Himalaya’s dedication to the traditional system of healthcare, Ayurveda, guides our work, our process, and our mission to offer a full line of clinically-studied herbal formulations that help promote healthy habits and healthier lifestyles. Through the 4,000-year-old science of Ayurveda, we are able to uncover the benefits of ancient herbs that not only help us bring balance to our diets but offer support to our overall emotional well-being. One of the most important herbs in Ayurveda is—you guessed it—Ashwagandha!

So, What is Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha (äsh-wuh-GÄN-duh) is known by many names such as Withania somnifera, Indian ginseng, Indian gooseberry, or sometimes winter cherry, and is used daily by people around the world to help promote wellness in both the mind and the body.

Ashwagandha has been gaining quite the resurgence in the western world. A long-revered herb in Ayurvedic healthcare with a history of use stretching back thousands of years, its name in Sanskrit literally translates to, “the smell and strength of a horse.” This name alludes to its effect on improving the body's ability to maintain its physical strength as well as its ability to help the body adapt to various types of stress.

Traditionally harvested in the winter, Ashwagandha is what’s known as an ‘adaptogen’ or ‘adaptogenic,’ which is any herb that has broad uses for health in areas that help reduce stress in the body, both mentally and physically. Because of its adaptogenic qualities, Ashwagandha is used for supporting many systems of the body.

Why Do People Use Ashwagandha?

Adaptogens like Ashwagandha are powerful herbs that have been part of Ayurveda from the very beginning, and Ashwagandha is the most highly prized. Ashwagandha is used as a natural tool to help regulate cortisol levels and help your body adapt to stressors while simultaneously promoting strength, energy, stamina, endurance, and mental clarity.

Stress

It’s no secret that stress is harmful to our bodies. When we’re under stress, our adrenal glands unload a stream of hormones, like adrenaline and cortisol, causing our hearts and thoughts to race and our energy levels to feel unbalanced until our systems go back to normal. Too much stress can cause problems with digestion, weight, memory, concentration, and much more. Ashwagandha promotes balance in our systems and helps our bodies to better adapt to stressors.

Fatigue, or Lack of Energy

When stress is present, the adrenal system is on high alert, which can throw the entire body off balance. This can even affect energy levels and the digestive system. Stress, fatigue, lack of energy, and difficulty concentrating are common expressions of the body. It’s important to understand that stress is only supposed to exist momentarily, but with the ebbs and flows of modern-day life, stress tends to stick around and can negatively affect our bodies and mood. Ashwagandha helps to balance these systems and bring our bodies back to harmony.

Mental Clarity

Ayurvedic herbalists use Ashwagandha in many different contexts, but one of its primary uses is to support memory and the brain itself in times of stress or fatigue, as it has relaxing and grounding herbal properties. For this reason, many people will use Ashwagandha herbal supplements for occasional sleeplessness or as a form of natural stress relief. Certain herbs in traditional Ayurvedic healthcare are thought to help improve mental function, boost memory, and support cognition. In addition to Organic Ashwagandha, there are other common Ayurvedic herbs that can help give your brain a boost as well.

When Ashwagandha powder or Ashwagandha root extracts are introduced to the diet, they can help your body's ability to adapt to everyday stress, whether it's a hectic schedule, a change in the weather, noise, high altitudes, traveling, or any number of other stressors you may encounter in your day-to-day life. Learn more about the Ashwagandha health benefits being studied today.

The Different Ways to Take Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is one of the most popular adaptogens in herbal treatments and can come in many different forms. The root and berry of this plant are the key parts that are used to make herbal medicines and formulas. This historically important plant can be eaten at meals, taken as an Ashwagandha supplement in caplet form, or even brewed as tea. From Ashwagandha powder to Ashwagandha root extract, it’s important to understand the different forms of this herb to ensure you are using the one that works best for you.

In traditional Ayurvedic healthcare, the entire root of the Ashwagandha plant was dried whole and then turned into a powder that was usually steeped in milk. Modern supplements use extracts, which could appear as Withania somnifera extract, that begin as a powder and are later refined in a specific way in order to maintain the compounds that are believed to drive its many health benefits. It’s important to note, however, that not all Ashwagandha herbal supplements are made the same, nor are the extracts.

Some can be made from the root of the plant, the leaves, or sometimes, a combination of the two. The roots are considered the best source of the herb, offering the most benefit, but it takes many roots to achieve a proper extract. Due to this, some branded extracts use proprietary methods that can result in different concentrations.

Himalaya’s Ashwagandha Herbal Supplement

At Himalaya, we craft herbal supplements because we believe wellness starts from the ground up. Himalaya’s Organic Ashwagandha herbal supplement is not simply just a crushed Ashwagandha powder, but a clinically-studied Ashwagandha extract that maintains the full complexity of Ashwagandha’s unique health benefits and natural elements.

As one of history’s most famous balancing herbs, incorporating Ashwagandha supplements like Organic Ashwagandha or StressCare (an herbal formula that harnesses the benefits of Ashwagandha and other adaptogens like Holy Basil and Gotu Kola Into) into your daily regimen can help keep you going on busy days and help you manage stress when you need it the most. Support your adrenals, balance your cortisol, and sustain your daily energy levels while you support your overall mental well-being with Ashwagandha herbal supplements from Himalaya.

Stay in tune with your body and learn more about herbal wellness by subscribing to our newsletter at the bottom of this page. For questions about our products, please see our FAQ. 

_{*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. Please consult your healthcare professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product.}