TL;DR:
Ashwagandha provides benefits for stress and brain health. It is a traditional Ayurvedic herb used to help the body adapt to stress. Research suggests it may support memory, mood, immune function, and healthy inflammation levels. While promising, large clinical trials are still needed for many of its uses.
What is Ashawagandha?
Withania somnifera (Ashawagandha) is very revered herb of the Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine as a Rasayana (tonic). It is used for various kinds of disease processes and specially as a nervine tonic. Considering these facts many scientific studies were carried out and its adaptogenic / anti-stress activities were studied in detail. In experimental models it increases the stamina of rats during swimming endurance test and prevented adrenal gland changes of ascorbic acid and cortisol content produced by swimming stress. Pretreatment with Withania somnifera (WS) showed significance protection against stress induced gastric ulcers. WS have anti-tumor effect on Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell carcinoma. It was also found effective against urethane induced lung-adenoma in mice. In some cases of uterine fibroids, dermatosarcoma, long term treatment with WS controlled the condition. It has a Cognition Promoting Effect and was useful in children with memory deficit and in old age people loss of memory. It was also found useful in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, Huntington’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. It has GABA mimetic effect and was shown to promote formation of dendrites. It has anxiolytic effect and improves energy levels and mitochondrial health. It is an anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic agent and was found useful in clinical cases of Rheumatoid and Osteoarthritis. Large scale studies are needed to prove its clinical efficacy in stress related disorders, neuronal disorders, and cancers.
Source: Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2011;8(5 Suppl):208-13. Narendra Singh, Mohit Bhalla, Prashanti de Jager, Marilena Gilca.
Among Ashwagandha’s primary active components are mild-Ôacting calming alkaloids. These steroidal lactones provide significant adaptogenic effects. Some of these lactones (withanolides) have been reported to be structurally similar to ginsenosides from ginseng, and are used to provide support for healthy adrenal, cognitive and immune system function, as well as providing relief for menstrual discomfort.
