Ashwagandha has gained popular notoriety within the past few years due to its noticeable benefits ranging from stress relief to sexual health. Unless you live under a rock, then you’ve most likely heard about Ashwagandha and/or been referred by other people to start taking it.

While gaining more attention recently from trends centered on the popular social media platform, TikTok – Ashwagandha has been taking the wellness category by storm for quite some time. Mainly becoming a standalone product that consumers are adding into their everyday routine for regulating cortisol.

With that being said, what exactly is Ashwagandha and what are all the benefits that you can get from taking it? More importantly, why is it becoming such a staple in dietary supplements?

Let’s take a look at why this natural herb is dominating the charts for health benefits and what makes this so popular.

What is Ashwagandha?

Also known by its scientific name, Withania somnifera is an adaptogenic herb that comes from the Solanaceae plant family and has been heavily researched primarily for anti-stress activities. Adaptogens help with the reduction of stress and anxiety along with many other benefits for cortisol reduction.

Often referred to by traditional names such as, “Indian Winter Cherry” or “Indian Ginseng”, Ashwagandha has been used as a remedy for the promotion of mental health and expanded happiness ^[1], given to middle-aged adults and all age groups.

Ashwagandha is often found in many dietary supplements such as multivitamins, sleep aids, gummies, testosterone boosters, and more. Because of the diversity of connected health benefits, Ashwagandha can be used for a plethora of tonics or supplements.

NuEthix Formulations has taken full advantage of utilizing the benefits of Ashwagandha by adding it to a powerhouse hormonal support formula within, Estro-Cort and Cort-Eaze. As two of the best cortisol regulation dietary supplements on the market to date, Ashwagandha plays a crucial role in its effects on reducing stress and anxiety to help support hardened body composition and the reduction of bad estrogen.

Benefits of Ashwagandha

Since the introduction of the natural herb being used in medicinal practice, there have been many clinical studies performed using Ashwagandha to prove a multitude of benefits. One double-blind study conducted showed that the introduction of Ashwagandha given to stressed, healthy adults – had a significant reduction in depression, anxiety, and stress when used during the 60-day trial. ^[2]

While adults who experience more stress are more susceptible to diseases and illness ^[3], there are also noticeable effects on the body for those enduring increased cortisol. This can include a decrease in sexual health in both men and women ^[4] as it can suppress testosterone.

Ashwagandha has been used to help with infertility and sexual health as a whole because of the adaptogenic properties it carries. A placebo-controlled study confirmed that libido health and fertility in women had seen a significant improvement when introduced to taking Ashwagandha regularly. ^[5]

Due to the additional benefits of this natural herb, Ashwagandha has also been linked to many anti-inflammatory-based treatments such as neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmune disorders, diabetes, and others. ^[6] One such result indicated that Ashwagandha can be used to prevent inflammation of the skin. ^[7]

Ashwagandha is also regularly used within sleep-aid dietary supplements to help promote better relaxation and the reduction of stress to support deeper and healthier sleep patterns. Such indication has proven beneficial for sleep quality as the result of a clinical study performed on individuals who suffer from insomnia. While conducting the trial, there was a valid conclusion that confirmed those who were taking Ashwagandha noticed significant improvements in overall sleep quality. ^[8][9]

Rising Popularity of Ashwagandha

As social media has become more relevant to all demographics, Ashwagandha has been becoming widely praised across all platforms and has gained a lot of attention recently and some have deemed it the “miracle supplement”. 

With the benefits of adaptogenic compounds and ingredients, it’s hard to brush off just how beneficial they can be for your overall health and longevity. This is why it’s becoming more common to see dietary supplements using Ashwagandha within their formulas.

Cort-Eaze is the perfect dietary supplement addition for reducing the negative aspects of stress related issues and cortisol imbalances.

Not only is it a natural ingredient, but it also is a great addition for improving the physiological effects of stress without the need for pharmaceutical-grade products or mysterious tonics that blend an unknown amount of untested ingredients.

It’s safe to say that Ashwagandha has respectfully earned all of the positive attention and praise it's getting online and by verbal communication.

Best Dosages of Ashwagandha

For those wanting to reduce the effects of increased cortisol, a regular daily dosage of around 225-600 mg has been shown to prove beneficial in the reduction of stress and anxiety when used for 1-2 months. ^[10]

The average sweet spot dose of Ashwagandha can vary depending on the benefits you’re looking to achieve. For instance, if you’re looking to improve fertility, you will want to rely on a heavier dose of around 5 g per day. ^[11] 

This dosage can improve sperm production and sexual health within 3 months of taking Ashwagandha regularly as one clinical trial has proven. ^[12]

With increased stress comes adverse effects on the body from a physical aspect. Your body composition may begin to soften up and your ability to gain weight has become more prevalent as you start packing on the pounds. The lack of sleep due to stress levels is also not allowing your body to have optimal rest which, in turn, negatively impacts body composition.

When taking around 750-1,250 mg of Ashwagandha regularly for a 30-day period, it’s been shown that weight management is more manageable and can help assist with overall weight loss rather than weight gain – Additionally, it can help increase muscle growth and strength as the body is able to sustain increased testosterone while inhibiting bad estrogen. ^[13]

The Takeaway

If you’re having difficulty coping with stress on a regular basis and you’ve found yourself trapped in a corner with no real way of getting out – it’s important to understand what natural and herbal supplements are out there that can help reduce high cortisol levels. As it stands, stress is easily the most negatively impactful thing on our body, both physically and mentally.

Ashwagandha is no new “wonder drug”. Its astounding benefits and well-researched background have dubbed it the king of Ayurvedic herbs. ^[14] Because it’s completely natural, there’s no reason to have second thoughts about taking it compared to some products that are questionable in nature.

Overall, if you struggle with daily stress and/or you’re having issues with everyday health – using Ashwagandha can be a complete game changer and you’ll reap the benefits in no time at all.

References

Austin Perry

Veteran fitness and health writer Austin Perry has accrued almost a decade worth of experience in sports nutrition and supplementation while having numerous featured articles published and shared within the wellness community.