Ashwagandha (Winter Cherry)
Ashwagandha root is a herb of the ages. It is the 'ginseng' of
Ayurvedic medicine, the traditional medicine of India and is considered
an 'adaptogen', a term used to describe herbs that improve physical
energy and athletic ability, increase immunity to colds and infections
and increase sexual capacity and fertility.
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Uses:
Increase immunity to
colds & infections, vitality, male fertility and libido. Combats
impotence and helps regulate blood sugar.
Suggested For:
Strengthen immune system
antioxidant
rejuventaing
antibiotic
astringent
anti-inflammatory
anti-anxiety
anti-tumor
diuretic
Insomnia
Reduces Cholesterol
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One reason for ashwagandha's reputation as a general energy-promoting,
disease-preventing tonic may be its effect on the immune system. A
number of studies have shown significant increases in white blood cell
counts and other measures of strengthened immunity in rodents given
ashwagandha or certain chemicals extracted from the herb. Ashwagandha
may also have a mild sedative effect on the central nervous system and
in animal studies it has been shown to be a muscle relaxant. It is
commonly used to increase vitality, particularly when recovering from
chronic illnesses and pain management for arthritic conditions.
Ashwagandha may also help regulate blood sugar which aids in
suppressing sugar cravings.
Research shows ashwagandha may be a promising alternative for cancer
treatment and prevention. Ashwagandha seems to show positive effects on
the endocrine, cardio, and central nervous systems. It is one herb that
could help your body produce it's own thyroid hormones.
Ashwagandha is used to restore male libido, cure impotence and
increase male fertility. It is widely used in southern Asia as a male
sexuality tonic.
Preliminary studies indicate that the herb helps to reduce the negative
effects of stress, slow tumour growth, treat anxiety and insomnia, and
reduce cholesterol in addition to increasing sexual performance.
Ashwaghanda is generally safe at the doses recommended on the
packaging. In high doses it may have steroidal activity similar to
Creatine.
Research on ashwagandha has concluded that extracts of the
plant has a direct spermatogenic influence on the seminiferous tubules
of immature rats presumably by exerting a testosterone-like effect
1. It is could also a potential source of hypoglycemic, diuretic and hypocholesterolemic agents
2.
Because ashwagandha has traditionally been used to treat various
diseases associated with nerve tissue damage related to the destructive
molecules known as free radicals, some researchers have speculated that
the herb may have antioxidant properties. Free-radical damage plays a
role in normal ageing and in such neurological conditions as epilepsy,
Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.