Feeling physically and mentally overwhelmed? Try ashwagandha - an all-around wonder herb for anxiety, stress and toxic overload

Tuesday, July 30, 2013 by: Carolanne Wright
Tags: ashwagandha, stress reduction, herbal medicine

(NaturalNews) With the current state of the world concerning environmental destruction, GMOs and political corruption, it's no surprise the average person is on edge. Now more than ever, fortifying the body and mind against this relentless attack is crucial. Ashwagandha can help. As a potent adaptogen, it strengthens the system to withstand mental, physical and environmental stress, earning it the title "Indian ginseng." If you find you could use some support, ashwagandha is an excellent option.

Harness the vigor of a stallion

Known in Sanskrit as "the smell of a horse," ashwagandha is one of the most vital herbs in Ayurvedic medicine. Renowned for its ability to impart stallion-like vigor and strength, ashwagandha is an ancient herb with many modern applications. Containing powerful medicinal compounds such as withanolides, alkaloids, choline and fatty acids, ashwagandha helps the body cope with mental and physical stress. According to the Chopra Center, 216 studies have confirmed the healing benefits of the herb, including:

- Enhanced immunity

- Antimalarial

- Increased memory, learning and response time

- Balanced blood sugar levels

- Anti-inflammatory

- Cholesterol reduction

Ashwagandha is also useful for rheumatoid arthritis, pain, fatigue, epilepsy, gastrointestinal disorders and skin infections. Additionally, research published in the Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences found ashwagandha was effective in slowing the growth of lung, breast and colon cancer cells during tests on human tumor cell lines. Another study in PLoS ONE discovered the herb selectively destroyed cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. And that's not all. Ashwagandha is legendary for its ability to tame nervous system disorders.

An island of serenity

Revered for its capacity to soothe stress, depression and anxiety without drowsiness, ashwagandha is a herb you want to have on your side. In fact, it has been shown to be just as powerful as tranquilizers, antidepressants and the anti-anxiety drug lorazepam - yet without side effects. Ashwagandha not only calms the nervous system, but it also helps protect the brain from stress related deterioration. An animal study at Sukhadia University in Udaipur, India revealed that stressed rats had a rate of 85 percent cell degeneration in the brain. When the animals were treated with ashwagandha and subsequently exposed to stress, their cellular degeneration dropped by 80 percent.

If you desire more balance in life, look no further than this well-respected and time honored herb. As Dale Kiefer observes in Ashwagandha Stress Reduction, Neural Protection, and a Lot More from an Ancient Herb:

"Chronic stress exacts a high price from our bodies as well as our minds. Many degenerative diseases, as well as premature aging, are associated with chronic nervous tension. There is great need for safe and effective prevention strategies to combat the ravages of stress on our nervous system.

Ashwagandha, an exotic Indian herb, has demonstrated anti-anxiety and neuroprotective effects, and tantalizing evidence suggests that it is also a cancer fighter. Animal toxicity studies indicate that this remarkable plant is safe and well tolerated."

Sources for this article include:

http://www.naturalnews.com

http://altmedicine.about.com

http://www.chopra.com

http://www.lef.org

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

http://science.naturalnews.com

About the author:
Carolanne believes if we want to see change in the world, we need to be the change. As a nutritionist, wellness coach and natural foods chef, she has encouraged others to embrace a healthy lifestyle of green living for over 13 years. Through her website www.Thrive-Living.net she looks forward to connecting with other like-minded people who share a similar vision.

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