Ashwangdana for Women’s Health and Hormonal Balance

How Ashwagandha Helps Restore Homeostasis 

What is Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha is a plant that belongs to the nightshade family. It is native to India, North Africa, and the Middle East, but is now cultivated in many other parts of the world. The plant has a long history of use in Ayurvedic medicine, where it is considered to be a “rasayana” or rejuvenating herb. The root of the ashwagandha plant is used in traditional medicine and in modern supplements.

How Does Ashwagandha Work? Ashwagandha contains several active compounds, including withanolides, alkaloids, and flavonoids, that are thought to be responsible for its medicinal properties. One of the key active compounds in ashwagandha is withaferin A, which has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.

Ashwagandha is classified as an adaptogen, which means that it can help the body cope with stress. It is thought to work by regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is responsible for the body’s stress response. Ashwagandha has been shown to reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which can help to lower stress and anxiety.

In addition to its stress-reducing properties, ashwagandha has been found to have a variety of other health benefits. It has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune-boosting properties, and may help to improve brain function and memory.

A study published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements found that ashwagandha supplementation reduced symptoms of stress and anxiety in women with a history of infertility caused by PCOS.

In addition to its potential benefits for menstrual cycle regulation and PCOS, ashwagandha may also be helpful for women who are experiencing symptoms of menopause. Ashwagandha has been found to have a balancing effect on hormones, which may help to reduce symptoms of hot flashes and mood swings.

One of the key ways that ashwagandha may help to balance hormones is by reducing levels of the stress hormone cortisol. High levels of cortisol can disrupt the balance of other hormones in the body, including estrogen and progesterone. By reducing cortisol levels, ashwagandha may help to restore hormonal balance.

Ashwagandha Research 

A study, published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements in 2015, found that ashwagandha supplements helped to reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety in women with a history of infertility caused by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The study participants took an ashwagandha supplement for 8 weeks and reported significant reductions in stress and anxiety compared to the control group.

A study published in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine in 2015 found that ashwagandha root extract may help to lower levels of TSH in people with subclinical hypothyroidism (a condition in which the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough hormones and TSH level is elevated). Another study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in 2018 found that ashwagandha root extract significantly improved thyroid function, including TSH levels, in people with subclinical hypothyroidism.

Ashwagandha may also help to improve reproductive health in women by balancing hormones. One study, published in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine in 2017, found that ashwagandha supplements helped to improve thyroid function and reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Further ashwagandha supplements helped to improve thyroid function and reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol in women with subclinical hypothyroidism. Subclinical hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland is not functioning optimally, but blood tests still fall within the normal range. In this study, the women took an ashwagandha supplement for eight weeks and had significant improvements in thyroid stimulating hormone- TSH, T3 and T4 thyroid hormone levels, compared to the control group