Scientific References
BENEFITS OF ASHWAGANDHA
Stress and anxiety
Ashwagandha is a medicinal herb that has been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine. It is known to aid with insomnia, stress, anxiety, and exhaustion.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled prospective study was conducted in 2012 by a team from Asha Hospital, Andhra Pradesh State, India. The study involved a group of 64 chronic stress patients, randomly divided into two groups. Patients in the first group were given a capsule containing 300 milligrams of highly concentrated, full-spectrum Ashwagandha root extract every day for 60 days. The individuals in the control group received a placebo. At the end of the 60-day period, the individuals who received the root extract showed significant improvement in all stress markers. It was also found that blood levels of cortisol, a hormone closely linked to the stress process, were substantially reduced. The researchers concluded that the highly concentrated, full-spectrum Ashwagandha root extract safely and effectively improves stress resistance and quality of life. (1)
This property was confirmed in a subsequent study conducted in 2019 in Australia. The researchers randomly divided 60 adults into two groups. They gave the individuals in the first group a placebo and those in the second group 240 milligrams of standardized Ashwagandha extract per day for 60 days. At the end of the study, the researchers found a significant improvement in markers of anxiety and stress in the individuals who received the extract. They also found a decrease in morning cortisol levels and a decrease in testosterone in women, but not in men. These variables were unchanged in those who received the placebo. The safety of Ashwagandha was also demonstrated in this study. (2)
The beneficial effects of Ashwagandha on people suffering from anxiety have long been known and used in traditional Indian medicine. These benefits have been confirmed by more modern studies. A scientific team from the University of Pittsburgh administered 1000 milligrams of Withania Somnifera extract to 66 patients suffering from depression and anxiety. They found that after 12 weeks, all markers of anxiety and depression declined. They concluded that the extract of this herb can treat the symptoms of depression and anxiety. (3)
Sleep quality
Insomnia is a sleep disorder consisting of difficulty falling asleep or poor quality, interrupted and restless sleep. Several remedies exist for insomnia, but most are poorly tolerated by the body and even have adverse health effects. Recent studies have shown that Ashwagandha KSM66® can help improve sleep quality.
At Prakruti Hospital in the Indian state of Maharashtra, 60 patients with sleep disturbances were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Subjects were divided into two groups. The individuals were divided into two groups. The first group consisted of 40 people who were administered 300 mg of Ashwagandha root extract twice a day. A placebo was given to the remaining 20 patients. After ten weeks, the researchers found that those who took Ashwagandha had a higher sleep duration, a shorter sleep latency, and fell asleep faster after 10 weeks. (4)
Another study was also carried out in India on 155 healthy individuals who were given a dose of 120 milligrams of Ashwagandha extract for six weeks. Of the subjects who received the extract, 72% reported improved sleep, compared to 29% of those who received the placebo. Scientific measurements of the subjects’ sleep showed improvements in sleep quality, efficiency, continuity, and duration. (5)
Researchers at D Y Patil University School of Medicine in Mumbai, India confirmed this property of Aswagandha in a study conducted in 2020. They randomly divided 40 healthy people and 40 people suffering from insomnia into two groups. The individuals in one group were given a placebo and those in the other group an extract of the herb. At the end of the study, they studied changes in sleep parameters (sleep onset latency, total sleep time, sleep efficiency, Pittsburgh sleep quality index, mental alertness on rising assessment). They found that in the Ashwagandha group, the sleep parameters were improved in the healthy subjects and even more so in the subjects with insomnia. These parameters were unchanged in the placebo group. (6)
Brain function, memory, and learning
A study from the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology at the University of Calcutta found that 300 mg twice daily had a positive effect in patients with mild cognitive impairment. (7) The results of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study showed a significant improvement in memory abilities in patients who received Ashwagandha compared to those who received a placebo. The improvement was in both short and long-term memory of all types: semantic, procedural, perceptual.
Oxidative stress occurs when there are more free radicals in the body than antioxidants. This phenomenon affects the brain and is one of the factors that contribute to aging-related damage. Ashwagandha is an adaptogen that helps the central nervous system combat oxidative stress. This property permits to protect the brain and maintain its functioning in the best conditions. (8)
Female and male sexual functions
Sexual disorders are common in women of all ages. They are usually treated with drugs, often hormonal, which have their share of harmful side effects, unlike Ashwagandha, a natural product with proven efficacy and safety.
A team of researchers from an Indian fertility hospital administered to 25 women 600 milligrams of Ashwagandha root extract twice a day. The plant greatly enhanced several parameters related to sexuality quality. Patients reported an increase in desire, lubrication, the ease of reaching orgasm, and an increase in sexual satisfaction. (9)
The positive effects of Ashwagandha extract KSM-66 on female sexual diseases, including reduced libido, were confirmed in another study conducted in India in 2015 on a large population of women aged 21 to 50 years old. (10)
A rigorous review of 42 studies on the effects of the plant on male and female sexual function highlighted the ability of Ashwagandha to improve fertility, erectile function, and libido in both men and women. These positive effects on sexuality are thought to be due to the plant’s antioxidant properties and its richness in withanolides and other organic compounds beneficial to the body. (11)
The beneficial effects of KSM66® on male sexuality are explained by the property of withaferin to significantly increase testosterone levels in men. (12)
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