HEALTH REPORT
Feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders?
H ave you tried heard your friends raving about this herb, but what does it actually do? This Ayurvedic herb has been traditionally used in India for centuries and its popularity has seen it spread around the world. That’s probably got a lot to do with ashwagandha’s stress-relieving properties - something many of us could use! ashwagandha? You may have already Here’s everything you need to know about how this popular herbal medicine could benefit you, shared by Erika Bass. What is ashwagandha? Ashwagandha, also called withania, winter cherry or Indian ginseng, is a shrub which has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine in India since 6000 BC. Its root is used in Ayurvedic medicine as an adaptogen, which helps the body to cope with stress.
The Sankskrit word ashwagandha literally translates to ‘smell of a horse’, and this herb is thought to traditionally give the ‘power of a horse’ when consumed in traditional Ayurvedic medicine as a rejuvenating tonic.
can be taken to help the body to adapt to, or cope with, stress. It’s thought to do this through its ability to reduce stress levels. Most importantly, ashwagandha is known to reduce the symptoms of both stress and mild anxiety.
Why is everyone talking about ashwagandha?
What herbs can be used alongside ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha is often taken with many other herbs, some of which include polygala, citrus peel, poria mushroom, holy basil and magnolia. Polygala is a popular herb used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to reduce symptoms of mild anxiety, restlessness and irritability. In TCM, polygala is traditionally known for calming both the mind and the spirit, also known as shen. Another herb to look out for to combine with ashwagandha is citrus peel, which is traditionally taken in Chinese medicine to improve digestive weakness, and regulate qi (or life force energy) to relieve abdominal bloating and fullness, nausea and excessive burping.
How can ashwagandha help me? As the interest in ahwagandha increases, so does the research into its benefits. The research shows that this adaptogenic herb Worldwide, people are looking to the herbal world for ways to help cope with stress, and to relieve stress and mild anxiety symptoms. Fun fact - India consumes over 100 metric tons of ashwagandha every year, making it one of the most used herbal medicines in the country. And for good reason. The epidemic of stress and mild anxiety symptoms doesn’t exist in India alone.
6
ISSUE 63 • 2022
Made with FlippingBook Learn more on our blog