Indian Ayurveda offers a proven and unique approach to many of our health problems. Ayurveda provides answers to all your pressing questions, including herbal oils, stress management, weight loss, lifestyle and nutritional balance. One such deep-rooted problem is sleep deprivation, which is faced by almost 93% of Indians. But don’t worry. Ashwagandha, also known as Indian ginseng, is a treatment for this problem.
Ashwagandha, scientifically known as Withania somnifera, gets its name from its root, which is said to smell like a wet horse. Ashwagandha comes from the word “ashwa” which means horse and “ganda” means smell. This shrub is most commonly found in India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa, and has a variety of characteristics.
According to Ayurvedic physician and anime creator Dr. Upasana Vohra, ashwagandha reduces anxiety, strengthens immune system activity, lowers blood sugar levels, improves mental health with antipsychotic properties, and extends the lifespan of joints. , and of course, helps you sleep, India Today reported.
Many health influencers as well as experts are touting it as the “Indian Ayurvedic answer” to many problems. This herb has also made its way to tinsel town, with Bollywood celebrities endorsing this shrub time and again.
According to the media, popular designer and actor Masaba Gupta spoke about drinking ashwagandha in the form of tea as part of his morning routine in a 2023 interview. Moreover, during the 2022 episode of ‘Coffee with Karan’, Varun Dhawan reportedly advised the caller: Let ashwagandha improve your sex life.
Sleep gummies vs ashwagandha
When asked about taking ashwagandha instead of sleep gummies or supplements, Dr. Bora explained that gummies are similar to ashwagandha. Both have common properties that improve sleep quality.
Devjani Gupta, a nutritionist and health expert based in Mumbai, agrees, adding that ashwagandha naturally and holistically supports sleep by dealing with stress and anxiety, while sleep gummies contain chamomile extract. , says it may contain additional ingredients such as melatonin and vitamins essential for sleep. support.
The nutritionist also said, “Results from some clinical trials suggest that ashwagandha extract may help with sleep,” and coupled this with a recent study in 2023, centered on India, which found that 18-year-olds reported that they had an autoimmune disease. Those who reported sleep disturbances took ashwagandha root and leaf extracts.
Results showed that participants who took ashwagandha extract had improved sleep efficiency, total sleep time, sleep latency, and post-sleep wakefulness. The study also found that the effect was more pronounced in people with insomnia.
The media also quoted Dr. Kiran, a celebrity skin aesthetics and wellness expert from Delhi, as saying that ashwagandha extract showed a small but significant effect on overall sleep. She linked this hypothesis to a 2021 study conducted on 400 participants to prove this. Dr. ” he added.
According to Dr. Vohra, “For some people, long-term consumption of ashwagandha can cause an upset stomach, diarrhea, nausea, and irritability. For pregnant women, there is an increased risk of miscarriage. For children. , ashwagandha causes a number of physical and mental side effects. These include mood changes, depression, anger, nausea, dizziness, etc.
Meanwhile, celebrity skin aesthetics and wellness expert Dr. Kiran says this herb can worsen acne, PCOS, and alopecia in some cases.
