As one of the most powerful adaptogen herbs, Ashwagandha has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. When it comes to the benefits of ashwagandha for women, researchers are continuing to discover new ways it can treat a wide variety of health issues.

Ashwagandha helps bring the body back into balance by supporting your neurological, immune, reproductive and endocrine systems. In fact, ashwagandha translates to “smell of horse” due to the scent of the roots and because its effects are strong and energizing, like a horse.

The adaptogens found in Ashwagandha are the real secret ingredient of this powerhouse plant.

♡ How Adaptogens Work

Adaptogens are substances found in herbal medicine and your body’s natural ally when it comes to stress. Primarily used to support your adrenal system, adaptogens help regulate hormones and bring your body back into balance. As the name suggests, adaptogens are known for their ability to adapt to meet your body’s needs. Aside from ashwagandha, other well-known adaptogens include ginseng, eleuthero and rhodiola rosea.

Dr. Frank Lipman explains, “adaptogens work a bit like a thermostat. When the thermostat senses that the room temperature is too high it brings it down; when the temperature is too low it brings it up. Adaptogens can calm you down and boost your energy at the same time without over stimulating.”

Now, let’s dive deeper into the mental and physical health benefits of ashwagandha for women:

Are the wheels in your head always spinning? Do you worry too much?

Ashwagandha is nature’s chill pill plant (minus the pill), acting as a natural remedy for stress and anxiety. In fact, ashwagandha is scientifically-proven to be as effective as the pharmaceutical drugs lorazepam and imipramine, but without the side effects.

According to research, ashwagandha improves overall quality of life including mental health, concentration, vitality, social functioning and fatigue. The study explored the benefits of ashwagandha for women, specifically women who suffered from anxiety. The 75 participants were split into two groups, one that was treated with naturopathic care and one that was treated with psychotherapy.

The naturopathic care group received ashwagandha twice each day along with dietary counseling, deep breathing relaxation techniques and a multi-vitamin. The psychotherapy group received psychological counseling, deep breathing relaxation techniques and placebo pills twice each day.

After 12 weeks, the researchers measured anxiety scores in both groups. The naturopathic care group participants’ anxiety scores decreased by 55 percent and the psychotherapy group’s scores decreased by 30.5 percent. There were also substantial differences in terms of mental health, social functioning, concentration vitality and fatigue.

Let’s face it: Getting older can be downright scary. The physical and mental changes are inevitable, yet many of us struggle to age gracefully.

The good news is there are many things you can do to slow down the aging process. Aside from diet, exercise, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, there are many alternative healing techniques that can prevent premature aging. Slowing down the aging process is one of the main benefits of ashwagandha for women.

Packed with antioxidants, ashwagandha helps fight the free radicals in the body that accelerate the aging process.  

In one study, researchers studied 30 people ranging from 18 to 45 years old. They separated participants into three groups: Ashwagandha, Guduchi and Placebo.

Participants took 1 capsule of Ashwagandha root extract twice daily for six months. The same procedure was applied in the other two groups. At the end of the treatment, researchers measured antioxidant activity in all three groups and found that Ashwagandha can be “helpful in preventing the oxidative stress and premature aging.”

♡ How to Use Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha extract can be found in both liquid and capsule form, widely available online and in health food stores.

When shopping for ashwagandha supplements, read the label. Here’s what to look for:

• Check that it’s produced with gold star standards, standardized for human consumption. A quality product should be high in withanolide content (the more withanolide in a product, the stronger the effects of the supplement).
• Look for KSM-66. This is the highest concentration ashwagandha extract on the market. Made with only the roots of the ashwagandha plant, its extraction process is based on eco-friendly and “green-chemistry” guidelines. KSM-66 is scientifically proven to help reduce stress, boost energy and mental clarity, and improve concentration

♡ Dosage Recommendation

According to a study published in the Journal of Ayurvedic and Integrative Medicine, ashwagandha was well received in the form of capsules, with gradually increasing doses starting from 100 milligrams per day to 1,250 milligrams per day. Researchers concluded that ashwagandha “in escalated dose, was tolerated well. The formulation appeared safe and strengthened muscle activity.”

To get the full benefits of ashwagandha, consistency is key. That is why we included 100mg of organic ashwagandha in Alpha Babe! Now you can rest assure that you are getting all of these benefits everyday! Click Here To Learn About Alpha Babe!

While ashwagandha doesn’t have the best scent, if you use it in powder form, you can mix it with other foods or drinks. Stay tuned for our top ashwagandha recipes coming soon!

If you have any recipe recommendations, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your ideas to hello@wereinthistogethercompany.com for a chance to be featured.