Ashwagandha Health Benefits

Ashwagandha offers natural solution for a several ailments. Proponents of this herb believe that it can improve both physical and mental health conditions of a person including sexual dysfunction, pain, anxiety, increased blood sugar levels, gastrointestinal disease, epilepsy, and cancer.

Here is a list of cures that this plant may offer some solutions:

Sexual dysfunctionThrough its adaptogenic properties, this herb has been used to increase libido because of its ability to reduce stress, which is a common cause of sexual dysfunction. In an animal study, mice injected with an extract from this plant showed to have reduced stress levels and increased sexual activity.

This plant is also used to enhance health of the semen in infertile men. During an experiment, infertile men were given 5 grams of root powder derived from this plant. When their semen was tested, it was found out that their seminal parameters have improved, such as sperm count, motility, volume and concentration. Their semen’s nutrient counts have increased as well.

Anxiety

It can also be used as a solution to boost testosterone level in infertile men. Participants who took root powder derived from this plant were shown to have increased testosterone levels after six months of taking it daily. However, there is no evidence that could confirm its validity in elevating the testosterone levels in healthy men.

DiabetesHigher dose of ashwagandha can effectively reduce blood glucose while it increases hemoglobin levels and hepatic liver glycogen. It was found out that a 200-mg/kg of this plant was as effective as an anti-diabetic drug known as glibenclamide in lowering blood glucose levels and HbAic to near control levels.

Alzheimer’s DiseaseThis plant has been shown to reduce amyloid pigmentations in middle-aged mice. The reason for this is that the plant’s extract can regulate the levels of LDL-related proteins (LRP). In Alzheimer’s disease, soluble LRP is low. With the oral administration of this plant, it has been demonstrated that it offers great benefits in fighting against the symptoms of said disease and its pathology. However, a higher dosage of this plant must be used to make it an effective solution for such condition. According to researchers, further studies are needed to conclude other benefits of this plant to such disease.

This plant is also used in reducing anxiety levels of patients. When it was tested in humans, participants with chronic stress have seen significant improvements after taking 250 mg of standardized Withania somnífera. Even without anxiety medications, their symptoms, such as forgetfulness, irritability, fatigue, and headaches, were greatly reduced. The participants who took higher dosage have shown to receive more benefits than those in the lower dose group. But the differences were not considered to be clinically significant by the researchers.

Another study suggested that this plant can assist in treating patients with OCD or obsessive compulsive disorder. When a mouse with marble-burying behavior was injected with extract of this plant, it was reported that the extract has successfully reduced the symptoms of such disorder. The study suggested that this plant is as effective as Fluoxentine, which is an anti-depressant drug.

Thyroid functionThe plant’s benefits in regulating thyroid function have also been investigated. During an animal study, rats where administered with the plant’s root extract for 20 days. After that, their hormone levels were checked. Researchers of this study concluded that the root extract could stimulate thyroid activity while enhancing protection levels of liver mitochondria to avoid injuries in the hepatic tissue.