Benefits of Ashwagandha for Stress and Anxiety

When we talk about stress and anxiety and natural relief, we need to discuss the benefits of Ashwagandha… this herb has provided relief for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine, and is only growing in popularity today.

Despite its popular use, the mechanisms of Ashwagandha and how it helps the body to better cope with stress and anxiety are not widely understood.

What is Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha is an ancient medicinal herb that has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. Its roots contain powerful adaptogenic properties that help to reduce stress and anxiety in the body.

It’s no wonder the stress-busting benefits of ashwagandha have received so much attention in recent years too, with so many people experiencing stress and anxiety as part of their daily lives seeking a natural way to support their wellbeing.

With many forms of ashwagandha now in the market, it’s important to choose one as close to its natural form as possible.

Our Ashwagandha capsules are made from 100% ashwagandha root, simply freeze dried to lock in its nutrients and active compounds, with no filler. By taking the whole food rather than just an extract, your body receives its complete range of beneficial compounds, which work synergistically to offer you the best benefits. 

How does Ashwagandha reduce stress and anxiety?

To understand the benefits of Ashwagandha for reducing stress in the body, we first need to understand cortisol.

What is cortisol?

Cortisol is a hormone produced from cholesterol in the adrenal glands, primarily in response to stress. It’s main function is mobilising energy as a result of the stressor, but  it also has other beneficial functions in the body, like playing a role in the  regulation of  metabolism, reducing inflammation, affecting salt and water balance in the body and assist with memory formulation, the thing with cortisol is that it needs to be in balance, too much stress and it can result in immune suppression, increased blood pressure, diabetes, fatigue, and many lifestyle diseases. In fact chronic stress is indicated in most lifestyle diseases

Like everything moderation is the answer and excess amounts of cortisol circulating in the body  is problematic.

How does Ashwagandha reduce cortisol levels?

Ashwagandha helps maintain cortisol levels within a healthy range in the body, preventing them from becoming excessively elevated – contributing to its adaptogenic benefits of helping to ease stress and promote well-being.

Its benefit for stress lies in its ability to inhibit the release of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), two compounds required for the production of cortisol. 

It does this via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal or HPA axis. When the neuroendocrine system perceives a stress response, it releases CRH which then triggers the pituitary gland to to release ACTH. Ashwagandha then regulates the HPA axis, stopping the creation of cortisol.

Some studies have shown that Ashwagandha can also expedite the movement of cortisol from the bloodstream, possibly by increasing the activity of liver enzymes that are involved in clearing cortisol from the body.