Combat stress and anxiety naturally with Ashwagandha - NL-066

While living with ongoing stress has become a new normal, stress is dangerous and it can hurt your physical as well as mental health. It weakens your immunity, drains the nervous system and negatively affects your cardiovascular, gut and hormonal health, triggering a wide range of emotional, physical and behavioral symptoms such as fatigue, low energy, depression, insomnia, chronic pain, muscle tension, muscle spasms and headache.

Ongoing stress creates inflammation in the body and increases your risk of developing certain health conditions such as heart attack, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, obesity and gastrointestinal problems. People who are continuously stressed out are also prone to developing addictions. Dealing with ongoing stress and anxiety? Don’t let it sabotage your health, productivity and social life. You can manage your stress with the help of a healthy diet, regular exercise, good sleep, meditation and natural supplements such as Ashwagandha.

Ashwagandha for stress and anxiety

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a popular herb best known for its ability to reduce stress and anxiety. In Ayurveda, ashwagandha is classified as a Rasayana, a herb that boosts overall health, rejuvenates the body and promotes vitality. Also known as Indian ginseng or winter cherry, ashwagandha is traditionally used to manage anxiety, fatigue, sleep issues, arthritis, asthma and neurological disorders. All these benefits are linked to its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and adaptogenic qualities.

Ashwagandha functions as an adaptogen, a class of herbs that promote balance within all the organ systems, help the body adapt to stress and offer multidirectional health benefits. Adaptogenic herbs improve your body’s resistance to all kinds of stressors, whether physical or mental. That is why ashwagandha supplements made from ashwagandha root powder are often used to reduce stress and anxiety, improve energy levels and reduce fatigue. Ashwagandha calms the nervous system, and also rejuvenates the body and the mind.

People living with chronic stress also develop other symptoms and complications such as reduced cognitive functions, poor mood, food cravings, anxiety, depression and high blood sugar levels. Research shows that ashwagandha reduces cortisol levels, stress, anxiety and depression in people struggling with chronic stress. [1-2]

In addition to providing stress reducing benefits, ashwagandha also boosts immunity, reduces blood sugar levels, boosts heart health and improves cognitive performance. It also eases symptoms of arthritis with its pain-reducing and anti-inflammatory properties.

References:

1. Lopresti et al. An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Medicine: September 2019 - Volume 98 - Issue 37
2. Remenapp et al. Efficacy of Withania somnifera supplementation on adult’s cognition and mood. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. 2022