Ashwagandha Root 100 g, 50 g, 25 g

Ashwagandha Root 100 g ($12.99), 50 g ($8.99), 25 g ($5.99)

Benefits:
Ashwagandha has been used for more than 2,500 years as a “vitalizer.” Today, we would place it in the category of adaptogens. It is rejuvenating, balancing, strengthening, and calming to the nervous system. Ashwagandha is useful for relieving fatigue, nervous exhaustion, and memory loss. This herb also has a reputation as an aphrodisiac and is believed to help prevent sterility in males and sexual ailments. A mild sedative, ashwagandha reduces mental chatter and promotes calm sleep. It also promotes tissue regeneration and slows the aging process.

It is excellent for use in bodybuilding and for any type of physical sport, as it gives an instant charge of long-lasting energy without the use of stimulants. Ashwagandha contains iron and may promote growth in children and improve hemoglobin levels. In addition, ashwagandha has shown promise in treating hypothyroidism (low levels of thyroid hormone in the blood).

Alzheimer’s disease and memory problems. Ashwagandha helps correct memory loss by modifying the way in which the brain uses acetylcholine, a chemical that transmits messages from nerve cell to nerve cell. If oxygen levels are low, the brain acquires acetylcholine by destroying its own cells. The cell remnants form neurofibrillary tangles, blocking the transmission of nerve signals and resulting in Alzheimer’s-like symptoms. Ashwagandha decreases the likelihood that the brain will cannibalize its own cells. This action reduces cognitive deficit and memory loss in diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome. Animal studies have found that naturally occurring steroids in ashwagandha are more potent than treatment with the synthetic steroid hydrocortisone for controlling inflammation. These natural steroidal compounds also reduce the pain of arthritis as effectively as aspirin and phenylbutazone when given in the same amount, but without the immune-depressing side effects those drugs cause. Patients who have trouble with balance (called cerebral ataxias) gained better balance with ashwagandha. In a clinical study of patients with osteoarthritis, ashwagandha and other herbs reduced pain and disability significantly.

Autoimmune disorders. Ashwagandha increases red and white blood cell counts after treatment with azathioprine (Imuran, Azasan), cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Neosar), or prednisone for autoimmune diseases such as lupus.

Cancer. Ashwagandha extracts increase platelet counts, red blood cell counts, and white blood cell counts during cancer chemotherapy treatment with cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Neosar). Animal studies in India also have found that ashwagandha sensitizes cancer cells to radiation treatment, making treatments approximately 50 percent more effective. Studies have shown that ashwagandha is helpful in putting cancer tumors of the breast, central nervous system, colon, and lung into regression without killing healthy tissues. The herb may also help prevent chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (low white blood cell count). However, the effectiveness of ashwagandha in the treatment of patients with cancer is not yet determined.

Diabetes. Improvements in high blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity (how well insulin works) have been detected in the animal studies of type 2 diabetes.

Sex drive, diminished. Ashwagandha is a sexual “grounding” herb that reduces the frequency of premature ejaculation and increases sexual stamina. Ashwagandha’s active principles, alkaloids and with anoloids, have longevity-enhancing and sexually stimulating properties.

Stress. Ayurvedic medicine has used ashwagandha as a general tonic for centuries to stimulate long-term endurance. Ashwagandha contains steroidlike compounds that may increase resistance to stress.

Recommended Uses
Ashwagandha is available in small pieces, powder, capsules and tincture form. When used to increase sex drive, ashwagandha should not be taken in instances of acute sexual anxiety, as its effects take hold only after about one week of daily use. For the conditions listed above, be sure not to use a product called ashwagandha oil. That is a combination of ashwagandha with almond oil and rose water designed to be used as a facial toner. Do not eat ashwagandha berries, as they can cause severe gastrointestinal pain. Taking ashwagandha with tranquilizers may result in drowsiness and loss of coordination. You should avoid this herb if you are taking prescription drugs for anxiety, insomnia, or a seizure disorder. Human toxicity studies for ashwagandha are limited.

