Ashwagandha, or Withania somnifera, is a popular Ayurvedic herb that has been around for centuries. It is also known as Indian Ginseng or Indian Winter Cherry. Ashwagandha belongs to a category of Rasayana substances known to enhance and bring forth a state of youthfulness, overall health, as well as physical and mental happiness.

Why should you add Ashwagandha in your diet?

The Ashwagandha plant is endowed with many medicinal properties. Ashwagandha is home to a large number of phytochemicals, such as phenolic compounds, alkaloids, glycosides, and flavonoids. These substances can mediate many natural pathways in our bodies—immune or metabolic—making them highly beneficial.

Ashwagandha's benefits lie in its ability to be an adaptogen—a chemical that helps your body react to stress and positively influence your well-being. Ayurveda suggests that by adding Ashwagandha to food or beverages or consuming it as tinctures can help bring your body back to homeostasis—a state of natural, steady balance through the management of not just physiological but also mental stressors.

Benefits of Ashwagandha 

Traditionally, Ashwagandha powder has been a common addition to many Ayurvedic mixes to manage stress, anxiety, insomnia, skin problems, diabetes, gastrointestinal issues, etc. Let's look at some of the widely popular applications of Ashwagandha and how they benefit the body:

a) Reduces stress and anxiety 

Since Ashwagandha is an adaptogen, its most popular and effective use is in the form of a remedy for mental health conditions. It is considered a long-term solution for anxiety and stress due to the ability of Ashwagandha to bring down cortisol levels. Cortisol is the hormone that exacerbates stress in your body. Studies have demonstrated how Ashwagandha supplements, in the form of ashwagandha capsules or ashwagandha tablets, can significantly reduce stress and anxiety.

b) Improves insomnia

Ashwagandha also helps with insomnia by helping the body relax. This has been proven by multiple studies, where people taking Ashwagandha extracts showed a significant improvement in sleep quality. If you struggle with insomnia, taking a spoonful of Ashwagandha powder before you sleep may help you with this problem. Or if you find the powder not-so-palatable, you can opt for sleep gummies that pair Ashwagandha with melatonin to help you achieve a peaceful REM cycle.

c) Reduces inflammation

Since Ashwagandha is rich in phytochemicals that can mediate natural pathways in the body, it can play an important role in curbing excess inflammation. This has been demonstrated by studies, which saw a significant decrease in inflammatory markers in the body of the test group. Since excess inflammation plays a role in the development of lifestyle-related diseases, this suggests that Ashwagandha can help alleviate them, too.

d) Improve sexual function and fertility

Some studies have shown that regular consumption of Ashwagandha by men can improve their testosterone levels as well as improve sperm motility. This results in an overall boost in fertility for men with Ashwagandha supplementation. These benefits are not just restricted to men. Ashwagandha benefits for females include observations of better arousal and satisfaction. Not just that, Ashwagandha has an overall effect on improved metabolism, which can significantly improve the sex lives of both men and women. If you're looking for that energy boost, try incorporating ashwagandha capsules or energy booster churnas in your diet.