quality sleep rely on ashwagandha for help. It promotes restful sleep and many believe that it helps with sleep disorders. A 2020 study of 50 adults ages 65-80 discovered that those who took 600 mg of ashwagandha root every day for 12 weeks significantly improved both sleep quality and mental acuity when awake as compared to a placebo.

A 2021 review of five studies found ashwagandha to be particularly effective for people dealing with insomnia. In addition to its positive effects on sleep quality and alertness, the review reported a reduction in anxiety levels.

Other Potential Benefits

While research isn’t nearly as extensive at this point, ashwagandha is believed to be beneficial for several other areas of health including helping with mental health conditions, boosting testosterone and improving fertility in men, reducing both blood sugar and inflammation, and brain function.

Another study found ashwagandha to be beneficial for patients with schizophrenia who were suffering from depression and anxiety, when 1,000 mg was taken daily for a period of 12 weeks. A separate study found it to be effective in improving cognitive function in those with bipolar disorder.

Studies have shown it to increase DHEA-S, a sex hormone that plays a role in the production of testosterone. While another review found that it significantly increased sperm concentration, semen volume and sperm motility in men with low sperm count.

When looking at its effects on those with diabetes, researchers found it significantly reduced levels of blood sugar, hemoglobin A1c and insulin. It’s believed that’s because it stimulates cells to receive glucose from the bloodstream.

Ashwagandha From NCP

We’re proud to offer an ashwagandha product that supports both healthy stress response and restful sleep! Ashwagandha from NCP is a purified extract of the leaves and roots from the ashwagandha plant featuring an industry-leading concentration of 35% withanolide glycosides. It features Shoden, which is known to help the body adapt to both physical and mental stressors while supporting improved sleep quality.

If you’ve ever wondered, “what is Ashwagandha,” now you know! This natural supplement isn’t alone. Another natural compound found in plants that is becoming more popular is berberine, which offers many benefits!