Ashwagandha is an adaptogen and nervine. It has calming effects on the body and mind, reduces stress, helps induce sleep, and helps with brain fog. It is good for depleted and exhausted people. Positive effects have been seen in cognition, sexual interest, and performance. Should not to be used for hyperthyroidism as it stimulates thyroid function.Herb can possibly decrease blood glucose levels and possibly lower LDL. It is rich in Iron.

Made with organic dried ashwagandha root and organic gluten free cane sugar alcohol. 1:4 ratio

Take in the morning. Some folks can take this at night and it will help with sleep. There is about 10% of people that it will do the opposite and keep you awake. For that reason I prefer to take this in the morning. I always suggest you start with less and work your way up. 10-60 drops 1-2 x a day.

Ashwagandha (withania somnifera) also known as winter cherry and Indian ginseng. It is native to India, Africa, and the Middle East. It is considered a shrub that is in the nightshade family and in optimal growing condition it can grow 5 feet high. It likes sandy well drained soil, and it is easy to grow from seeds. Some herbalists that I know have grown ashwagandha in their greenhouses to extend the season because it isn’t a hardy plant here in the northeast past our standard growing season. By extending the growing season it allows the long iron rich brown tuberous roots to grow bigger as that is the part that mainly gets harvested and used for medicines. The roots really aren’t that big and in order to grow a crop that is worth it you need to grow a whole greenhouse of just ashwagandha. I have tried growing it once before, but I only got a little bit, and I don’t personally think it is worth the space that is needed so this is an herb that I purchased. I have never seen any of the ashwagandha here get 5 feet tall. Typically, around 2-3 feet tall when being grown in the greenhouse and that is because the growing season is too short. Ashwagandha that gets harvested from India and Africa waits until after the roots are a year old before they harvest. Living in the north country here and trying to grow it, we don’t have that ability to let it grow for a year. I have read about folks out west that have had success growing it and going for a full year. The root can be used both dried and fresh for making medicines.

Ashwagandha is hard to miss because it has very distinct earthy smell and a very strong pungent taste. One of its main uses is as an adaptogen, which is used to help build the body’s response and resilience to life stressors. Most adaptogen are stimulants whereas ashwagandha has more of a sedative effect and has a unique calming property making it useful for sleep disturbances and insomnia. It is a good choice for people who are stressed and have anxiety and lack energy.  It helps with regulating cortisol secretions and balances the neuroendocrine when taken longer term throughout the day.

Ashwagandha blends well with Ginkgo and gotu kola and helps to balance mental resilience especially in folks with neurodegenerative disorders such as MS and Parkinson’s. It helps restore vitality and strength, brings a since of focus and clarity, it gives necessary energy to the body. It helps to tonify and restore proper function of the nervous system.  Sajah Popham monograph and a PubMed article mention: “There are dozens of studies that show that ashwagandha slows, stops, reverses, and remove neuritic atrophy and synaptic loss, making it usable to treat Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurodegenerative diseases at any stage of the disease”

Ashwagandha acts as an immunomodulant and helps with rebuilding the immune system when one takes it while they are not sick. It builds our core immunity. It does so in its actions of strengthening the nervous system, our hormones, our endocrine system, helping respiratory conditions like asthma and bronchitis which in turn help to balance and regulate the immune system. 

People like to use Ashwagandha for fatigue and stress and it should be mentioned that when doing so treatment needs to include dietary and lifestyle changes. If your body is depleted and you use something like ashwagandha to give you more energy but do so without giving your system what it truly needs; more sleep, more nutrients, rest therapy you are creating a system that is continuing to take and take which further depletes your adrenals and creates an environment for severe burnout. Using all adaptogens in this manner will create the same ill effect. It will work in the short term to give you that energy boost, but you will pay the price for it. The appropriate way to use things like ashwagandha is to do so by changing your diet and eating foods high in nutrients, eating less sugar and caffeine. Adding some mediation, breathwork, or yoga to your day. Taking a walk (I am not talking about exercise but more of the ability to let your mind wander and breath), taking a bath, taking a nap, allowing your body to stop. Ashwagandha is a truly amazing restorative and rejuvenating herb when used in the correct manner.

There are contradictions when using Ashwagandha, because of the sedative effects one should not use this herb when taking other sedatives or barbiturates. It has abortifacient properties so shouldn’t be used by pregnant women. Ashwagandha is in the nightshade family and should be avoided for those with a nightshade allergy. Ashwagandha can cause thyrotoxicosis so it shouldn’t be used with those with thyroid problems. Ashwagandha can affect blood glucose levels so those with diabetes should monitor blood glucose levels closely. I highly recommend if you are interested in using ashwagandha to work with your doctor and herbalist to make sure that this herb is right for you.

Disclaimer: Earthly Remedies is not responsible for any individual’s use of our products. Each person’s response to herbs may differ. Consult a qualified health care practitioner or herbalist for guidance.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.