Ashwagandha: Everything you need to know about the latest wellness trend

The beauty of social media is how ever-changing the trends are. For the health and wellness  side of things there's always a new supplement which gains popularity in western media like; chlorophyll water, apple cider vinegar or fenugreek. The list is endless and now ashwagandha is having its time to shine. 

Ashwagandha is a herb that originates in parts of India, Africa and the Middle East. It was traditionally used to cure just about anything. It’s an adaptogen, meaning it’s a natural agent that can help to balance stress hormones, which is typically what people are using it for right now. Over the past few years, many have spoken on social media about how taking ashwagandha has helped reduce anxiety and stress. 

It has many benefits such as:

• Reduced stress 

• Improvement in sleep

• Improvement in athletic performance

• May boost fertility and testosterone

• Reduce inflammation 

• Improve memory 

However, this isn't a super herb that will solve all of your problems. Many natural remedies and herbs (e.g. Magnesium) have a similar list of benefits. There are other natural ways to reduce stress such as exercising, spending time outdoors, or practicing mindfulness. Taking supplements isn’t the only option, and whilst ashwagandha is typically safe for most people to take, it isn’t appropriate for everyone including pregnant women or people with autoimmune conditions. It's important to know that there are other ways to help reduce some of the issues people may be having. 

Overall, you can’t go wrong with taking natural supplements, especially when they have been used in many cultures for centuries. However, you should never take them expecting to miraculously gain results solely from the supplement. For example, if you plan on taking ashwagandha to improve sleep, you should still aim to get a structured routine ensuring you have an early night and limit your screen time before bed. 

Always make sure to not exceed the recommended dose and do some research to make sure it won’t interfere or inhibit other medications or supplements you may be taking. As of right now, the long term effects are unknown but the short term effects seem effective so it definitely can’t hurt to give it a try. 

Edited by Sasha Spencer