Ashwagandha Tea Benefits

Maybe you have never heard of this tea herb, and you are not alone.

So, what is Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha, Withania somnifera or a winter cherry is a flowering bush mostly growing in India. Another interesting name for Withania somnifera is the Indian ginseng. Even though these two plants belong to a completely different botanical family, what Korean ginseng represents and promotes in Korea, Indian ginseng represents and promotes in India–wellbeing and longevity. Ashwagandha may provide powerful benefits for both body and mind. [2]

Ashwagandha has been used as a remedy for different illnesses for thousands of years–even longer than Camellia sinensis tea. It was first mentioned in Ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicine, about 6000 years ago and it still didn’t lose any of the popularity. And, for a reason, Ashwagandha plant belongs to a group of adaptogens or plants, herbs and roots that may help naturally deal with all types of acute and chronic stress. Although different parts of the plant are edible, for medicinal purposes only the root is used. [2]

Ashwagandha is available as a supplement, in powdered form or as dry root. Dry root is often a part of adaptogenic tea blends. It may provide numerous benefits and may even be a good alternative for a caffeinated morning energy boosting drink, which is why we choose it for our Animo wellness tea.

Let’s talk about Flavor

As many healthy herbs, ashwagandha is bitter too. Aroma is often described as “horsey [3]”. In fact, the word ashwagandha means “odor of horse” describing the scent of the roots [4]. Bitterness and pungent aroma are also a reason this plant is mostly taken as a supplement or in powdered form, rather than as a tea. However, blended with other herbs, especially those commonly used in Ayurveda and with strong and pleasant flavors, ashwagandha will be much less noticeable and may show truly little bitterness.

Now let us get to the good stuff!
Health Benefits of Ashwagandha

The main potential health benefit of ashwagandha is improving resistance to stress and the overall quality of life and promoting youthfulness. It’s considered generally safe, [5] but rare side effects may include nausea and diarrhea [6].

Avoid ashwagandha if pregnant, as studies showed that extremely high doses may potentially be extremely dangerous [7].

Ashwagandha has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties,[8] may be greatly beneficial for the nervous system [9] and promoting heart health [10]. Some potential benefits are:

1. Reducing stress
   Ashwagandha has been used as a nerve tonic for thousands of years. Studies showed that in high concentrations over a period of 2 months, ashwagandha extract may significantly reduce cortisol levels [11] and may even help with severe stress. Cortisol is often called a stress hormone, and high levels may negatively influence body functions and cause some psychological disorders [12]. Ashwagandha may have an impact on thyroid hormone and normalize the thyroid in hypothyroidism [13].
   

2. Reducing anxiety and depression
   Human study showed that ashwagandha may not only reduce the cortisol levels, but help reduce anxietyand depression as well. In a 60-day, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, ashwagandha was able to significantly reduce both, compared to the placebo group [14]. However, don’t take it with other medicine for treating depression or anxiety as it may increase the effect of antidepressants.

3. Reducing fatigue and increasing physical endurance
   Except relieving stress, ashwagandha may help reduce fatigue as well. This adaptogenic plant may provide stimulating and anti-fatigue effect by reducing exhaustion caused by stress [15]. It may help significantly increase physical endurance, even up to 100% [16]. If you are looking to increase energy, but do not want to drink caffeinated teas, ashwagandha may be a great alternative.
   

4. Boosting immune system
   Ashwagandha has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It may reduce oxidative stress and may help protect cells from free radicals. Oxidative stress may cause cell damage or cell death [18]and cause many diseases. Ashwagandha may also help with autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis [19].

5. Improving fertility
   It’s believed ashwagandha may benefit the reproductive system [20] and help improve fertility in infertile men and women. Furthermore, it may act as an aphrodisiac [22]. However, more research is needed to back up these claims.
6. Promote longevity
   Studies showed that ashwagandha has a potential to increase telomerase activity and provide and anti-aging effect [23]. It may help maintain the length of telomeres, endings on chromosomes that become shorter as we age and protect chromosomes from degradation [24].
   

7. Protecting the brain
   Ashwagandha may help with inflammation in the brain too. It may promote the healthy aging of the brain [25]and support healthy brain function. Therefore, it may be useful in treating dementia. Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s [26], and bipolar disorder [27].
   

8. Protecting digestive system
   Studies showed that ashwagandha may help to protect stomach from stress induced ulcers [28].
   

9. Anti-cancer properties
   Studies showed that ashwagandha may help with some type of tumors by preventing their growth. It may be beneficial in treating symptoms of anti-cancer drugs [29]and thus minimize the negative effects of chemotherapy.
   

10. Promoting sleep
    Ashwagandha is one of those herbs that may provide benefits for the overall health. In addition to promoting energy and endurance, studies showed that ashwagandha may promote healthy sleep as well. Studies showed that the dose of 300 mg twice a day may help treat insomnia and improve the quality of sleep. In fact, many ashwagandha recipes are created to provide a soothing and sleep improving properties, and often include milk and honey. [30]

Dislaimer:
This article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every person is different and may react to different herbs and teas differently. Never use teas or herbs to treat serious medical conditions on your own. Always seek professional medical advice before choosing home remedies.