The bioactive constituents in Ashwagandha Churna help to improve hormonal balance, immunity, clarify thoughts and promote weight loss.

For many centuries, Ashwagandha has been used as a food and a medicine in India, Africa and the Middle East. Traditional uses include increasing energy, boosting sexual libido, mental focus and the immune system.

This herbal extract is also thought to have benefits for memory function, height growth, joints and nerves, athletic endurance, and sleep. It is purported to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-convulsant properties.

Ashwagandha Churna refers to the bulk powdered form of this supplement. The churna is made by grinding the different parts of the plant into a fine powder.

It can be used in a number of ways by herbalists. It is often consumed by mixing it into drinks such as milk or lukewarm water. Today, Ashwagandha leaves, berries and roots are also used in various supplement products.

The recommended dosage is between 500 – 3000 mg, taken ones or twice a day. Ashwagandha capsules, liquid tinctures or specialized extracts (such as Sensoril) can also be purchased online.

Properties of Ashwagandha Churna

The Ashwagandha plant is an evergreen species that prefers arid climatic zones.

It is often called Indian ginseng because of its rejuvenating effects on the CNS and endocrine system. The roots of the plant also resemble the spindly body of the ginseng plant.

The therapeutic benefits associated with Ashwagandha Churna continue to be investigated in research trials. It is gaining special attention for its capacities to normalize thyroid functioning and enhance overall hormonal balance.

Ashwagandha is a member of the nightshade family of plants and is a distant relative to potatoes and tomatoes. Ashwagandha leaves, fruits, seeds and roots contain various medicinally potent phytonutrients including alkaloids, steroidal lactones and flavonoids.

Of particular interest to clinicians is a substance called withaferin A which demonstrates strong adaptogenic effects. Of all the known herbals, very few are known to be adaptogens.

Adaptogenic substances must consistently display three properties in order to achieve their classifications. First, they must be non-toxic substances. Also, they must function to affect various body systems simultaneously. Finally, they must exhibit balancing effects on the organism.

Like Asian and American ginseng, Ashwagandha churna is known to affect the body in a number of ways to optimize health.

Medicinal Properties of Ashwagandha Churna

Ashwagandha has been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory, cognitive-enhancing, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antitumor and hormone-balancing properties. Animal tests have shown improvements in hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, glucose intolerance, excessive cortisol secretion, gastrointestinal ulcerations.

Also, Ashwagandha churna has demonstrated the capacity to improve cognitive deficiencies, lessen depression symptoms and combat immune system suppression.

Many naturopathic physicians recommend Ashwagandha churna powder for the home treatment of fibromyalgia symptoms. Also, it is used widely to bolster immunity, especially when recovering from a sickness or physical trauma.

Ashwagandha also increases the thyroid gland’s secretion of both major thyroid hormones: triiodothyronine and thyroxine. Ashwagandha increases T4 thyroid production while simultaneously helping to increase free T3 levels. This can result in improvements for energy levels, metabolism and weight loss.

Ashwagandha leaves may also be helpful for managing pain. It is being researched for its ability to reduce addictions to pain medications. It is also implicated as a possible treatment for gambling and cocaine addictions.

Ashwagandha Churna Dosage

The best dosage of Ashwagandha extract powder depends on the therapeutic target, health history of the individual, weight, gender, diet and more. A common dose for beginning supplementation with a high-quality, standardized product is 500 mg, either once or twice daily.

The maximum starting amount recommended is a total of 3000 mg daily. Ashwagandha churna is considered likely safe, even with several months of consecutive usage.

Safety Warnings for Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha may cause adverse interactions with certain types of pharmaceuticals and/or other herbal agents.

It may cause the blood pressure to drop and should be used cautiously with antihypertensive drugs or herbs. Also, use caution if you have issues with low blood pressure as it may cause excessively low blood pressure levels in these individuals.

Ashwagandha churna powder may also cause irritation to the GI tract. It is recommended for cautious use in those with stomach ulcers. Surgery candidates should discontinue Ashwagandha usage at least two weeks prior to their surgical procedures.

Those who are sensitive or allergic to nightshades should not use this supplement. As mentioned, taking Ashwagandha churna may increase thyroid activity and elevated thyroid hormone levels. Those using thyroid hormone replacement drugs should exercise caution if adding Ashwagandha to the diet.

Not enough data has been generated in clinical trials to determine the safety of Ashwagandha churna supplements in pregnant or lactating women. Supplementation should be commended only with the permission and progress monitoring of an OB/GYN or pediatrician.

Conclusions

Supplementing the diet with Ashwagandha churna for weight loss, stress and energy may improve health on various levels. Ashwagandha has demonstrated various medicinal properties and has been used safely for more than 2,000 years in different medicinal systems.

Research is now showing an array of properties which may be helpful for numerous health maladies, from depression to cancer, from high cholesterol to infertility. The full effects of Ashwagandha continue to be explored in clinical studies worldwide.

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Article last updated on:by Nootriment