Botanical Name: Withania somnifera
English: Ashwagandha, Indian winter cherry, Indian ginseng Hindi: Ashvagandha, Asgandh
Sanskrit: Ashvagandha, Gandhapatri, Ashvakandika, Vajikari, Balada, Palashparni, Vajigandha, Balaja,
Ayurvedic: Ashwagandha
Also, known as: Asgandh, Amukkuram, Askagandha, Amukkaramkizangu, Pennerugadda, Asgand, Ashwaganda, Palashaparni, Aswagandha, Ashwaghanda, Ashvagandha, Ashwgandha
Origin: India
Habitat: Throughout India

General Information:
Ashwagandha holds a place in Ayurvedic pharmacology similar to Ginseng in Chinese medicine, yet it is far less expensive. Since ancient times Ashwagandha (aka Indian ginseng) is used in Ayurveda has been considered as a crucial part of ayurvedic treatment for several health conditions and as Rasayana (potent rejuvenative agent). It is the best rejuvenative herb. It is acknowledged to increase vitality and longevity. It improves memory, preserves mental functions and increases intelligence. It protects the brain from degeneration and dementia. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, it is widely used in all inflammatory disorders.
The Indian name Ashwagandha (ashwa-horse and gandha- smell), now also known as Asgandh. It is believed that consuming Ashwagandha in any form may develop or improve vitality, energy levels and strength similar to that of a horse. It stimulates sexual impulses and increase sperm counts.
Ashwagandha roots are stout and fleshy when dry. They are unbranched, straight and gradually tapering downwards. Roots have a brownish white color on the outer side and the inner region is creamy white in color.

How to use:
We make these suggestions to help you get the best benefit from the herbs that you’re choosing to improve your health. Also we make these ideas and recommendations so that consuming them easier and better fit into your lifestyle by adding them to the food that you already eat.
For the full health benefit, it is best to consume (or use the whole herb in poultices) the whole herb. All of the compounds in the herb act best together, as nature intends. Extracts draw out the most prominent beneficial compounds and may concentrate them. What is not extracted can be helpful in ways that we do not yet understand.

Cut Pieces or Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use cut pieces or powdered herb.
Food Preparation: You can add powdered or pieces of herb (if the pieces you buy are bigger than you like, a coffee or herb grinder will quickly reduce) to any yogurt, smoothie, apple or other sauces, spreads, salads or other foods more familiar to you that don’t use heat. Heat can be damaging to the beneficial compounds in the herb. Other options like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pasta sauce, soup, cookies and anything else that fits your lifestyle, but minimizing (by adding near the end of cooking) the heat is helpful.
Also, for children, you can mix powdered herb with honey or glycerin to make paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help medicine go down. The resulting liquid is called an electuary.
For seeds in general, but especially small seeds, it’s best to grind these to break the protective hulls a short time before consumption. This makes all the benefits available, rather than some remaining locked inside the hulls that are unbroken by insufficient chewing.
To make adding herbs even easier, you could add a week’s worth of your chosen herb(s) to an amount of, for example, yogurt that you would eat in a week. Mix thoroughly and eat this each day of the week. So you make once /week and just eat each other day.
Hot Infusion: The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. The heat from making tea can degrade some of the beneficial compounds in the herb. This method minimizes this effect. For the full health benefit, it is recommended to consume what is left over after making tea.
Decoctions: Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water, Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes with the pot covered. Squeeze out as much as liquid as possible. Best practice is to drink the liquid and also consume the solid material that remains. Herb pieces can also be used.
Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use powdered herb.
Capsules: HerbsCrafters makes capsules guaranteed to be filled with the pure herb with no filler or any other products. You can also use powdered herb to make your own capsules at home. These capsules are best taken with liquid to aid in digestion and absorption and to ensure it doesn’t stick in your throat.
Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.
Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.

Tips:
You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder or licorice root powder.

Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.