It’s school exam season – is your child stressed? Almost 9 in 10 (87.7%) UK university students struggle with feelings of stress and anxiety.1https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/mar/05/levels-of-distress-and-illness-among-students-in-uk-alarmingly-high In the 2020/21 school year, over 60% of college students met the criteria for at least one mental health problem.2https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165032722002774 Post-pandemic research has also shown 82% of headteachers report that student anxiety and stress is now higher than before the pandemic.3https://www.theaccessgroup.com/en-gb/blog/edu-has-a-return-to-exam-halls-affected-student-stress/
We know exam times can be just as stressful for parents, so what’s one thing you and your teenager can take to support your mental health during this time?
Ashwagandha!
A 2022 study has highlighted college students taking ashwagandha for as little as 30 days improved student’s well-being through its beneficial impact on mental clarity, energy levels, and sleep quality.4https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/jmf.2022.0042
Clinical studies show that Ashwagandha may benefit cognitive function by improving attention, reaction time, performance of cognitive tasks, executive functioning, information-processing speed, and immediate and general memory.5https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/ashwagandha#7.-May-improve-brain-function,-including-memory These functions are of definite benefit when it comes to tackling exams and assignments!
Ashwagandha is well-known for its ability to reduce stress and anxiety, making it an excellent tool for students. It has an amazing ability to strengthen the body’s resilience to stress. This well-known adaptogen also decreases cortisol (stress hormone) levels and regulates ‘happy hormones‘ and transmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA.6https://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Article/2022/09/27/ashwagandha-shows-wellness-benefits-in-us-college-students
What exactly is Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an Ayurvedic herb that has been used for thousands of years to reduce stress and anxiety and to improve concentration and energy levels.7https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/ashwagandha8https://examine.com/supplements/ashwagandha/9https://draxe.com/ashwagandha-proven-to-heal-thyroid-and-adrenals/ Ashwagandha has been called the king herb of Ayurvedic medicine10https://examine.com/supplements/ashwagandha/, which is a traditional type of alternative medicine based on Indian natural healing principles.11https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/ashwagandha
Chuckling Goat’s Ashwagandha is a powerful tincture that also boasts several other proven health benefits including reducing inflammation12https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/ashwagandha#The-bottom-line, acting as a pain reliever13https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4405924/, antimicrobial action against many pathogens (harmful bacteria)14https://www.researchgate.net/publication/27958733215https://www.researchgate.net/publication/31340187416https://www.spandidos-publications.com/10.3892/mmr.2016.5326 and as a therapeutic agent for diarrhoea, dyspepsia and gastrointestinal disorders.17https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3527235/
How do you take Ashwagandha tincture?
Ashwagandha has been found safe and effective for children aged 3+.18https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3221071/
You can source pure, organic ashwagandha tincture from Chuckling Goat here. Our ashwagandha tincture is made with pharmaceutical-grade alcohol, so it’s a matter of personal choice whether you feel comfortable giving a few drops of this to your child.
We would suggest the following:
- Age 3-12: 5 drops in a small glass of water, 2-3 times daily
- Age 13-18: 10 drops in a small glass of water, 2-3 times daily
- 18+: 15-20 drops in a small glass of water, 2-3 times daily
Stress, anxiety, overwhelm, exhaustion, and depression are unfortunately all regularly felt by today’s students. These factors negatively impact overall well-being as well as academic performance. Taking ashwagandha has the ability to support healthy responses to stressors like exams, and promote the overall well-being of students.19https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/jmf.2022.0042
For more stress-busting tips, check out Saskia’s article here.
Questions? Contact one of our Nutritional Therapists via live chat 8 am to 8 pm on weekdays for bespoke advice on gut wellness.
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