Herb School: Ashwagandha, The Chillest of the Chill

The chillest of the chill, the coolest of the cool, ashwagandha (ash-wah-gone-da) is an herb that has been used in Auyervedic medicine for thousands of years and celebrated as one of the most sought after adaptogens in modern times.

Let's take a second here to explain what an 'adaptogen' actually is....

Adaptogens are herbs that meet three specific criteria developed by Russian scientist N.V. Lazarez (who is best known for discovering other adaptogens such as Siberian Ginseng, and teaching renowned adaptogen research scientist Israel Brekhman).

According to Lazarez, adaptogens have to:

Be non-toxic
Reduce and regulate stress by helping the body adapt
Benefit overall well-being

Ashwagandha meets all of these criteria. 💁‍♀️

The Ashwagandha plant (scientific name Withania somnifera) is a small evergreen shrub that is short and squat with velvety leaves and bell flowers that contain orange berries similar in appearance to small tomatoes.

Ashwagandha is native to the Indian subcontinent, specifically the drier areas of India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. It also grows in parts of Africa.

 

What benefits does it have?

Ashwagandha can soothe fried nerves, reduce stress and promote calm with regular use.

Its original uses also point to ashwaganha having strong sleep supporting abilities with its species name, somnifera, means "sleep-inducing" in Latin.

Research has shown that regular continued use of ashwagandha can have the following benefits:

• Adapting to stressful conditions by regulating cortisol (the stress hormone)
• Support cognitive functions due to being a nootropic herb (herbs that support cognitive functions)
• Supporting the nervous system and the endocrine system (hormonal regulating system)
• Supporting cardiovascular and immune health
  
  

 

How to Take Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha can be taken in a convenient herbal tea form our calming blend Chill Out Cherry.

We recommend steeping Chill Out Cherry for a minimum of 6 minutes in boiling water and enjoying at least once a day for maximum long term calming benefits.

Thanks for joining us for Herb School!