During the last couple of years, there have been all kinds of marketable stress and anxiety herb relievers like chamomile, valerian roots, and lavender.
The month of April is a stress awareness national month. According to the National Institute of Health, around one-third of adults suffer from stress daily. However, many seek natural remedies to cope with stress thanks to increased wellness culture and overall health. The new one is Ashwagandha.
Ashwagandha is a plant that grows in Africa and Asia. It is considered an Adaptogen. Adaptogens are herbs, roots, or other plant substances that help our body resist physical and mental stress. According to Web MD, it contains chemicals that reduce swelling, calm the brain, lower blood pressure, and alter the immune system.
“It’s the same story with ashwagandha as it is for many, many dietary supplements, botanicals, herbals,” said D. Craig Hopp, a deputy division director at the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health to the New York Times.
Despite the science of the herb still being questionable, people keep using it. However, Ashwagandha’s effectiveness as a supplement is hard to pinpoint as the plant has a lot of active compounds in its many different parts, according to Dr. Pieter Cohen, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School who studies supplements.
Another problem with consuming Ashwagandha supplements is that the pills might have a different concentration. Customers wouldn’t even know if they were taking Ashwagandha or something else, as supplement regulations in the USA are very lenient.
Dr. Hopp said that “oftentimes, people think, ‘Well, it’s been used for thousands of years — it must be good for something, otherwise people wouldn’t keep using it.’” But without definitive research demonstrating what Ashwagandha can do, consumers are left without clear answers.
TikTok users on the social media platform report less stress and numbness after using Ashwagandha. However, The reactions may be due to the plant being able to repress dopamine receptors and help balance cortisol levels. Cortisol is the hormone that is linked to stress.
To experience a calming effect with Ashwagandha. People would have to consume it regularly, two times a day, and they would have to do this for several weeks. As some companies advertise, a drink or supplement isn’t likely to have the desired effect. According to experts, coping with stress using traditional methods such as a warm cup of tea or short meditation is better.
Like all health supplements, Ashwagandha comes with a variety of side effects. People who take it might experience nausea, diarrhea, upset stomach, and in some rare occurrences vomiting.
Ashwagandha is also dangerous for those who suffer from thyroid diseases, autoimmune disorders, or hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.
Pregnant women should also avoid taking it as it could result in a damaged pregnancy.
Instead, experts recommend asking your doctor and choosing a supplement certified by a third-party organization such as the U.S. Pharmacopeia or NSF before trying Ashwagandha.
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