Ashwagandha: A Testosterone Boosting Medical Herb

Introduction

Ashwagandha is one of the essential herbs used in many supplements and Ayurvedic medicines. It is a natural healer to many problems, having no side effect. Ashwagandha is a Sanskrit word meaning “horse smell” which refers to its unique smell and ability to boost strength. It belongs to the nightshade family, a small shrub with a yellow flower. Ashwagandha is an evergreen shrub, native of India and South Africa, basically available in the form of powder, capsules and oil. It is used to treat a variety of conditions, including inflammation and stress. It maintains the body both physically and mentally.

The biological name of Ashwagandha is Withania Somnifera, but also known by several other names including Indian ginseng and winter cherry. Withania Somnifera is an adaptogen, that is used for stress management. It is beneficial in all aspects, as it energizes the body during daytime and helps a person to attain peaceful sleep during the night. It is an Ayurvedic product improves the overall well being of human including immunity, vitality and radiant health.

The foremost advantage of the Ashwagandha as it helps to improve the sexual health, by increasing the concentration of sperm count. The health benefits of Ashwagandha include stress relief and help us to experience a better sex drive. In some cases, sports person uses Ashwagandha as the temporary supplement to enhance the performance.

Relationship with Testosterone

Ashwagandha is a vital component helps us to attain a healthy living by reducing stress. It makes our body resist several diseases, including high blood pressure, stress management and many more.

Ashwagandha plays a vital role in the development of the nucleus of the sperm and increases the sperm count. It helps to boost up the testosterone level, which further enhances the sex drive and libido.

Daily Dose

One of the most common questions arises before the use of any supplement, what dosage one should prefer to get positive results. Ashwagandha herb product is basically categorized into three types of dosages i.e. high, medium and low.

• A low dose is for energy purpose
  
  
• Medium is for chronic diseases and
  
  
• High dose for acute conditions.

There is no standard dosage of Ashwagandha. Consumption of the herb can be changed according to the disease you want to treat. The average dosage that one can take is 2 grams per day. Ashwagandha is available in the form of powder, capsules and mineral oil. For stress management, the recommended dosage of Ashwagandha is 300 mg twice a day after food. Regular intake for 60 days shows positive results.

 Key points

• Ashwagandha helps to strengthen the immune system and make our body resistance to diseases.
  
  
• It helps in improving mood by reducing the stress level.
  
  
• Ashwagandha helps to increase sexual performance and enables us to improve sex drive.
  
  
• It helps to improve the testosterone level and increases the sperm count.
  
  
• It is a very helpful and effective way of building muscles.

Case study

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29853975

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Ashwagandha on sexual health. In this study, twenty-eight male rats were divided into four groups naming negative, positive, MAT1 and MAT2. The negative and positive group was supplemented with a product lacking Ashwagandha and MAT1 is served by 10gm of Ashwagandha and MAT2 by 20gm of Ashwagandha dosage. There was no significant difference between the results of MAT1 and MAT2. Both showed an increase in testosterone level. Hence, Ashwagandha was reported to enhance sexual health by increasing sexual hormones.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29853975

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Ashwagandha on sex hormones. In this study, forty-eight male rats were divided into four groups naming control group, WS treated control group, addicted group, WS treated addicted group. The addicted male rat group was served by morphine and Ashwagandha. Rest were served by morphine only. The result showed an increase in testosterone level in the addicted group by 6%.

Note: Usually, testing of the products meant for humans is done on rats as their biological, genetic and behavioural characteristics closely resemble human. Ashwagandha has shown positive results on rats, hence it is suitable for human also.

Benefits

Ashwagandha is a natural herb that has several benefits. One can say it is a secret to healthy living as it prevents many harmful diseases. Adding Ashwagandha to your daily diet can change your life greatly by providing your body with the beneficial and medicinal effects of this herb. Some of the major benefits are mentioned below.

• Reduces stress

Ashwagandha is an adaptogen that strengthens the adrenal glands. Adrenal glands are responsible for the stress we feel during work or difficult situation. Regular use of Ashwagandha for 60 days can drop the stress level by 27%. Ashwagandha is a boon to individuals who are dealing with daily stress.

• Betters sex drive

Ashwagandha maintains the proper level of cortisol in the body. The rise in cortisol disturbs the blood pressure and blocks the blood flow through your arteries. High blood pressure is a major cause of impotence and inability to ejaculate. Regular use of Ashwagandha can make a difference to men suffering from impotence and it also helps to experience better sex drive.

• Increases the level of testosterone

A study reveals that testosterone level starts decreasing after the age of 30 and causes hair loss, increases muscle mass and decreases the ability to hold an erection. Higher stress levels mean a low level of testosterone. Ashwagandha positively helps in reducing stress which leads to increases in the testosterone level.

• Increases the level of sperm count

Ashwagandha not only increases the libido but also contributes to an increase in sperm count. Regular intake of Ashwagandha for 90 days helps to increase the concentration of sperm count in men. It is a powerful aid that fights against infertility by increasing the sperm count.

• Increases endurance

Ashwagandha has endurance-boosting properties that help to enhance the performance of athletes. It is used by sports persons as a temporary supplement to increase their performance. Ashwagandha increases the physical as well as the mental health of a person.

• Boosts immune system

White blood cells are responsible for a strong immune system. The study reveals that Ashwagandha increases the concentration of white blood cells. It prevents the immune system from being depressed during chemotherapy and reduces the risk of infection.

Side Effects

Just like a coin has two sides, Ashwagandha also has some negative effects along with its positive effects. It is a naturally available plant, but still, it causes some side effect. The side effects can be due to overdose or person having allergy from the nightshade family. People should avoid taking an overdose and must consult a doctor before use. Below mentioned are side effects of Ashwagandha.

• Harmful during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Ashwagandha can cause harm to the baby or in some cases terminate the pregnancy. It may also cause miscarriage so Ashwagandha must be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

• Dry mouth

Too much intake of Ashwagandha causes mouth dryness. If such a condition arises, we advise you to consult your doctor.

• Allergic Effects

An overdose of Ashwagandha may cause any allergic effect to the consumers of this herb. The allergic effects may include skin rashes, itching, chest pain and difficulty in breathing. People allergic to nightshades must avoid Ashwagandha as it belongs to the same family.

• Dizziness

Excessive use of Ashwagandha can cause dizziness. Avoid the use of Ashwagandha with other medication such as Zolpidem or lorazepam. Taking Ashwagandha, along with other medicines can cause excessive sleep and lack of concentration.

• Lower blood sugar level

Ashwagandha is not beneficial for the diabetic patient as it lowers down the blood sugar level. Diabetic patients should avoid the use of Ashwagandha to avoid risk.

Conclusion

Ashwagandha is a natural shrub that helps us to promote our overall well being. It helps us to promote the immune system and make our body resistive to diseases. Many supplements are available on the market. So, it’s important to trust branded products only as it is essential for a healthy lifespan. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid taking this herb as it can cause harm to the baby or terminate the pregnancy. 

Always take the prescribed amount of dosage only as overdose can cause some adverse effects on health. Always consult a doctor for a better opinion before you start taking any Ashwagandha product.

John Paul

John Paul has been in the fitness field for over ten years. Now, he is exploring the new natural products and treatments for low testosterone and growth hormones. He loves to read medical books and research papers and summarise them in his free time.