Ashwagandha Herbalism.

Ashwagandha is part of the nightshade family of plants, which contains more than a few dangerously poisonous members. Unlike its more toxic kin, this herb has been used for thousands of years as part of traditional Ayurvedic medicine. While the list of its uses is long and diverse, ashwagandha is mainly used to treat anxiety, lethargy and exhaustion.

Renowned for its ability to energize people who are feeling sluggish or down, and at the same time relax anxious or agitated people, ashwagandha has found a place in the treatment of several conditions, including:

• Nervous system disorders

• Reproductive health issues

• Men's health, including sexual health

• Joint health

• General fitness

• Sleep disturbances

• Immunity

• Heart health

How does Ashwagandha Work?

Ashwagandha is a powerful adaptogen, which means it helps people dampen and manage stress. An herbal preparation of the herb contains alkaloids, steroidal lactones and saponins. These substances reduce stress by lowering cortisol levels and down-regulating other stress hormones, such as adrenaline. Several of ashwagandha's components also help to modulate immune function, though it's still not well understood how this works.

When Should Ashwagandha be Used?

Ashwagandha is safe for most people, and long-term studies have not found any serious or widespread negative issues for otherwise healthy people who take it daily. For the conditions it has historically been used to treat, it generally promotes a positive healing experience and overall wellness that works pretty well with many other traditional or alternative remedies. As part of a comprehensive approach to total-body health, ashwagandha is safe enough to be used without a prescription and with a pretty wide variation on how much people take and how it's used in each individual case.

Because the herb promotes restfulness, most people choose to take it close to bedtime. This isn't strictly necessary for everybody, however. Because the herb takes a long time to build up to its operative levels, there isn't usually a big difference between taking the normal daily dose at night, in the morning or at lunch. Some people report feeling a stronger effect when ashwagandha is consumed on an empty stomach, but no studies have confirmed this yet.

Preparations of Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha has traditionally been used as a Rasayana, a special type of herbal preparation. For 6,000 years, Ayurvedic practitioners have mixed the herb with fruit pulp and either coconut or cow's milk. People seeking treatment could drink this preparation, or sometimes they would apply it directly to an affected body part. The herb could also be eaten directly, or diluted in water or tea for easier consumption. Ashwagandha is still available in all these forms today, though herbal supplements are also to be found in both pill and powder form.

How Long Does Ashwagandha Take to Work?

Ashwagandha doesn't usually kick in right away, and it may need time to build up in your system before you start to see health benefits. Traditionally, the herb had to be taken daily for upwards of 60 days before noticeable positive effects could be observed. For some people, especially those who take ashwagandha in moderate doses ( 300mg or so ) for insomnia, it's been known to take up to 10 weeks to show its full benefit. After that, the positive effects of ashwagandha continue for as long as you keep up your normal intake, and they trail off slowly if you ever stop.

This long lead time is actually good news, even if you're impatient to get started on an ashwagandha therapy regimen. Because the herb takes so long to reach its optimal concentration, your body has time to adjust to the new substance and to reach a healthy natural balance with it. If you're sensitive to ashwagandha, or if you have an allergic reaction or there's a medical reason you shouldn't be taking it, the slow and gradual build up before it reaches its full concentration also help to keep you safe and protect your whole-body wellness.

When Not to Use Ashwagandha

As with any herbal supplement or alternative approach to health, it's important to discuss taking ashwagandha with your doctor before you start. Never start or stop a treatment without consulting with your doctor or a pharmacist who has experience with herbal remedies and Ayurvedic medicine. Some people should not take ashwagandha, and sometimes people who've been taking it have to stop when they start taking another treatment, if only to stay on the safe side and totally avoid potential interactions with other substances.

Ashwagandha tends to strengthen the body's natural immune response, so it may not be a good choice for people who already have an overactive or reactive immune system. If you have an auto-immune disorder like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or multiple sclerosis, ashwagandha should not be taken. Likewise, people with type-1 diabetes should generally avoid ashwagandha unless specifically instructed to take it by a doctor who knows about the risk. Finally, there isn't good information about the effect of taking ashwagandha while pregnant or nursing, or whether it has positive effects on children, so it may be best to avoid it in these situations as well.