Ashwagandha for Mental Health
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Our expert shares his take on this powerful adaptogen.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an evergreen shrub cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas of Asia, Africa and Europe. It is classified in Ayurveda (the ancient Indian system of medicine) as a ‘rasayana’ - a member of a group of plant-derived drugs reputed to promote physical and mental health, augment resistance of the body against disease and revitalise the body in debilitated conditions to increase longevity.
It is commonly called by the Sanskrit name, ashwagandha, because the plant’s roots are said to smell like a horse (‘ashwa’ for horse and ‘gandha’ for smell).
Also known as Indian ginseng and winter cherry, ashwagandha has been used in the traditional medicine systems of India as an adaptogen, which is loosely defined as a compound or product that increases the ability of a person to resist, adapt or become resilient in nonspecific ways to biological, physical or chemical stressors.
The species name somnifera comes from the Latin word for sleep-inducing, signifying another purported property of this botanical. In addition to sleep, ashwagandha is commonly promoted for stress and anxiety reduction as well as for cognitive disorders.
Ashwagandha is rich in phytochemicals, including steroidal lactones (known as withanolides). While withanolides are believed to be responsible for many of ashwagandha’s proposed effects, evidence from preclinical studies suggests that other, non-withanolide components may also be involved.
Ashwagandha may support…
- Anxiety reduction
- Stress reduction
- Sleep
- Concentration
- Memory & cognitive function
- The management of Alzheimer’s
- Neuroprotection
- Immunity
- Sexual health
Ashwagandha has been described as a nervine tonic, and can therefore be used to support in the treatment of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's and other neurodegenerative diseases at any stage of the disease, even before a person has been diagnosed and is still in the state of mild forgetfulness, etc.
How to select the best quality ashwagandha?
There are plenty of ashwagandha supplements available on the market. To get optimum benefit, it is very important to choose carefully.
Some points to consider…
- Does your ashwagandha absorb fast and remain in the body for a long duration?
- Is it clinically tested for bioavailability?
- What is the percentage of active molecules / withanolides?
- Has it been clinically proven for effectiveness?
- Is it tested for safety?
- What is the intake of withanolides per dose?
- Have you checked the price per dose?
Shoden® is the only ashwagandha containing the highest percentage of actives, with 35% withanolide glycosides. It is the most bioavailable ashwagandha extract proven by human clinical trial, and effective at doses as low as 60 mg once daily.
