Ashwagandha is a powerful immunity-boosting herb. You’ll be amazed by everything this medicinal herb can do to give your immune system a boost.
Ashwagandha is a plant native to India, one that has been used in Ayurvedic healing remedies and medicines for more than 3,000 years. The name “ashwagandha” means “smell of the horse”—a name that refers to both its unique odor, and the potency of the herb. However, you may have heard of it by other names, including winter cherry and Indian ginseng.
Whatever its name, you’ll find that it can offer a lot of health and healing benefits.
A LOT!
Here are some of the best things that ashwagandha can do to boost your immune system.
Manage Stress to Boost Your Immune System
During prolonged unpredictable situations the body and most notably your immune system can be suppressed due to stress.
How can ashwagandha help you manage stress?
Interestingly enough, it turns out the herb can actually block the stress pathway in your brain (as proven via animal studies) by regulating the chemical signaling in your brain that sends stress indicators.
Some controlled human studies into the effects of ashwagandha have also found that the herb reduces symptoms in those who are suffering from chronic stress, as well as anxiety disorders. One study found that taking the herb for just two months led to serious results—up to a 69% reduction in insomnia and anxiety among those with chronic stress.
But that’s not all it can do! This amazing herb can also help you deal with the after-effects of your stress.
Stress triggers the release of cortisol, also known as the “stress hormone”. Long-term stress can lead to chronically elevated cortisol levels, which can lead to a number of health problems.
Enter ashwagandha…
The herb is known to help reduce cortisol levels, thereby reducing the negative effect stress has on your body. One study discovered a 30% reduction in cortisol for the subjects who took ashwagandha. That’s a pretty visible result!
Boost Your Immune System and Fight Cancer
You heard it right!
The ashwagandha herb contains a compound called withaferin, and this compound has special cancer-fighting properties.
First of all, withaferin is known to induce cellular apoptosis, or death, in cancer cells.
Second, it can promote the formation of reactive oxygen species inside the cancer cells, which effectively disrupts the function of these cells.
Animal studies have indicated that the withaferin in ashwagandha was effective at stopping tumor growth and shrinking tumor sizes—as much as 70 to 80% in some cases. The compound also proved effective at preventing the cancer from spreading to other parts of the body.
It may help treat a number of cancers, including ovarian, breast, colon, lung, and brain cancer.
However, it’s important to note that all of the studies done to date have been conducted on animals. Further human testing is needed to determine just how effective ashwagandha can be for helping deal with cancer in humans.
Decreasing Inflammation To Boost Immune System
One amazing thing about ashwagandha is that it can increase the activity of your killer cells, the immune cells produced by your body in order to fight infection and improve your health.
In addition to boosting your killer cells, ashwagandha can also decrease the level of C-reactive proteins and other inflammatory markers—many of which are linked to heart disease and other chronic conditions. A study found that men who took just 250 milligrams of ashwagandha extract per day saw a 36% average decrease in CRP levels.
Increase Strength and Muscle Mass
Increasing your strength and lean muscle mass supports your immune system.
Studies into ashwagandha have discovered some pretty promising results in terms of strength and muscle mass improvements!
One study found that ashwagandha could improve body composition, as well as increase overall strength. Men taking a dose of 750 to 1250 milligrams of pulverized ashwagandha for 30 days saw a visible increase in their muscular strength.
Another study discovered that ashwagandha could not only help increase muscular strength, but it could drastically increase body fat loss. Muscular growth also became more visible thanks to ashwagandha, meaning men got fitter faster while taking this herb!
Fight Diabetes
Studies have proven that ashwagandha is effective at lowering your blood sugar levels. The effects are visible not only in healthy people with normal blood sugar but also in diabetics.
But that’s not all it can do! Further research indicates that it can increase your body’s natural insulin secretion and enhance your muscles’ natural sensitivity to insulin. This means that it enables your body to better regulate your blood sugar levels on its own, helping you to better manage prediabetes and diabetes.
Boost Testosterone
Did you know that ashwagandha has been used as a male fertility treatment for centuries? That’s because the herb truly works to raise the level of testosterone and other fertility hormones.
A study involving 75 infertile men found that treating the problem with ashwagandha led to increased sperm motility and sperm count. The men taking the supplement also saw a visible increase in their testosterone levels, as well as the levels of critical antioxidants in their blood. Another study found that ashwagandha led to improved sperm quality and increased the chances of pregnancy with the participants and their partners.
Improve Your Brain Function
Studies conducted in test-tubes and on animals indicate that ashwagandha could be very useful for helping to improve your brain function. Specifically, it can work on your memory.
A study found that rats who took ashwagandha had a “nearly complete” reversal of spatial memory impairment. Ayurvedic healers have used the herb to help boost memory and recall, thanks to its ability to promote antioxidant activity in your brain that protects it from harmful free radicals.
The herb may also improve reaction time and task performance, as well as general memory.
Did you know that our Sleep Slim Tea is made with ashwagandha extract as one of the primary ingredients? As you can see by the LONG list of benefits above, this marvelous herb will do wonders to help you get fitter, protect your body, and manage your stress. It’s the perfect remedy to try to boost your health overall!
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