Ashwagandha — The Magical Stress Reliever For All Things Period

Nature is smart to have put medicine in our food. During PMS our body undergoes various physiological and mental stress that hampers our daily activities. There is, however, one superfood that not only reduces all these symptoms but also helps the body manage stress better, and that is Ashwagandha — the magic herb.

Health benefits of Ashwagandha are many for both the body and the mind. It is a prominent, ancient herb in Indian Ayurvedic Medicine, a small shrub with Yellow flowers which is a native of India and North Africa. Also called as the Indian Ginseng and Winter Cherry, the powder or extracts from the plant roots or leaves have proven beneficial for improving many health conditions, especially stress and anxiety.

Stress is an inevitable part of modern life. It can cause fatigue and make daily work seem like a chore. The royal herb of Ayurvedic medicine, Ashwagandha can reduce both physical and mental stress.

Ashwagandha is an ‘Adaptogen’, a class of metabolic regulators that increase the ability of a person to adapt to environmental factors and avoid damage from such factors.

Ideally, Ashwagandha as an Adaptogen can:

a) Decrease stress-induced damage

b) Produce a beneficial effect even when administered more than required

c) Is devoid of any negative effects such as withdrawal syndromes

d) Does not influence normal body functions more than necessary

In times of increased stress, Ashwagandha can normalize the physiological process of the body and help it adapt to changes. The magic herb helps lower the Cortisol hormone too and fight symptoms of anxiety and depression. It also has a calming effect on the brain as it lowers Cortisol levels by 28% and promotes restorative sleep. A study published in the ‘Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine’, by K Chandrashekar, Jyothi Kapoor, et al, on the efficacy of the root extract of Ashwagandha, showed that it safely and effectively improves an individual’s resistance towards stress, thereby improving self-assessed quality of life.

Ashwagandha also has a high concentration of Withanolides and Sitoinsides, antioxidants that fight inflammation.

Ashwagandha has multiple health benefits and using it as a supplement can greatly improve the quality of your life and help you deal with stressful PMS issues. Oh and ladies, don’t forget to grab your favourite &Me Rhythm drinks that give you the perfect pinch of Ashwagandha you’ll need to sail through those PMS days!

Sources:

WebMD

Health line

Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine