Why I take ashwagandha EVERY day...

Image of Chuckling Goat Organic Ashwagandha Premium Tincture on background with leaves.

So – appaz it’s stress awareness month. Which is – you know – a good thing.

But also – do we need a special month for this?

Because don’t know about you, but AM AWARE OF STRESS EVERY DAMN DAY.

Just saying.

As a result, I take ashwagandha EVERY DAMN DAY.

Here’s why. Back in the day, studied with Ayurvedic herbalist, author and teacher named Annie McIntyre. Annie really knows her stuff. Asked her –

“If you could only take one herb every day, what would it be?”

She came back, quick as a wink, “Ashwagandha.”

Ash-wha- what? Thought she had sneezed. Offered a polite “Bless you.” She looked at me as if crazy. Had never heard of this ash-whatever. But figured if it was good enough for Annie McIntyre, was good enough for me. Did some research. Here’s what I found:

Ashwagandha is classic Ayurvedic stuff, been used for thousands of years. Got a lot of good Western science behind it as well. And all its fans have a point – because ashwagandha reduces the amount of cortisol inside your system. This is important, because cortisol is the hormone your body releases in response to stress.

Too much cortisol = basic badness.

Chronically high cortisol levels can lead to a range of health issues affecting both the body and mind. Elevated cortisol is associated with weight gain – particularly around the abdomen – high blood pressure, insulin resistance, and increased risk of type 2 diabetes. It can also suppress immune function, making the body more vulnerable to infections. Mentally and emotionally, prolonged high cortisol can contribute to anxiety, depression, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. Over time, it may also interfere with sleep patterns, disrupt hormonal balance, and impair memory. Left unaddressed, chronic cortisol elevation can significantly impact long-term health and quality of life.¹

And this beautiful stuff ashwagandha – which you can safely take every day for months (as with everything, it’s good to take a break now and then) actually drops the level of cortisol inside your system.

What that means in the real world is this: something will happen. Something BAD. Like – the ceiling will fall down. And instead of screaming and freaking out and running around in circles, I will look up calmly, assess the size of the hole, and say, “Ok. Here’s what we’re going to do about this”.

It makes all the difference to my daily ability to function as a Director, wife, mother and granny. And if I stop taking it, my family DEFINITELY notices. And complains.

Ashwagandha is great for anxiety, outperforming placebos in double-blinded studies. ²

It has been shown to improve mood and reduce depressive symptoms. ³

It improves the quality of your sleep, (although it’s not a sedative) and is not addictive. ⁴

Also – and am particularly fond of this bit – Ashwagandha is incredibly antimicrobial. It kills pathogens inside the gut like nobody’s business. So when I was looking for something to mop up the last few pathogens that I was unable to remediate with my super-duper antimicrobial vinegars, I turned to ashwagandha and yep! It did the trick.

What’s not to love?

So when the business got up and running, tried to find a good trustworthy source of ashwagandha, struggled, decided should sell it ourselves. (Mostly so could be sure of having a supply for self, not going to lie!). The tincture version is stronger and enters your system faster than the powdered version – and because I’m impatient and after the “wow” factor with supplements, I’ve opted for the tincture.

Also – ashwagandha is effective and safe for use with teen anxiety, which may be helpful if you’re trying to avoid the use of SSRIs for this age group. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a black box warning for all antidepressant medications, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), highlighting an increased risk of suicidal thinking and behaviour (suicidality) in children and adolescents treated with these drugs. This warning is based on analyses of short-term placebo-controlled trials, which revealed that antidepressants doubled the risk of suicidality in individuals under 25 years old.

Caution: It’s potent stuff, and not every supplement is right for every person! Pregnant women should not take ashwagandha, as it may cause uterine contractions and increase the risk of miscarriage. If you have an autoimmune disorder ask your consultant first, since ashwagandha can positively stimulate the immune system, which may worsen symptoms. People on thyroid medication need to be cautious, as the herb may increase thyroid hormone levels and interfere with treatment. Ashwagandha may enhance sedative effects, lower blood pressure and blood sugar, so if you’re already on sedatives or medication for high blood pressure or diabetes, seek advice before using. Individuals scheduled for surgery should discontinue use at least two weeks in advance due to possible interactions with anaesthesia.

If you have any questions about whether ashwagandha is right for you, feel free to ask our lovely Nutritional Therapists on live chat, 8 am to 8 pm weekdays.

Hugs

Shann.x

Why I take ashwagandha EVERY day…

References

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