Ashwagandha - A path to Wellness
Crying myself to work? yes…
Laughing hysterically to end up inconsolably crying? Been there…
Fatigued, and tired, sure…
Feeling depressed when there were no significant reasons why? Check
I just kept going and going because I felt I could handle the stress and that it would eventually get better. What I did not realize was that by not addressing chronic stress, I was unintentionally allowing my body to stay in a constant fight or flight biological response. To add more color to this, our fight or flight response is an ancient survival reaction our ancestors had when faced with life-threatening circumstances. This response stimulates our adrenal glands and unleashes stress hormones like adrenaline and increases cortisol to bring out physiological responses: our hearts beat faster, we push more blood to our muscles and heart, and our stored blood sugar and fats are used by our body to create additional energy so we can handle the life threatening situation. The problem arises when we allow stress to run unchecked and become chronic. Studies suggest that it can lead to serious diseases and affect our mental and emotional health. It could also lead to weight gain due to cortisol imbalances.
I found Ashwagandha after starting my journey with nutritional supplements.
I knew I had low energy, I felt fatigued, constantly stressed and fragile, so I started setting up my vitamin regime. I started with Moringa Capsules for better nutrition and energy and then I incorporated Ashwagandha to help me manage stress, and I got to say Ashwagandha was a game changer for me. It was obvious at the time that work stress was taking a toll in my physical and mental health.
Ashwagandha comes from a plant also known as Withania Somnifera, native from Asian countries and a favorite medicinal plant in Ayurveda where they call it “Rasayana”, an adaptogen tonic to help promote wellness and longevity. So how does Ashwagandha help? A randomized study found that a 600mg daily dose of Ashwagandha taken for 60 days helped reduce cortisol levels in a group of adults with a history of chronic stress and helped them develop better resistance towards stress. Ashwagandha’s adrenal support and positive impact in our cortisol levels is key to its success because even though cortisol is responsible for several vital functions like our ability to get up from bed or reacting to physical threats, in excess, it can affect our energy levels, sugar levels, and produce anxiety symptoms such as extreme feelings of sadness, panic attacks, insomnia, mood swings, memory loss, muscle stiffness, body trembling, digestive issues, etc
Like any adult, we all have our own personal challenges, whether work related or personal. These are simply part of life…. And honestly , at times I felt that somehow, I was artificially happy by taking this supplement and that in a way I was invalidating my own grievances, but in reality, this is a natural supplement that helps me cope with stress better, I feel rejuvenated and more focused, and I can handle difficult conversations without becoming emotional or irritable. Now, I would like to emphasize that lifestyle changes in addition to herbal supplements such as nutrition, exercise, meditation, etc. will also help us manage anxiety and stress whenever we can make them possible.
So what would be the recommended dosage for me?
Like with any other supplement, the first step before talking dosage is to consult with a physician to ensure there are no interactions with other medications or affects any pre-existing condition.
Several studies suggest that a good starting point for Ashwagandha is to take between 250-600mg per day. When taking the pure Ashwagandha root powder, the dosage can go up to 5000mg per day. Below is B’Leaf Nature’s recommendation for its pure Ashwagandha Root Powder capsules.